Series Preview: Mariners (37-36) at Royals (39-33)

What a difference a month and change makes eh? When Kansas City was in Seattle a month ago, both these teams were still figuring themselves out; flash forward to tonight and both are over .500 teams. In addition to their record Kauffman Stadium welcomes back the first place Royals.

That’s right your first place Kansas City Royals return home against the Seattle Mariners starting tonight. Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Probably Pitching Match-ups:
Friday, 7:10 pm – Hisashi Iwakuma/RHP (5-3, 2.59) v. James Shields/RHP (7-3, 3.44)
Saturday, 1:10 pm – Chris Young/RHP (6-4, 3.40) v. Jason Vargas/LHP (7-2, 3.25)
Sunday, 1:10 pm – Roenis Elias/LHP (6-5, 3.91) v. Yordano Ventura/RHP (5-5, 3.26)

Comments on Pitching Match-ups – Friday night is the best pitcher this side of Felix Hernandez for the M’s in my opinion in terms of giving KC trouble. The Royals are throwing their top three pitchers this weekend with Shields, Vargas and Ventura (again my opinion) which should yield results given the offense continues.

Series Predictions – This weekend should be incredible at Kauffman Stadium with a first place team coming off a winning road trip and being six games over .500. Big crowd and Big Game James to open, as a fan I’m expecting the worst but predicting the best and will say BRING OUT YOUR BROOMS!!!

2014 Meetings:
These teams met over Mother Day weekend last month at Safeco Field and split the series alternating wins and losses. Seattle won 1-0, 3-1 with Kansas City winning 6-1, 9-7 during the four game series in the Pacific Northwest.

Franchise History:
Kansas City added two more wins and losses in the all-time series which now stands at 217-200. When the teams play in the city of fountains they’re 119-92 last year the boys in blue went 3-1 against the M’s at the K.

TV/Radio Coverage:
Fans can tune into FOX Sports Kansas City for two of the three games with Ryan Lefebvre  and Rex Hudler on TV. Joel Goldberg and Jeff Montgomery hosts Royals Live before and after from Rivals. Royals Hall of Famer/2007 Ford C. Frick Award winner Denny Matthews is joined in the booth by Steve Physioc and Steve Stewart on the Royals Radio Network (610 Sports Radio in KC) describing the action from the Kauffman Stadium.

AL Central Standings (June 20):
Kansas City Royals (39-33, – GB)
Detroit Tigers (37-32, .5 GB)
Cleveland Indians (37-36, 2.5 GB)
Chicago White Sox (35-38, 4.5 GB)
Minnesota Twins (33-38, 5.5 GB)

Series Schedule/Results v. Mariners (Tied 2-2)
May 8-11, 2014 – Safeco Field: L 1-0, W 6-1, L 3-1, W 9-7
June 20-22, 2014 – Kauffman Stadium

Game Notes:
Seattle Mariners
Kansas City Royals