Angels at Mariners
Albert Pujols is one hit away from becoming the 32nd player in major-league history to record 3,000 hits. The slugger looks to reach the milestone on Friday, when the Los Angeles Angels open a three-game series against the host Seattle Mariners.
Pujols delivered a two-run double for hit No. 2,999 in Thursday's 12-3 romp over Baltimore but wasn't able to reach the monumental mark. The 38-year-old is just a .241 hitter in 57 career games at Safeco Field but is a solid 4-for-11 against scheduled Seattle starter Mike Leake. Andrelton Simmons and Luis Valbuena each drove in three runs as Los Angeles finished a three-game sweep of Baltimore. Streaking Seattle has won seven of its last nine games after posting a 4-1 win over Oakland on Thursday.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Garrett Richards (3-1, 4.88 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Mike Leake (3-2, 6.48)
Richards was torched for nine runs - five earned - and five hits by the New York Yankees in his last turn as he suffered his first loss of the campaign. The 29-year-old was solid in his previous outing as he struck out 11 and gave up two runs and five hits over in six frames to defeat San Francisco. Richards is 5-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 18 career appearances (10 starts) against the Mariners, whom he will be facing for the first time since Sept. 25, 2015.
Leake defeated Cleveland in his last turn as he gave up four runs and six hits over six innings. The 30-year-old had gone winless over his previous three outings, including a disastrous start against the Chicago White Sox in which he was pounded for eight runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 frames. Leake is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two career starts versus the Angels and has struggled with Justin Upton (9-for-20, one homer).
WALK-OFFS
1. The Angels went 12-7 against the Mariners last season, including 6-4 at Safeco Field.
2. Seattle OF Ichiro Suzuki (.205 in 44 at-bats) won't play again this season while serving as a special assistant advisor, and it is believed he could play in the club's 2019 season-opening series in Japan before officially announcing his retirement.
3. Los Angeles recalled RHP Jaime Barria from Salt Lake to start Thursday's game, which he won, and optioned INF Ryan Schimpf to the Triple-A affiliate.