ANAHEIM -- Mike Leake’s reputation as an “innings eater” is going to be one of the Mariners’ main selling points when trying to move the right-hander ahead of the July 31 Trade Deadline. His performance in Friday night’s 13-0 loss at Angel Stadium didn’t exactly match up with that description.

“I wasn’t quite pinpoint on black [in the strike zone] or quite up as much as I would like to have been,” said Leake, who labored with 47 pitches and seven runs allowed in just two-thirds of an inning. “But everything seemed to kind of be a little more elevated as well, not quite on the lower black, either.”

The shortest start of Leake’s 10-season career was an afterthought on a night when Taylor Cole and Felix Pena combined to throw a remarkable and emotional no-hitter for the Angels. But it’s worth examining how Leake’s performance could impact his status as probable trade chip.

Pitching on eight days’ rest due to the All-Star break, Leake’s lack of crispness was evident. Nothing in his vast arsenal of pitches seemed to be working for him, as he gave up hits on his cutter, sinker, four-seamer and changeup. He was hit hard, too -- five of the eight hits he surrendered had exit velocities of greater than 98 mph, according to Statcast.

“Mike was not quite as sharp, obviously, hadn’t pitched in like, nine days,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Mike needs to be sharp on the edges, going back and forth, changing speeds a little bit, [and he] wasn’t able to do that as effectively as he normally does. They were on him early, he threw everything but the kitchen sink at them, just not getting results at all.”

The tough start is, most likely, just a blip for Leake, who is usually good for some length even on nights when he’s not at his sharpest; in fact, no start that he’d made in 2019 had been shorter than five innings prior to Friday.

And Leake’s resume is likely strong enough to withstand the hit when it comes to his trade value. Seven straight seasons of at least 30 starts and undeniable consistency in the first half won’t be undone by a single poor start -- so long as he’s able to bounce back his next time out, anyway.

Strickland throws bullpen session

Closer Hunter Strickland, on the injured list since March 30 with a Grade 2 right lat strain, had a successful bullpen session on Saturday in Anaheim, according to Servais.

“Outstanding,” said Servais. “Looked really, really good. I went down and watched it myself. He threw 25 pitches, no reservations, did not hold back at all. The ball was coming out hot, and the breaking ball was really good as well.”

Servais reiterated that the next step for Strickland is going to Tacoma to throw live batting practice on Wednesday. If that goes well, Strickland would then go out on a rehab assignment.

No rotation shuffling

Left-hander Tommy Milone, who is scheduled to pitch Wednesday in Oakland, ended up being called upon to throw 2 1/3 innings in Friday’s game. Thanks to an off-day on Monday, Milone’s unexpected appearance won’t affect the Mariners’ rotation plans.

“He was available -- that’s why he was down in the bullpen tonight, if something did happen crazy early in the game,” said Servais. “He wasn’t gonna pitch until the fifth game coming out of the break. And he’s been really consistent for us. He settled the game down for a little bit, allowed us to get through the bullpen without using everybody tonight.”

Milone was pitching on seven days’ rest against the Angels. Now, he’ll be pitching on four days’ rest on Wednesday, instead of 13. While the Mariners plan to use an opener in front of him, as they have the past three times he’s pitched, that could change, as it did with Wade LeBlanc ahead of his start against the Angels on Saturday.

“We just kind of take it start by start,” said Servais. “Can’t speak to what we’ll go with on Wednesday for Tommy. … We’ll just have to wait and see where we’re at.”