Seattle @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2018 ) Seattle 8, LA Angels 2

The Seattle Mariners put together a solid performance in the opener of a 10-game road trip and look to beat the host Los Angeles Angels again Friday in the second contest of a four-game set. Seattle recorded an 8-2 victory over the Angels on Thursday and are 8 1/2 games behind the Oakland Athletics for the American League's second wild-card spot with 16 to play.

Slugger Nelson Cruz smashed a three-run homer for his 50th career blast against the Angels and he stands four away from his fourth career 40-homer campaign. "I guess I've been playing a lot of games," Cruz said in a postgame television interview. "I trust my routine and execute it." Justin Upton homered for the Angels, who lost for only the second time in their past eight games. Mike Trout went 2-for-3 to continue his torrid hitting against Seattle as he is 27-for-59 with six homers, eight doubles, one triple, 10 RBIs, 14 walks and 15 runs scored this season.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners TBA vs. Angels RH Matt Shoemaker (2-0, 3.45 ERA)

Original scheduled starter James Paxton is in Seattle after being diagnosed with pneumonia and the club will use the bullpen approach in his absence. Manager Scott Servais declined to reveal who will start during Thursday's postgame press conference. "We'll let you know. Like what, I'm going to text somebody tonight, 'Oh, you're starting' and give them a chance to get nervous?" Servais said. "No reason to. We'll start a bullpen guy. Those guys don't need much heads-up. We'll come up with somebody."

Shoemaker, who recently returned from a forearm injury, is making his first start at Angel Stadium in 15 months. The 31-year-old missed more than five months with the injury and has allowed three runs and nine hits over 10 innings in two outings since his return. Shoemaker is 4-4 with 4.33 ERA in 14 career appearances (12 starts) against the Mariners.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez (ankle) didn't make the trip to Anaheim but Servais is hopeful the former star will pitch again this season.

2. Los Angeles DH Shohei Ohtani is 14-for-33 with four homers, four doubles and 11 RBIs in September.

3. Seattle SS Jean Segura (illness) has missed three straight contests and OF Cameron Maybin (illness) has sat out the past two.

PREDICTION: Angels 6, Mariners 4