September 15, 2016 Page 1 of 15

Clips

(September 15, 2016)

September 15, 2016 Page 2 of 15

Today’s Clips Contents

FROM THE LA TIMES (Page 3)

Angels fall for the 82nd time, securing their first losing season since 2013

Angels' Tyler Skaggs has no structural damage in elbow ligament

FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 4)

Angels fall again to streaking Mariners, ensure losing season

Angels' Tyler Skaggs gets good news from MRI

Angels' 2017 schedule released; they'll face NL East in interleague play

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 8)

Angels come up short vs. streaking Mariners

Graterol steps up in first big league start

Another night, another amazing Trout catch

Angels aim to spoil Jays' postseason plans

Skaggs' MRI comes back clean

Angels open 2017 schedule in Oakland

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 13)

Cruz, Seager homer as Mariners edge Angels for 8th straight

September 15, 2016 Page 3 of 15

FROM THE LA TIMES

Angels fall for the 82nd time, securing their first losing season since 2013

Pedro Moura

As summer fades into fall, the Angels’ losses fade, forgettably, into the ether. They suffered another defeat Wednesday night at Angel Stadium, one destined to be forgotten the same moment it is recorded.

The Seattle Mariners beat them, 2-1. It was their 82nd defeat of 2016, securing their first losing season since 2013. Jhoulys Chacin made an emergency start, replacing Tyler Skaggs, who had an injury scare.

A free agent at season’s end, Chacin made it to the Mariners’ seventh batter before he yielded a hit, and altogether pounded the strike zone with effective sinkers. He gave up two more hits and one run.

In the bottom of that inning, Juan Graterol punched his second big league hit to right, and then took third on a hit-and-run single from Gregorio Petit. When ex-Angel Chris Iannetta let a slider past him, Graterol scored the Angels’ only run. It was the 27-year-old rookie’s first major league start.

There were two more memorable moments, one within the field of play. When there was one out and a man on first in the sixth inning, Seth Smith lofted a baseball into short center field. Mike Trout took off running at impact and corralled the ball mid-dive.

Nelson Cruz launched the game-winning home run in the seventh inning, off the second and last pitch Angels reliever Jose Valdez threw. A man in a hat with a foam fish attached — a Trout-themed giveaway from a few seasons back — reached out and caught it with one hand, and pumped his fist wildly as the few thousand fans remaining went silent.

2017 schedule is released

The Angels released their schedule for next season. They will begin on the road, in Oakland on April 3, and return home to host Seattle on April 7. They will end the season hosting Seattle on Oct. 1.

In between, they will visit Washington, Miami and the New York Mets on interleague trips, as well as a four-game home-and-home series against the Dodgers. They will also host Washington, as well as Atlanta and Philadelphia from the National League East.

Short hops

The Angels activated right-hander Cory Rasmus from the disabled list to provide additional pitching coverage Wednesday, since Chacin was forced into the spot start for Skaggs. They moved Matt Shoemaker to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster for Rasmus. … Catcher Geovany Soto (knee) suffered a setback and remains several days from playing. … Right-hander Garrett Richards (torn ulnar collateral ligament) will throw off a mound Saturday, he said, for the first time since he suffered his injury in May.

September 15, 2016 Page 4 of 15

Angels' Tyler Skaggs has no structural damage in elbow ligament

Pedro Moura

A Wednesday MRI exam on Tyler Skaggs’ sore left arm showed that his ulnar collateral ligament remains intact. No structural damage was detected, and the diagnosis was a mild flexor-pronator strain, said Angels General Manager Billy Eppler. Skaggs will rest his arm for at least one week.

Skaggs said he will see Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Thursday in Los Angeles to confirm the diagnosis, which, doctors told him, was a product of “routine wear and tear.”

Eppler was unwilling to rule out the 25-year-old left-hander pitching again this season, with 18 games remaining. He said he spoke to Skaggs briefly and described him as relieved.

Skaggs said he had been feeling tightness within his arm for some time now. He opted to tell the team when he felt it more while he prepared for this start with a bullpen session. Still, he said, he went into the MRI exam confident nothing serious would be detected.

“I know it’s just a minor setback for me,” he said after Wednesday’s game. “I’m not too worried about it. But I felt like it was probably going to do more damage than good to keep going out there.”

Skaggs tore the ligament on a night he gave up no hits in 42/3 innings on July 31, 2014, and underwent surgery the next month. He required 23 months to return to the major leagues, but returned throwing harder than he had before the injury. Eppler said Wednesday’s contrast-dye MRI test demonstrated the graft used to repair the ligament was in “great” condition.

If Skaggs cannot pitch again this season, he would become the sixth Angels starter to suffer a season-ending injury this season.

Across all levels of the organization, Skaggs has thrown 881/3 innings this season, which, even if he’s healthy, will make it difficult for him to pitch a full 2017. In nine big league starts, he has logged a 4.13 earned-run average, with 50 strikeouts and 21 walks in 48 innings.

FROM OC REGISTER

Angels fall again to streaking Mariners, ensure losing season

By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

ANAHEIM – The auditions continued for the Angels on Wednesday night, with Jhoulys Chacin making a better impression than Jose Valdez.

Chacin, an impending free agent, pitched six strong innings, but then Valdez gave up a tie-breaking homer on one of his two pitches in the Angels’ 2-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

It was the 82nd loss of the season for the Angels, ensuring the fifth losing season in Manager Mike Scioscia’s 17 years at the helm.

September 15, 2016 Page 5 of 15

The Angels were swept by Seattle, which has won eight straight as the Mariners try to climb into a wild card spot.

Stymied by Hisashi Iwakuma for the most of the night, the Angels’ hitters left little room for error for their pitchers.

Valdez, one of the many relievers who have churned through the Angels bullpen as they look for short- and long-term answers, started the seventh in a 1-1 game.

Nelson Cruz yanked Valdez’s second pitch into the left-field seats, putting the Mariners up, 2-1. With lefty Kyle Seager due next, that was it for the right-handed Valdez.

It was his second straight outing in which he gave up a homer.

“At times he’s made some pitches,” Scioscia said. “He’s got a really explosive fastball and a slider, but the last two games he’s hung sliders and they’ve gone out of the park.”

The Angels got Valdez in a trade from the Detroit Tigers, who had designated him for assignment. Since he’s been with the Angels, he’s pitched 15-2/3 innings and allowed seven runs on three homers. Most discouraging, he has walked 12.

While Valdez and the other inexperienced pitchers on the staff are trying to create a spot with the Angels next season, Chacin is just looking for a spot anywhere in the majors.

It’s been an interesting season for Chacin, who the Angels acquired from the Atlanta Braves when they needed an arm to plug into their injury-ravaged rotation.

As a starter, Chacin had mostly struggled, with a couple exceptions, to the tune of a 6.21 ERA coming into Tuesday’s game. As a reliever, though, Chacin has a 3.77 ERA.

On Wednesday night, though, he took the mound as a starter – filling in for Tyler Skaggs, scratched a day earlier because of forearm tightness – and he pitched well.

“He threw a good game,” Scioscia said. “He commanded his sinker. He changed speeds very well. For a guy who hasn’t started in a while, that’s six strong innings against a team hitting the ball well.”

The Mariners didn’t score until the fifth, when Kyle Seager led off the inning with a homer.

Chacin bounced back and didn’t allow another run through his six innings.

He got a hand from Mike Trout, who made his second spectacular catch in as many nights. This time he dived to his right to grab a ball Seth Smith hit into the gap.

Offensively, the Angels couldn’t produce much.

Their only run came from the bottom of the lineup. Juan Graterol, a journeyman catcher making his first major league start, singed to start the third. He went to third on a perfect hit-and-run by Gregorio Petit, and he scored on a wild pitch.

That was all the Angels managed in 6-1/3 innings against Iwakuma. Their next good opportunity came in the seventh, when they had a runner at second and one out. But pinch-hitter Nick Buss grounded out and Yunel Escobar hit a flyout.

September 15, 2016 Page 6 of 15

The top four hitters in the Angels order – Escobar, Kole Calhoun, Trout and Albert Pujols – combined to go 0 for 14.

Angels' Tyler Skaggs gets good news from MRI

By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

ANAHEIM – While the Angels and their fans might have breathed a sigh of relief at the result of Tyler Skaggs’ MRI on Wednesday, Skaggs could have eased their concerns all along.

“I knew going in it wasn’t too serious,” said Skaggs, who learned earlier in the day he has just a mild flexor pronator strain.

It certainly could have been worse for a pitcher who has already come back from Tommy John surgery. Forearm tightness, as Skaggs reported, is often the description that precedes major surgery.

In this case, Skaggs said he’d been bothered “for a little while now,” by some issues in his arm, but he didn’t think it was serious.

“As soon as I’d throw and get loose, I’d feel fine,” he said. “I just felt like I was going to do more damage than good to keep going out and throwing.”

That’s why the Angels scratched Skaggs from Wednesday’s scheduled start and sent him for an MRI. He will go see Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed his Tommy John surgery, on Thursday for a confirmation.

After that, he will be out for about a week, and then it’s possible he could even pitch again this season.

“I want to show I’m healthy,” Skaggs said, “especially coming in for next season. But their plan is their plan.”

Angels general manager Billy Eppler said only that it’s “not inconceivable” that Skaggs could start again.

More likely, though, is that the Angels would take the safe route and shut him down, especially considering the season is lost.

For now, they are simply happy that they even have the choice.

Skaggs had Tommy John surgery in August 2014 and didn’t return to the majors for almost two years, with a shoulder injury this year adding a few months to the rehab. So when Skaggs reported tightness in his forearm, it sent up red flags, prompting an MRI.

The results were just about as good as the Angels could have gotten.

“It showed no structural damage, no damage to the ligament,” Eppler said. “The graft where he had his (ulnar collateral ligament) repair looked great.”

Eppler said the news was a relief.

“Considering the alternatives, I feel pretty good,” he said.

September 15, 2016 Page 7 of 15

Had the Angels lost Skaggs for next year, it would have been a devastating blow to their already-thin rotation.

The Angels have already had five starters knocked out by season-ending injuries. One of them (C.J. Wilson) is a free agent at the end of the season. Two others (Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano) have already been ruled out for next year because of Tommy John surgery. Another (Garrett Richards) still might be headed for Tommy John surgery. Matt Shoemaker, who has a skull fracture, is the most likely of the five to be back.

Ricky Nolasco is the only experienced, healthy starter who is under control for next year.

Besides Nolasco, whose performance is fairly predictable if not spectacular, the other pitchers on the 2017 starter depth chart have questions because of injuries, inexperience or both. The list includes Richards, Shoemaker, Nolasco, Skaggs, Alex Meyer, Brett Oberholtzer, Daniel Wright, Manny Banuelos, Nate Smith and whoever else they acquire over the winter.

ALSO

Cory Rasmus was activated from the disabled list on Wednesday after missing three months from abdominal surgery. Rasmus pitched twice at Rookie-level Orem last week, and he was expected to pitch twice more in the Pioneer League finals this week, but the injury to Tyler Skaggs created a void that re-routed Rasmus back to the majors. Rasmus replaces Jhoulys Chacin in the bullpen, since Chacin started in place of Skaggs...

Andrelton Simmons could return to the lineup as soon as Thursday, after missing three straight starts because of a bruised right hand...

The Angels transferred Matt Shoemaker to the 60-day disabled list to create a roster spot for Rasmus. It was a formality, since Shoemaker was already out for the season.

Angels' 2017 schedule released; they'll face NL East in interleague play

By JEFF FLETCHER/ STAFF WRITER

The Angels will open the 2017 season on April 3 at Oakland, and they will open their home schedule on Friday, April 7, against the Seattle Mariners.

The 2017 schedule, which was released Wednesday, shows the Angels playing the National League East in interleague play. They will host the Atlanta Braves (May 29-31), Washington Nationals (July 18-19) and Philadelphia Phillies (Aug. 1-3), and they will travel to play the New York Mets (May 19-21), Miami Marlins (May 26-28) and Nationals (Aug. 15-16).

They will also have their normal home-and-home four-game series against the Dodgers, June 26-27 at Dodger Stadium and June 28-29 at Angel Stadium.

The Angels finish the season at home against Seattle on Oct. 1.

September 15, 2016 Page 8 of 15

FROM ANGELS.COM

Angels come up short vs. streaking Mariners

By Greg Johns and Austin Laymance / MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- Kyle Seager and Nelson Cruz provided the offense with solo home runs and Hisashi Iwakuma picked up his career-high 16th win as the surging Mariners topped the Angels, 2-1, for their eighth straight win Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.

The Mariners moved within 1 1/2 games of the American League's second Wild Card spot at 78-68 as they equaled their longest winning streak since July 2013. Seattle now heads home after sweeping both the A's and Angels, with the 6-0 road trip just the third perfect trip of six games or more in club history.

"When we got on the plane, we just kept thinking, 'Win series, win series,'" said first-year manager Scott Servais. "And you win the first couple and, hey, why not sweep it? That's been the mentality of this club. Everybody is doing their part. It's the starters, the bullpen, the guys coming off the bench just doing their job."

Iwakuma allowed one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings as he improved to 16-11 with a 3.87 ERA. Relievers Tom Wilhelmsen, Steve Cishek and Edwin Diaz closed out the win by retiring the last seven batters in order, with the 22-year-old Diaz collecting his 16th save in 17 chances.

Angels starter Jhoulys Chacin pitched well as a late replacement for sore-armedTyler Skaggs, throwing six innings of one-run ball on three hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Chacin turned a 1-1 tie over to his bullpen, but reliever Jose Valdezimmediately gave up a home run to Cruz leading off the seventh.

For Chacin, it was his first start since Aug. 21 and his longest appearance since pitching a complete game against the Tigers on May 30.

"He threw a good game," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think he commanded his sinker, changed speeds very well, and for a guy who hadn't started in a while, that's six strong innings against a team that's been hitting the ball well."

The Angels have lost seven of their last eight, falling to 63-82. Seattle won the season series, 11-8.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Seager snaps skid: Seattle's third baseman has been one of the few Mariners not on a hot streak in September, but he snapped an 0-for-14 slump by jumping on a first-pitch fastball from Chacin and depositing it in the right-field seats in the fifth. Seager's blast, projected by Statcast™ to travel 419 feet, bumped up his career high to 29 for the season and tied the game at 1. Seager leads the Mariners with 93 RBIs, three shy of his career best.

"I was looking for a pitch to drive," Seager said. "Kuma was throwing really well, but we hadn't had too many sparks offensively, so I was just trying to be aggressive and make something happen and thankfully it worked out."

Trout takes hit away: Mike Trout robbed Seth Smith of a hit with a diving catch in left-center for the second out in the sixth inning, preventing a baserunner from reaching scoring position in a 1-1 game. It was the second time in as many nights that the Angels' star center fielder took a hit away from the Mariners.

"Mike was shading that way, but it's a big play at the time, for sure," Scioscia said. "He's playing hard."

September 15, 2016 Page 9 of 15

Angels buster: Cruz's go-ahead homer in the seventh was his 10th home run of the season against the Halos in 19 games. That's the second-most homers against one team by any player in the Majors this year (the Twins' Brian Dozier has 11 against the Royals), and it set a Mariners record for most against one opponent in a season (Jay Buhner had nine against the Twins in 1995). Cruz jumped on a 1-0 slider from Valdez and lined a shot down the left-field line for his 37th homer.

"It's baseball, you know?" Cruz said of his success against the Angels. "You go against other teams and don't get any homers. That's just the way baseball goes. You can't explain it."

Graterol makes most of opportunity: Angels catcher Juan Graterol went 2-for-2 and scored the club's only run in his first Major League start. It's been a long road for Graterol, who toiled for 11 seasons in the Minor Leagues before making his big league debut on Sept. 2.

"It's unbelievable," Graterol said. "I didn't expect that." More >

QUOTABLE "This environment is really special right now. It starts with Skip. He's built this culture, and this is a lot of fun and there's a lot of belief here. We're not stressing. That's the big thing. That's something that's been pretty refreshing. It's been a fun, clean, enjoyable environment. When you're having fun, you're going to play better. And when you play better, you win. So it works out." -- Seager, on the team's eight-game streak

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS When Juan Graterol scored a run on a wild pitch and gave the Angels a 1-0 lead in the third inning, it ended a string of 53 straight innings that the Mariners either led or were tied over their past seven games.

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW The Angels were successful on a challenge in the top of the third inning that prevented a Mariners run. With a runner on third and two outs, Mariners leadoff manNorichika Aoki hit a grounder to the right side and was ruled safe on a close play at first base. After a review of just over two minutes, the ruling on the field was overturned and the game remained scoreless.

WHAT'S NEXT Mariners: After an off-day on Thursday, Felix Hernandez (11-5, 3.58 ERA) opens a crucial six-game homestand for Seattle on Friday at 7:10 p.m. PT against the Astros'Collin McHugh (10-10, 4.86). Hernandez is 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in three career starts against Houston at Safeco Field. This is his first time facing the Astros this season.

Angels: Daniel Wright makes his second start for the Angels on Thursday at Angel Stadium when they open a four-game series against the contending Blue Jays. Wright went five innings against the Rangers in his club debut his last time out. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. PT.

Graterol steps up in first big league start

By Austin Laymance / MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- Angels catcher Juan Graterol paid his dues for 11 years in the Minor Leagues before he earned his first Major League start on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.

September 15, 2016 Page 10 of 15

Graterol made the most of his opportunity, calling a good game and going 2-for-2 with the Angels' only run in a 2-1 loss to the Mariners.

"It's unbelievable," said Graterol, who gave the Angels a 1-0 lead when he scored on a wild pitch in the third inning. "I didn't expect that."

Graterol could hardly hold back a smile as he addressed reporters after the game in the Angels' clubhouse. He had plenty of reasons to be happy.

"I'm just doing my job," he said. "It's 11 years, but if you trust yourself. If you're working hard, if you're doing the right things, that's why I'm here, I just try to do my job, try to help the team and show what I can do."

Graterol helped Angels starter Jhoulys Chacin navigate a tough Mariners lineup for six innings of one-run ball. It was Chacin's first start since Aug. 21, as he filled in for left-hander Tyler Skaggs, who was scratched because of a mild flexor pronator strain.

Chacin scattered three hits, struck out five and walked none. The only mistake he made was a fastball to Kyle Seager that went for a home run to open the fifth, tying the game at 1-1.

"I just think about trying to call a great game, just focus and call the right pitches for him," Graterol said. "He's throwing everything for a strike. He's always ahead in the count. Just one pitch for him, throw a fastball to Seager. Other than that, he's amazing. It's baseball, if you make one bad pitch."

Graterol had two of the Angels' three hits off Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma, who allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings to earn his 16th win.

Graterol singled through the right side of the infield in his first at-bat leading off the third inning. He singled to right field in his second at-bat and executed a sac bunt in the seventh.

The Angels promoted Graterol from Triple-A Salt Lake when rosters expanded on Sept. 1. He made his MLB debut against the Mariners on Sept. 2 in Seattle, entering as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning and belting a run-scoring double in the ninth in his first big league plate appearance.

Graterol signed a Minor League deal with the Angels in January and was invited to Major League Spring Training. He spent the season with Salt Lake before joining the Angels. Graterol started his professional career in the Royals organization and also spent time in the Yankees' farm system.

Another night, another amazing Trout catch

By Austin Laymance / MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- Angels center fielder and American League MVP candidate Mike Trouttook a hit away from the Mariners with a spectacular catch for the second time in as many games during Wednesday night's 2-1 loss.

September 15, 2016 Page 11 of 15

This time, Trout laid out for a diving catch in left-center to rob Seth Smith of a hit for the second out of the sixth inning. Trout's dazzling grab kept Ketel Marte at first base, preventing the Mariners from advancing the runner to scoring position in a 1-1 game.

"Mike was shading that way, but it's a big play at the time, for sure," Scioscia said. "He's playing hard."

Trout reached a top speed of 18.86 mph, covered 65.32 feet and had a 97.74 percent route efficiency on the play, according to Statcast™, which also projected Smith's line drive to have a hang time of 4.09 seconds.

On Tuesday, Trout made a leaping catch in deep center on a line drive by Mike Zunino, which would have scored a run. Zunino's sharp liner had an exit velocity of 109.6 mph and a launch angle of 15 degrees, according to Statcast™. Batted balls with those metrics are hits 70.5 percent of the time.

Angels aim to spoil Jays' postseason plans

By Alykhan Ravjiani / MLB.com |

After a tough homestand, the Blue Jays hope a trip to the West Coast will help them get back on track, as Toronto opens a four-game series with the Angels on Thursday.

The Blue Jays dropped two of three against the American League East-leading Red Sox and the last-place Rays. Toronto is in the thick of both the AL East and AL Wild Card races, two back of Boston in the division and holding down the second Wild Card spot.

"The West Coast has never been friendly to anybody," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "That's going to be a big test for us, and Seattle has a really good ball club, too. This next road trip will say a lot in terms of what happens to us."

Toronto will give the ball to left-hander J.A. Happ, who shut down the Red Sox his last time out. The hard-throwing southpaw limited Boston to two runs over six innings while striking out five and walking just one.

Seeking his first Major League win, righty Daniel Wright makes his second start with the Angels. In his first start Saturday, Wright allowed four runs in five innings in a no-decision against the Rangers.

The Angels took two out of three from the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in August. The all-time series is tied at 201-201.

Three things to know about this game

• Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson underwent an MRI on Wednesday on his sore right hip. Donaldson's status for Thursday's game is uncertain, but he traveled with the team to Anaheim. The reigning AL MVP winner has missed the past three games and hopes to play Thursday.

September 15, 2016 Page 12 of 15

• Kole Calhoun (5-for-10, two homers), Mike Trout (4-for-11, four RBIs) and Albert Pujols (8-for-29, one homer, six RBIs) have had success against Happ.

• Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin received the day off Wednesday and is expected to return to the lineup Thursday.

Skaggs' MRI comes back clean

By Austin Laymance / MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- The Angels received positive news on left-hander Tyler Skaggs on Wednesday, as an MRI showed no structural damage to the ligament in his left elbow. Skaggs was diagnosed with a mild flexor pronator strain and will be shut down for seven days, according to general manager Billy Eppler.

"I feel great," Skaggs said. "I knew going in that it wasn't too serious. I played catch, played long toss, threw a bullpen, just felt like it wasn't getting loose and wanted just to let them know that I wasn't feeling 100 percent and take all the precautions necessary and came back just as I expected."

Skaggs was scratched late Tuesday from his scheduled start Wednesday against the Mariners. He's in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, so the Angels were relieved with Wednesday's news. Eppler said there has not been a determination to shut down Skaggs for the final weeks of the regular season.

"We'll have him in about a seven-day timeout and then we'll just see where he is when he picks up a baseball again," Eppler said. "It's not inconceivable that he could start again."

Skaggs said it's important for him to pitch again this season.

"I want to show that I'm healthy going out, especially coming in for next season," Skaggs said. "But at the same time, their plan is their plan. I know that it's a minor setback for me and I'm not too worried about it."

Eppler said the graft where Skaggs had his UCL repaired "looked great" and the pitcher will have a followup on Thursday with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed his Tommy John surgery in August 2014.

Skaggs said he's been dealing with some discomfort for "a little while now."

"As soon as I throw and get loose, I feel fine, but just felt like I was probably going to do more damage than good to keep going out there and throwing," he said.

Still, the injury comes at a time when Skaggs had been pitching well, going 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA over his last three starts. Skaggs has pitched 87 1/3 innings this season between the Majors and Minor Leagues.

"It's just if you have Tommy John, it's just normal wear and tear, I think," Skaggs said. "In the Minor Leagues until now, I haven't missed a start. I haven't missed anything. So I've been pretty

September 15, 2016 Page 13 of 15

healthy. It's just one of those things where it's normal wear and tear. I'm not too worried about it. Looking forward to moving forward."

Angels open 2017 schedule in Oakland

Braves, Nationals, Phillies coming to Anaheim next season

By Austin Laymance / MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- The Angels will open the 2017 season on the road against Oakland on Monday, April 3, for the opener of a four-game series, and they wrap up the campaign at home against Seattle on Sunday, Oct. 1, according to the tentative schedule released Wednesday by Major League Baseball.

The Angels will play 16 games against National League East opponents and four against the Dodgers in Interleague Play. The Angels will host the Braves for a three-game series May 29-31, the Nationals for a two-game set July 18-19 and the Phillies for a three-game series Aug. 1-3. The Halos will play the Dodgers at Angel Stadium for a two-game series June 28-29 and visit Dodger Stadium for a two-game set June 26-27.

The Angels will play Interleague series on the road against the Mets (May 19-21), Marlins (May 26-28) and Nationals (Aug. 15-16).

After their season-opening road trip to Oakland, the Angels return to Angel Stadium for a six-game homestand against the Mariners and Rangers. The home opener is set for April 7 against Seattle.

The Angels will end the regular season at home in consecutive seasons for the first time since doing so over a five-year span, from 1999-2003.

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cruz, Seager homer as Mariners edge Angels for 8th straight

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Ask the streaking Seattle Mariners what the primary catalyst for their success

has been over the past few weeks, and they won't say home runs or quality starting pitching.

They'll say it's fun.

Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager homered to lead the Mariners past the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 on

Wednesday night, extending their longest winning streak of the season to eight games.

The surging Mariners moved within 1 1/2 games of Toronto for the second AL wild card, with

Detroit the only team in between.

September 15, 2016 Page 14 of 15

"This environment is really special right now," Seager said. "It starts with (manager Scott

Servais). He's built this culture and it's a lot of fun. There's a lot of belief here."

Hisashi Iwakuma pitched into the seventh inning and earned his 16th win for Seattle (78-68),

which completed a three-game sweep.

It's the first time the Mariners have won eight in a row since July 2013. They have the longest

active streak in the majors.

"Guys are really confident, really happy and the energy is up," Servais said. "We're just focusing

on one game, that's the key. And then you get on the plane and you're thinking, just win the

series. And you win the first couple and you think, why not sweep it? That's kind of been our

attitude."

Cruz hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh off Jose Alvarez (1-3), his 37th of the season and

fourth in four games. It was the slugger's 10th home run this year against Los Angeles, more

than any other Mariners player has hit in one season against a single opponent.

Jay Buhner belted nine off Minnesota in 1995.

Seager hit his 29th of the year off Jhoulys Chacin in the fifth to tie the score at 1.

Edwin Diaz pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save.

Iwakuma (16-11) won his second straight, allowing one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. He

exited after Cliff Pennington bunted for a leadoff single and advanced on Juan Graterol's

sacrifice.

"He dialed it up. You could see the look on his face," Servais said. "He's very good at slowing the

game down. It's almost to the point where it drives you crazy, like, let's go! But that's what he

does; he slows it down, he executes pitches."

Tom Wilhelmsen retired the next two batters.

"The bullpen was really solid tonight and they needed to be," Servais said. "There's not much

room for error."

Chacin came out of the Angels' bullpen to make his first start since Aug. 21, in place of

injured Tyler Skaggs. Chacin settled for a no-decision, limiting the Mariners to one run and

three hits in six innings while striking out five.

"I think he commanded the sinker, changed speeds very well," Angels manager Mike Scioscia

said. "And for a guy who hadn't started very well, he threw six strong innings against a team

who has been hitting the ball well."

Since losing five straight starts through June and July, Chacin is 1-0 with a 2.87 ERA as a starter.

September 15, 2016 Page 15 of 15

Chacin might need to make another start in place of Skaggs. An MRI revealed no damage to his

surgically repaired elbow, but Skaggs will be out at least a week. He said he plans to pitch again

this season, however, possibly making Chacin the odd man out in the rotation at some point.

"I tried to call the right pitches for him and he did an unbelievable job," Graterol said. "He's

doing great. He's throwing everything for a strike. He's always ahead in the count."

Graterol scored on a wild pitch by Iwakuma in the third.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: Skaggs had an MRI to find the cause of soreness in his left forearm. The test showed no

damage to his ulnar collateral ligament, which was repaired with Tommy John surgery in 2014.

The MRI came back clean but Skaggs was diagnosed with a mild pronator strain and will be shut

down for at least seven days. ... RHP Cory Rasmus (groin strain) was activated from the 60-day

disabled list. Rasmus hasn't pitched in a major league game since June 12 and was on a rehab

assignment last week with Class-A Orem. ... RHP Matt Shoemaker (skull fracture) was

transferred to the 60-day DL.

UP NEXT

Mariners: RHP Felix Hernandez opens the series against Houston on Friday. Hernandez is 7-1

with a 4.22 ERA in his last 11 starts since returning from the disabled list on July 20. Against the

Astros, he is 3-3 with a 3.45 ERA in eight starts.

Angels: RHP Daniel Wright pitches the opener of a four-game series against Toronto on

Thursday. Set to make his fourth major league start, Wright, who was claimed off waivers from

Cincinnati on Sept. 4, is 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in the big leagues this season.