Los Angeles @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 7, 2011 ) Seattle 1, LA Angels 2

THE STORY: Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia rolled the dice by sending Ervin Santana and Jered Weaver to the mound on three days' rest. Santana came back with a win Saturday, but Weaver labored through six-plus innings en route to a 9-5 loss to the Texas Rangers on Sunday. As a result, the Angels dropped two of three and fell three games behind the American League West-leading Rangers. The Angels will look to rebound in the Pacific Northwest with a four-game set against the woe-begotten Seattle Mariners. Seattle has dropped nine of its last 11 and sits comfortably in the division basement.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FSW, ROOT

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Joel Pineiro (5-6, 5.37 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Blake Beavan (3-4, 4.14 ERA).

Pineiro made his return to the starting rotation Aug. 20, and took a no-decision after yielding four runs on nine hits in six innings against the Baltimore Orioles. The 32-year-old Puerto Rico native didn't fare well out of the bullpen, permitting six runs on nine hits in eight innings over three appearances. Pineiro's last win came at the expense of the Mariners. He struck out seven in as many innings, as the Angels slugged their way to a 9-3 triumph July 9. Beavan pitched well in his last outing, but he was unable to end his winless skid. The 22-year-old rookie yielded three runs on eight hits in six innings, but settled for a no-decision after the Cleveland Indians rallied for a 7-5 triumph Tuesday. Beavan recorded his last victory against the Angels, tossing eight strong innings in a 5-1 win Aug. 6. He has yet to walk a batter in two games versus Los Angeles.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (56-76): The Emerald City residents were on the wrong end of the brooms this weekend. The Mariners were swept for the 11th time this season after dropping a 9-3 decision to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Ichiro Suzuki and Kyle Seager are doing their part to help the struggling Mariners. The Japanese star has hit safely in 11 straight games and the rookie has a nine-game hitting streak. Ichiro has fared well versus Pineiro, going 5-for-11 with a pair of doubles. Seager went 0-for-3 in his lone outing against the hurler.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (72-61): Howie Kendrick is not known as a home-run hitter, but he's certainly flexing his muscle of late. Kendrick belted his fifth homer in six contests to give the Angels a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning Sunday. All told, Kendrick collected three hits and drove in two. Vernon Wells is also streaking, going 10-for-21 in his last six games. Both Wells and Kendrick are 2-for-6 against Beavan. After its four-game series versus Seattle, Los Angeles returns home for a 10-game homestand against the Minnesota Twins, Mariners and New York Yankees.

FINAL PITCH: Seattle first baseman Justin Smoak will begin a rehab assignment Monday with Triple-A Tacoma. Smoak has been on the disabled list since Aug. 13 after breaking his nose when a groundball caught him in the face.