Jorge Polanco, Mariners Eye Series Sweep of Struggling Angels

The Seattle Mariners have gone from last place to leading the AL West in just under three weeks, and a major reason has been the bat of Jorge Polanco. With the Los Angeles Angels reeling, Seattle will look to complete a short two-game sweep on Wednesday behind red-hot Polanco and right-hander Emerson Hancock.

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Polanco Continues Torrid Stretch

Jorge Polanco delivered all five of Seattle’s runs in Tuesday’s 5-3 win, launching a three-run homer in the second and a two-run blast in the seventh. The reigning American League Player of the Week now has six home runs over his last six games and nine on the season, tied for second in the AL.

What makes Polanco’s surge even more impressive is that he’s doing it while nursing a mild oblique strain and serving as the designated hitter. He’s also been batting almost exclusively left-handed. While his splits against southpaws suggest a potential rest day against lefty Tyler Anderson, it may be tough for manager Dan Wilson to take him out of the lineup in his current form.

Polanco is hitless in six career at-bats versus Anderson, but left-handed hitters have had unusual success against the Angels’ veteran this season, batting .348 compared to just .120 by right-handers.

Mariners Riding Win Streak

Seattle has won three in a row and 14 of their last 19, transforming themselves from early-season underachievers into division leaders. Emerson Hancock (1-1, 7.71 ERA) will get the nod on Wednesday as he looks to build off two straight solid outings, including six innings of two-run ball in a win over Boston.

The Mariners’ bullpen has also been a force, with Andres Munoz closing the door Tuesday for his MLB-leading 11th save.

Angels Continue to Spiral

Meanwhile, the Angels have lost four straight and 12 of their last 16, falling into last place in the AL West. Offense continues to be their Achilles’ heel — they rank second-to-last in MLB with a .211 team batting average and struck out 11 times in Tuesday’s loss. Logan O’Hoppe provided the lone highlight with his eighth homer of the season.

Manager Ron Washington is still looking for consistency from his lineup, emphasizing better situational hitting over power alone.

“We’ve got guys that can hit the ball out of the ballpark,” Washington said, “but I just want to be a team that continues to pass the baton.”

Pitching Matchup: Anderson vs. Hancock

Tyler Anderson (2-0, 2.60 ERA) will look to halt the skid for Los Angeles. While his overall numbers are solid, his splits reveal vulnerability to left-handed hitters — a factor Seattle may try to exploit. Anderson is 1-2 with a 5.22 ERA in eight career starts versus the Mariners.

Seattle counters with Hancock, who is making his first career appearance against the Angels. He’s been more composed in recent starts after a rocky season debut, and the Mariners will hope for continued progress from the young righty.

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Final Thoughts

With Jorge Polanco scorching at the plate and Seattle clicking in all facets, the Mariners will look to capitalize on their momentum and complete the sweep. Given their current form, they represent one of the stronger MLB Expert Picks heading into Wednesday’s slate.