Los Angeles Angels at Seattle Mariners (2026-06-29). Ryan Johnson vs George Kirby at T-Mobile Park.

Ryan Johnson enters this contest with a season ERA of 8.84 and a WHIP of 1.71 across 19.1 innings, indicating significant struggles with both run prevention and baserunners. His K/9 of 6.98 is below average, and his BB/9 of 4.19 suggests control issues that contribute to his elevated WHIP. Johnson's recent trend shows an upward movement in ERA, and his quality start percentage is a low 16.7%, reflecting a consistent inability to pitch deep into games effectively. George Kirby, conversely, has posted a much stronger season with a 3.94 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 96 innings. His K/9 of 7.88 is slightly better than Johnson's, and his excellent BB/9 of 2.16 highlights superior command. Kirby's ERA trend is moving downward, and he boasts a robust 66.7% quality start rate, demonstrating reliability and efficiency.

Offensively, the Angels hold a slight edge in OPS at 0.716 compared to the Mariners' 0.695, and they have scored more runs this season, 386 to 342. Both teams have similar home run totals, with the Angels at 100 and the Mariners at 102. On the pitching side, the Mariners possess a considerably stronger staff, with a team ERA of 3.72 and a WHIP of 1.19, significantly outperforming the Angels' 4.59 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. This disparity in pitching staff performance could be a critical factor in the game's outcome, especially given the Angels' starting pitcher's recent struggles.

The head-to-head history between these two teams in 2025 shows the Mariners winning 9 of 13 matchups, often with competitive scores. The total line for this game is set at 7.5 runs, which appears to align with the pitching matchup, considering Johnson's high ERA and Kirby's more consistent, but not dominant, performance. The Mariners' strong team pitching and Kirby's ability to limit runs could lean towards a lower-scoring affair, despite Johnson's potential to concede runs.