Los Angeles @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2012 ) LA Angels 8, Seattle 4

The Los Angeles Angels are no longer part of the wild-card chase as they meet the host Seattle Mariners in Tuesday’s second contest of a three-game season-ending series. The Angels were eliminated when the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers on Monday and will finish third in the American League West despite an off-season spending spree that included huge contracts for first baseman Albert Pujols ($254 million) and pitcher C.J. Wilson ($77.5 million).

Seattle is limping to the finish line with four consecutive losses and 11 over its last 14 games. The Mariners have been outscored 28-12 over the last four contests. Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager (84 RBIs) is the only player on the offensively challenged squad with more than 60 RBIs. Los Angeles rookie sensation Mike Trout went 4-for-5 with three RBIs on Monday for his 16th game of three or more hits this season to surpass Wally Joyner’s franchise rookie mark set during his memorable 1986 campaign. Trout is batting .325 and battling Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera for AL MVP honors.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), Root Sports (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Dan Haren (12-12, 4.32 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Hisashi Iwakuma (8-5, 3.32)

Haren lost to the Mariners on Thursday when he allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. His best outing of the season was May 24 against Seattle when he tossed a four-hit shutout and struck out a career-best 14. Haren is 2-2 with a 2.55 ERA in four starts against the Mariners this season. He is 12-7 with a 2.59 ERA in 22 career starts against Seattle.

Iwakuma is 3-0 against the Angels and beat Haren last week when he gave up two runs (one earned) and seven hits in six innings. He has a 1.54 ERA against Los Angeles with 15 strikeouts and just two walks in 23 1/3 innings. Iwakuma has won six of his last eight decisions.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles 2B Howie Kendrick went 4-for-4 in the opener and is batting .600 (9-for-15) with eight RBIs over the last four games. He is hitless in eight at-bats against Iwakuma.

2. Mariners 1B Justin Smoak reached base three times Monday and is batting .397 (23-for-58) over his last 16 games.

3. Angels SS Erick Aybar (quadriceps) missed the opener and is unlikely to play in the final two games.