After a taut 1-0 win to end their road trip, the M’s return home to face the Angels. Salvaging a game in that Houston series was important, and two scoreless IP by the bullpen in some high leverage spots help put the previous game’s ‘pen implosion behind them. And just as importantly, they kick off this series behind the guy who’s become the team’s de facto ace, Chris Flexen.
With Marco on the IL and with Justin Dunn and Yusei Kikuchi intriguing but still perhaps a bit inconsistent, Flexen’s becoming a linch pin in the rotation. Unlike with Dunn, there’s no bizarre BABIP thing to muse over (Flexen’s BABIP is freakishly *high*), so it’s really been down to his ability to limit walks and HRs.