Seattle @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 11, 2018 ) Seattle 3, LA Angels 0

The Seattle Mariners made their three-run lead stand a day after squandering one and attempt to post their second series win over the Los Angeles Angels in less than two weeks when they visit their American League West rivals on Thursday for the rubber match of their three-game set. Seattle saw its 3-0 lead turn into a 9-3 loss in the series opener but bounced back Wednesday with a 3-0 victory.

David Freitas went 2-for-2 with his first major-league homer - a solo shot - while Marco Gonzales combined with two relievers on a two-hitter for the Mariners, who took two of three from Los Angeles at home from July 3-5. Seattle slugger Nelson Cruz delivered a two-run single in the triumph to match the RBI total from his previous 10 contests. Andrelton Simmons and Mike Trout accounted for their team's offense with singles in the fourth inning as the Angels fell to 3-2 on their six-game homestand. Trout is riding a four-game hitting streak during which he has gone 7-for-15 while Simmons went 4-for-9 in the first two games of the series.

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH James Paxton (8-3, 3.49 ERA) vs. Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (6-5, 2.64)

Paxton is coming off his first home loss since his season debut on March 31, a setback against Colorado on Saturday in which he yielded four runs and seven hits over seven innings. The 29-year-old Canadian fell one strikeout shy of his third consecutive double-digit output and eighth overall this season. Paxton has made 11 career starts versus Los Angeles, going 4-2 with a 2.07 ERA and 0.88 WHIP while limiting the Angels to a .169 batting average.

Skaggs is expected to return from a right adductor strain that landed him on the disabled list and make his first start since June 30 at Baltimore. The 26-year-old Californian allowed two runs - one earned - and four hits over five innings against the Orioles but did not factor in the decision. Skaggs is 1-2 with a 4.63 ERA in 10 career starts versus the Mariners, including a no-decision at Seattle on May 5 in which he gave up two runs over 5 1/3 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Angels are 4-7 against the Mariners thus far in 2018 and have scored a total of two runs in their last three losses in the season series.

2. Seattle SS Jean Segura won the Final Vote for this year's All-Star Game and will make his second career trip to the Midsummer Classic.

3. Los Angeles placed Garrett Richards (elbow), who may be headed for Tommy John surgery, on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday and recalled fellow RHP Deck McGuire from Triple-A Salt Lake.

PREDICTION: Mariners 8, Angels 2