Los Angeles @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 13, 2018 ) LA Angels 6, Seattle 8

The Seattle Mariners continue to keep the pressure on the defending champion Houston Astros in the American League West while Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels struggle to keep pace. The Mariners will try to keep the Angels down when they host the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday.

Seattle entered the week a half-game behind the Astros in the AL West standings and owns the major's longest winning streak at seven in a row after picking on last-place clubs Baltimore and Kansas City. The Angels are losers of seven of their last nine but had a chance to sweep the Orioles in a three-game series over the weekend before falling short on Sunday in an 8-2 setback. Los Angeles faces a tough challenge if it hopes to climb back into the race before the All-Star break with six games each against the Mariners and the Los Angeles Dodgers left in the first half. The Angels will try to get off on the right foot Tuesday by sending left-hander Andrew Heaney to the mound while the Mariners counter with lefty Wade LeBlanc.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS West (Los Angeles), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Andrew Heaney (4-5, 3.95 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Wade LeBlanc (3-0, 3.38)

Heaney is trying to bounce back after getting knocked around for six runs on eight hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings at Boston on Wednesday. The 27-year-old allowed four runs in 15 innings over his previous two outings but is struggling with his consistency. Heaney preceded the two solid outings by yielding five runs and seven hits over three innings in a loss at Seattle on June 11.

LeBlanc is searching for consistency as well and followed up 7 2/3 scoreless innings against the Red Sox on June 16 by getting pounded for a total of 10 runs - nine earned - and 18 hits across 10 1/3 innings in his next two outings. The veteran is already past his innings total from last season, when he worked exclusively as a reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates. LeBlanc went up against Heaney on June 11 and earned the win while allowing two runs in five frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners RHP Edwin Diaz was named the AL's Reliever of the Month for June after converting 12 of 13 save opportunities in the month.

2. Trout went 0-for-4 on Sunday and failed to reach base for the 12th time in 85 games this season.

3. Los Angeles RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani (elbow) is expected to take batting practice with the team this week.

PREDICTION: Angels 5, Mariners 3