Mariners Pregame: Paxton goes on DL with pec strain, lineups and starters against Angels

Game 117: Seattle Mariners (59-57) against Los Angeles Angels (58-58) at 7:10 p.m. at Safeco Field.

The M’s fell to the Angels 6-3 on Thursday as Mike Trout delivered a there-run double in the top of the ninth against M’s closer Edwin Diaz.

Of bigger importance, however, was starting pitcher James Paxton leaving in the seventh inning with a strained pectoral muscle. On Friday, the team placed Paxton on the 10-day disabled list and recalled RHP Andrew Moore to take his place in the rotation.

Manager Scott Servais said in his pregame press conference the team expects that Paxton will be out at least three weeks with the injury.

Moore, 23, was 3-3 with a 3.69 ERA (25 ER, 61 innings) with 54 strikeouts in 11 starts with AAA Tacoma. In his six starts with Seattle this season, he is 1-3 with a 5.65 ERA (23 ER, 36 2/3 innings) with 16 strikeouts and four walks over two stints.

Lineups and starters

Starters: LHP Marco Gonzales (0-0, 12.27) vs. RHP Ricky Nolasco (5-12, 5.09)

Mariners Notes

• 2B Robinson Canó currently has 22 doubles and 19 home runs, while Nelson Cruz has 19 doubles and 27 home runs. With one more Canó homer, and one more Cruz double, Seattle will have a pair of 20 homer/20 double teammates for the fifth consecutive season, and the 27th time in franchise history. Mike Zunino (14 2B, 16 HR) and Kyle Seager (28 2B, 17 HR) are also on pace for 20/20 seasons. Seattle’s only had four or more players record 20/20 years seven times, and not since 2007 (Beltre, J. Guillen, Ibanez, Sexson).
• DH Nelson Cruz brought his A.L.-leading RBI total to 90 with a two-run home run on Thursday night. He is 15th Mariner in club history to reach 90 RBI by the club’s 116th game (last: Raul Ibañez, 2006, 93 RBI). Cruz is on pace for 125 RBI this season, which would shatter his current career-high (108 RBI with Baltimore in 2014).

This Day in Mariners History

In 1994, Randy Johnson K’d an MLB season high 15 batters in a 4-1 complete game victory at Oakland. He also threw the final pitch of the 1994 season (players strike), fanning the A’s Ernie Young.

Thursday’s Game

Minor league report