The Los Angeles Angels, after getting swept in a three-game series by the New York Mets to put a dent in their postseason hopes, begin a make-or-break 13-game homestand against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday in Anaheim, Calif.
Los Angeles All-Star left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (4-6, 3.13 ERA), who is 1-1 with a 0.39 ERA in four career starts against the Mariners, will start the opener of the four-game series.
He will be opposed by rookie right-hander Logan Evans (3-3, 3.81 ERA), who will be making his 11th career start and first against Los Angeles.
The Angels, who are 2-3 against Seattle this season, need a big homestand to keep in contention for a playoff spot. Los Angeles, in fourth place in the American League West, 11 games behind the Houston Astros, is five games behind Seattle and the Boston Red Sox for the final two wild-card spots with just a week to go before the trade deadline.
That's what made getting swept by the Mets tough to handle. The Angels began their road trip in impressive style by taking two of three games against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Catcher Travis d'Arnaud, a member of the 2021 Atlanta Braves team that won the World Series despite struggling heading into the trade deadline, believes Los Angeles still has what it takes to make a strong run down the stretch.
"Just keep going," he said after the Angels fell 6-3 in New York on Wednesday afternoon. "I've been on teams where we were under .500 close to the (trade) deadline ... and we went on a run. (It's) the time of the year where it's about who's hot and who's not."
d'Arnaud added, "Guys' heads are in a good place. We just beat a great team in the Phillies two out of three. Unfortunately, we got swept here, but we've got to keep going. The world keeps spinning, and we've got another series coming up."
The homestand could see a couple of major milestones for the Angels. Mike Trout, who hit a solo homer on Wednesday, enters the opener with 999 career RBIs and needs just four more home runs to reach the 400 mark.
Second-place Seattle, six games behind Houston, also sputters into the series after dropping two of three at home to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Mariners took an ugly 10-2 loss on Wednesday afternoon.
"Obviously, a tough one today, one you turn the page on quietly," Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. "Heading out on the road, and (Los Angeles) becomes the target now.
The Brewers pounded out 17 hits, including 14 singles, on Wednesday.
"A lot of singles, a lot of ground balls that found holes through the infield," Wilson said. "They just kept stocking them up and were able to capitalize on their situations.
"Today was just a frustrating day all-around I think. I think we're all frustrated. Another reason why we move forward and start looking ahead. Lots more good baseball. We don't have an off day to reset. This is a time to turn the page and be ready (Thursday) to take it to (the Angels)."
It's the start of a seven-game California road trip for the Mariners. Seattle also plays a three-game series against the Athletics in West Sacramento starting Monday.
--Field Level Media
