Los Angeles Angels star and three-time American League MVP Mike Trout hasn't played since last Wednesday but is expected back in the lineup for Tuesday night's series opener at the Seattle Mariners after his wife, Jessica, gave birth to their first child, Beckham Aaron Trout, on Thursday. In addition, highly-touted outfield prospect Jo Adell is expected to make his big-league debut. The Angels are solid favorites on the MLB odds.
"He'll play in Seattle," Angels manager Joe Maddon said of Trout. "We gave him another day. We had to give him one more day to make it all work, and we did."
Trout is off to a somewhat slow start by his incredibly high standards, batting .292 with a homer and four RBIs. Trout's 41 home runs vs. Seattle are his most against any opponent and rank second-most all-time behind Rafael Palmeiro's 52.
As for Adell, he entered this season ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect by CBS Sports. The 21-year-old was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2017 draft. Last season across three levels of the minors, Adell hit .289 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs in 76 games. He has been working out with the Angels' reserve squad in Long Beach, Calif., playing intrasquad games.
The Angels are a disappointing 3-7, largely because their pitching staff is awful. Their team ERA is 4.83. Presumed ace Shohei Ohtani was sent for an MRI after experiencing some right arm discomfort during his start Sunday vs. the Astros. His ERA in two starts is an ugly 37.80, and Ohtani isn't hitting much, either, at .148. The MRI revealed a Grade 1-2 strain and Ohtani probably is done as a pitcher this year but can still DH.
Southpaw Andrew Heaney (0-0, 2.79 ERA) is scheduled to start on the mound Tuesday for the 10 p.m. ET ESPN game. Heaney faced the Mariners last Wednesday and allowed two runs and five hits over five innings in a no-decision. In 10 career starts against the Mariners, Heaney is 1-4 with a 3.60 ERA. He hasn't won personally against them since July 12, 2015.
Seattle is scheduled to start rookie Justin Dunn (0-0, 6.00). He was opposite Heaney last Wednesday and went three innings, allowing two earned. Ohtani homered off him.
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