The set-up: The 63-54 Mariners open a four-game series in Anaheim against the Angels on a 10-2 run which has moved the team into second place in the AL West (5 1/2 games back of Texas). The team's current hot streak also has them within two games of the Boston Red Sox for the AL's second wild card spot. As for the Angels, coming off an 85-77 season in 2015 and a ML-high 98-win season in 2014, this year's team is in a ‘free-fall!' LA currently owns a 10-game losing streak, the team's worst since 1999 and the longest in manager Mike Sciocia's 17-year tenure. That finds them 49-68, just barely ahead of the AL's two-worst teams, the 47-69 Rays and the 47-71 Twins.

The pitching matchup: "King Felix" (6-4, 3.39 ERA) takes the mound for Seattle and Ricky Nolasco (4-9, 5.14 ERa) gets the ball for LA. Hernandez won the American League's Cy Young Award in 2010 and entered this season having made 30-plus start in each of the last 10 seasons, totaling 139 wins. However, injuries have limited him to just 15 starts this season (he missed seven weeks because of a strained right calf), leaving him with only six wins and the team with a 9-6 (plus-$128) record in those outings. Nolasco will be making his third start since coming from the Minnesota Twins for left-hander Hector Santiago in a four-player trade back on August 1. He allowed two runs and one walk in six innings while conceding six hits and striking out six last Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs but took a loss in the 3-1 defeat. In his first start, he allowed five ERs in six innings of a no decision.

The pick: The bottom line is, the Angels are a total mess plus Nolasco takes the mound having not won since July 9 and in 11 previous home starts this season, owns a 5.30 ERA. Hernandez has not pitched like a ‘king' in 2016 but Seattle has won four of his five starts since he came off the DL. Seattle has posted an AL-low 2.83 ERA in August, while Los Angeles has recorded an MLB-worst 6.84 ERA this month. You do the math! Seattle is a 10* play.