A pair of AL West squads square off Wednesday when the Anaheim Angels travel to Seattle to meet the Mariners.
The defending champion Angels had dropped four of their first six games to begin the current campaign prior to Tuesday's opener of this three-game series. The Mariners had split their first six outings
Wednesday's middle game features Anaheim veteran Kevin Appier against Seattle's Joel Pineiro. Most offshore oddsmakers opened the Mariners as $1.50 home favorites, with the total set at 8 1/2.
The 35-year-old Appier suffered the loss in his first 2003 starting assignment (April 4) when Oakland tagged him for seven runs on eight hits in just four innings during a 7-3 victory. The Angels closed as a $1.35 road underdog, with the combined 10 runs jumping 'over' the closing 8 1/2-run total.
Appier split his two assignments against the Mariners during the 2002 campaign, with both outings dipping 'under' the closing total.
The right-hander dropped a 5-1 decision on April 9 as a $1.12 home underdog, then registered a 1-0 victory on July 28 as a $1.58 road 'dog. He allowed two runs on nine hits and fanned 11 batters in 15 combined innings during the two efforts.
Prior to Tuesday's contest, the Angels had surrendered five runs or more in four of their first six outings, with the 'over' going 4-2.
The 24-year-old Pineiro also makes his second start of the season looking for his first win. The right-hander received a no-decision on April 3 after allowing Oakland three runs on five hits in six innings. The Mariners notched a 7-6 win in that contest as a $1.35 road favorite, with the combined 13 runs soaring 'over' the closing eight-run total.
Pineiro, 7-3 with a 2.76 ERA in 13 home starts last season, was 1-1 in three outings against the Angels. He yielded 11 earned runs on 25 hits (three homers) in 17 1/3 innings during those three assignments.
The defending champion Angels had dropped four of their first six games to begin the current campaign prior to Tuesday's opener of this three-game series. The Mariners had split their first six outings
Wednesday's middle game features Anaheim veteran Kevin Appier against Seattle's Joel Pineiro. Most offshore oddsmakers opened the Mariners as $1.50 home favorites, with the total set at 8 1/2.
The 35-year-old Appier suffered the loss in his first 2003 starting assignment (April 4) when Oakland tagged him for seven runs on eight hits in just four innings during a 7-3 victory. The Angels closed as a $1.35 road underdog, with the combined 10 runs jumping 'over' the closing 8 1/2-run total.
Appier split his two assignments against the Mariners during the 2002 campaign, with both outings dipping 'under' the closing total.
The right-hander dropped a 5-1 decision on April 9 as a $1.12 home underdog, then registered a 1-0 victory on July 28 as a $1.58 road 'dog. He allowed two runs on nine hits and fanned 11 batters in 15 combined innings during the two efforts.
Prior to Tuesday's contest, the Angels had surrendered five runs or more in four of their first six outings, with the 'over' going 4-2.
The 24-year-old Pineiro also makes his second start of the season looking for his first win. The right-hander received a no-decision on April 3 after allowing Oakland three runs on five hits in six innings. The Mariners notched a 7-6 win in that contest as a $1.35 road favorite, with the combined 13 runs soaring 'over' the closing eight-run total.
Pineiro, 7-3 with a 2.76 ERA in 13 home starts last season, was 1-1 in three outings against the Angels. He yielded 11 earned runs on 25 hits (three homers) in 17 1/3 innings during those three assignments.
