The Los Angeles Angels are at home for the first time this season and will open up a three-game series against the AL West-rival Seattle Mariners on Friday.
After splitting its opening series with the Houston Astros and losing two of three to the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Angels come home for a three-game divisional showdown against the Seattle Mariners beginning Friday.
The early return on the Angels so far is that the team can swing it a bit, but outside of right-hander José Soriano, the team has struggled to pitch and defend well. The defensive blunders mixed with inability to throw strikes (39 walks leads Major League Baseball) has cost the Halos a lot of runs.
The offense has been a pleasant surprise, but it still isn’t good enough to overcome bad pitching and/or defense. Said offense will have to be dialed in today, as the Mariners will send right-hander Bryan Woo to the mound coming off two straight losses and a series defeat to the New York Yankees.
Woo has been one of the best pitchers in MLB over the past two seasons, going 24-10 with a 2.92 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 299 strikeouts in 52 starts (308 innings). He dazzled in his first start of the season against the Cleveland Guardians despite earning a no-decision, allowing just two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out nine over six innings of work.
The 2025 All-Star finished fifth in American League Cy Young voting a season ago and has shown excellent control throughout his career, posting a 5.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 401.2 innings pitched.
The Angels have walked the most out of any team (38), but it has also struck out the most (80). Woo is prone to the long-ball at times and the Halos are tied for the league-lead in that category as well (10 home runs), so that may be the team’s best chance at beating Woo.
Los Angeles will have left-hander Reid Detmers on the bump and he’s coming off a no-decision against the Astros. Detmers threw 4.2 innings and allowed three runs on six hits while fanning nine batters and walking none.
The 26-year-old transitioned to the bullpen after a couple of not-so-great seasons as a starter in 2023 and 2024. He pitched well as a reliever, going 5-3 with a 3.96 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 80 strikeouts to 25 walks in 61 appearances (63.2 innings).
Because of the uncertainty surrounding the Angels’ starting rotation this season, the Angels opted to give him another shot at starting games this year. If it doesn’t go well, he’s shown effectiveness in the late-inning/long-relief role.
First pitch is at 6:38 p.m. PST on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.