KC Royals Set to Begin Tough Series with Seattle Mariners

It’s time for our boys in blue to make their first trek west as they begin a series in the Pacific Northwest tonight. Their opponent the Mariners currently sit six games below .500 after many preseason picks had them contending for the AL West division title.

Court will be in session when the Mariners and their king welcome the Royals to Safeco Field tonight. Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Which M’s team will Kansas City see this week on their annual trip to beautiful Seattle?

Probable Pitching Match-ups:
Monday, 9:10 pm: Joe Blanton/RHP (1-0, 1.80) v. Felix Hernandez/RHP (10-3, 3.08)
Tuesday, 9:10 pm: Jeremy Guthrie/RHP (5-4, 5.55) v. Mike Montgomery/LHP (1-2, 2.73)
Wednesday, 9:10 pm: Danny Duffy/LHP (2-3, 5.87) v. Roenis Elias/LHP (4-4, 3.56)

Comments on Pitching Match-ups – By the numbers it’s hard to not give Seattle a leg up in all three games based on their starting pitching match-ups against KC. Our KC Royals aren’t throwing the best trio by the numbers but Safeco is a big enough stadium that it may help all three.

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Game 1: This might be on paper the biggest mismatch of pitchers this season in MLB, former Cy Young winner “King” Felix taking on Blanton. Following two tough starts, Hernandez bounced back against San Francisco in his last start. Blanton is coming off a win in his first start which came at home against Milwaukee which he threw well.
Game 2: Former Royal farmhand Montgomery faces his original team when he takes the mound on Tuesday night. As we all know, he was part of the Wil Myers trade and might finally be reaching the high expectations he once had. Guthrie throwing at Safeco might be a nice combination as we’ve seen him pitch much better when the park is bigger and not a launching pad.
Game 3: Elias is .500 and has a respectable ERA, but the biggest thing he’s got going for him is that he throws left handed. The Royals have struggled against south paws this season, more recently both losses to Boston were against lefties. Duffy returns from a DL/rehab trip that building up his pitch count was more important than result so we’ll see how he comes back.

Series Predictions – As I mentioned, Seattle will start three pitchers who on paper look to be better than Kansas City’s three scheduled to go. It bears mentioning that the Mariners, if these games were played on paper, would likely have a much different record. Safeco Field seems to be a good fit for our Royals with the speed of Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain and others. Due to this, I feel that gives KC an advantage which should be a good start to this trip. Prediction: Royals take two of three

2014 Meeting:
Seattle took five of seven match-ups but these teams split out west with the M’s sweeping Kansas City at Kauffman Stadium.

Franchise History:
All-time this series sides with the Royals who are 217-203 against the Mariners, however trail when visiting the Pacific Northwest with a record of 108-98, KC is just 24-39 at the current ballpark which opened in 1999.

TV/Radio Coverage:
FOX Sports Kansas City will broadcast all three games with Ryan Lefebvre and Rex Hudler on the call. Royals Live takes before and after the game with host Joel Goldberg live from the field.

The Royals Radio Network (610 Sports in Kansas City) has Steve Physioc and Steve Stewart describing all the action from the Emerald City.

2015 Series Schedule/Results v. Mariners
June 22-24: Safeco Field
September 22-24: Kauffman Stadium

Game Notes:
Seattle Mariners
Kansas City Royals

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