The Angels give the ball to Joe Saunders tonight, who is coming off his worst start of the season, as he was tagged for a season-high seven runs and eight hits. including three homers. in 5 1-3 innings of Friday's 10-8 loss at Texas. His ERA climbed nearly a full point. jumping from 2.66 to 3.59. Like most pitchers, Joe has struggled big time while pitching at Texas, as he is 0-4 with a 10.29 ERA in four starts at Texas, but he's 20-3 with a 2.72 ERA in 28 starts as a visitor to other ballparks. He has posted a 1.86 ERA in winning his last three starts in Seattle, and allowed just one run and three hits in seven innings of a 5-1 victory at Safeco Field on April 16. In five starts against the Mariners since the start of last season, Saunders is 4-0 with a 2.88 ERA. Joe has been outstanding & the backbone of the injury riddles Angels rotation this season, as they loss their young stud Adenhart to a untimley death early on this season, & both Lackey & Santana have just recently joined the roation, coming back from injury. Seattle gives the ball to Erik Bedard, who missed his last start due to a tight right hamstring and manager Don Wakamatsu said he'd likely be limited to 90-to-100 pitches. In Bedard's last start at Minnesota on May 10, the left-hander allowed two runs, five hits and a season-high five walks in a season-low 4 2-3 innings of a 5-3 victory. He threw a season-high 110 pitches. Angels OF Bobby Abreu left Wednesday's game with a sprained left big toe. Manager Mike Scioscia said Abreu will miss a couple of days. Bedard limited the Angels to 5 hits, 0 BB, 6 K's & 3 runs (2 earned) in a win on Apr, 24. Despite the recent troubles of Mariner reliever Bandon Morrow, Seattle's bullpen has been very good this season, & their bullpen has a home ERA of 2.45 & a 1.47 WHIP. The Angels on the other hand, have had severe trouble with their bullpen this season, especially on the road, as they are sporting a 6.83 ERA & a WHIP of 1.57. Here are some career numbers for some key players vs the starting pitchers for tonights game: For the Angels vs Bedard, Figgins (3-16 .188), Mathews (4-17 .235) Hunter (9-23 .391) Rivera (2-7 .286) Kendrick & Napoli (2-6 .333) & Abreu (5-26 .192) who is mot likely OUT tonight anyways. For the Mariners vs Saunders; Ichiro (5-25 .200) Lopez (4-22 .182) Beltre (6-19 .316) Sweeney (1-7 .143) Balentien (1-9 .111) Johjima (0-6 .000). Seattle is 8-3 vs left-handed starters this season & they are 3-0 after shutting a team out. I lean to the Mariners tonight, but I can't make a play for two reasons: Bedard will be on a pitch count of 90 tonight according to the Mariners manager & I don't know how healthy Bedard really is & these two factors make this game a pass for me.
The line & total for this game are as follows:
Seattle -115/Angels -105 (total of 7.5)
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