The Los Angeles Angels wrap up their series against the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium looking to avoid another lost opportunity in what has been a frustrating and disjointed 2025 campaign. Entering play at 44–61, the Angels continue to struggle with consistency, especially on the mound, and will send veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks to the mound to face Seattle’s surging lineup. Hendricks, now 35, has shown glimpses of his former self but has struggled to find sustained effectiveness, posting a 4.89 ERA over 104 innings while striking out just 65. His command has been serviceable, but a lack of swing-and-miss stuff combined with diminished velocity has left little margin for error, especially against patient lineups like the Mariners. Hendricks will rely heavily on inducing soft contact and quick outs to stay competitive, but his success will be closely tied to the Angels’ defense, which has been erratic throughout the season. Offensively, Los Angeles remains heavily reliant on a handful of core players. Nolan Schanuel has emerged as a steady contributor with a team-best .285 average and consistent on-base ability, while Logan O’Hoppe has become a reliable run producer in the middle of the order.

However, the absence of a true power bat has hampered the club’s ability to put games away or mount comebacks, and their record in close contests reflects that concern, having lost 21 one-run games. The Angels’ bullpen has been overworked and unreliable, with no clear shutdown closer, which further complicates late-inning strategy in tight games. On the basepaths, the Angels are among the least aggressive in the league, and a lack of athleticism has made them heavily dependent on extra-base hits to generate runs. Manager Ron Washington has experimented with different lineups, but none have found lasting traction, and the offense often sputters after the top four hitters. Against a strike-throwing right-hander like Logan Gilbert, the Angels need to stay disciplined, work deep counts, and avoid grounding into early-count outs—a common issue for this team. Defensively, infield miscommunications and outfield positioning lapses have cost them outs, putting even more pressure on the pitching staff. With playoff hopes long faded, the Angels are evaluating young talent and looking for encouraging signs from players like Kyren Paris, Zach Neto, and Jo Adell, though their performances have been streaky. Facing a Mariners squad still fighting for postseason relevance, the Angels must play cleaner baseball in all phases if they hope to end the series on a positive note. The key for Los Angeles is to score early and provide Hendricks with a cushion, as asking this bullpen to hold a slim lead against a top-tier defensive and pitching team like Seattle is a risky proposition. The Angels have the talent to surprise teams on occasion, especially at home, but until they string together sustained quality outings, they’ll continue to be relegated to the spoiler role in the American League West. This matchup is a chance to prove they can still rise to the moment, but it’ll require execution far sharper than what they’ve displayed most of the year.