Yordano Ventura (12-8, 4.40 ERA) and Roenis Elias (5-8, 4.06 ERA) take the hill in the second of a three-game series between the Kansas City Royals (87-63) and the Seattle Mariners (74-77) at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The Mariners won the last game 11-2 and Seattle leads the series 1-0. Action begins at 8:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Sep. 23 and can be seen on FSKC and RTNW.
Ventura pitched 5.0 innings in his most recent start, surrendering two runs (one unearned), striking out four and walking two in an 8-4 win over the Indians. Lorenzo Cain (.304, 95 Rs, 16 HRs, 68 RBIs, 28 SBs) went 1 for 3 yesterday. Elias went 0.1 inning, surrendering zero runs and striking out one in a 3-1 defeat to the Rangers in his last outing. Nelson Cruz (.311, 86 Rs, 42 HRs, 88 RBIs, 3 SBs) has been successful at the plate for the Mariners, going 2 for 4 yesterday with one run.
Kansas City is a -173 favorite against Seattle and the Over/Under (O/U) for this game is sitting at eight runs. The Royals have recorded an overall money line of +1,653 and have shown high-level performance as a favorite this season with a record of 53-34. The Royals have no trouble scoring as they rank fourth in the AL in offense with 4.5 runs per game. The Royals are one of the best in the AL in terms of hits at home with an impressive 9.3 per game. Kansas City is one of the best in the MLB in terms of steals, swiping 97 bases. As for the pitchers, opposing offenses have been stifled by the Royals, who have a team ERA of only 3.77.
In games where it is the underdog, Seattle has a 31-32 record and an overall money line of -1,327. They played solid baseball as the underdog over their last 10 games with a 3-1 record, and a 6-4 record SU. The Mariners can change the game with one swing of the bat, ranking fifth in the league with 187 home runs. Seattle is excellent at drawing walks with 3.0 per game, ranking fifth in the AL. The Mariners allow 4.5 runs per game, but have improved upon those numbers in the past 10 games, allowing 2.8 runs per game during that span.
The Royals have a 26-26 record against left-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Elias takes the mound. Ventura (RHP) will be on the hill against the Mariners, who have a 51-49 record against right-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – KC, O/U – Over
Notes
The Royals managed to give up five walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Mariners who are coming in with a 20-10 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When they are outhit, the Royals are 13-54. The Mariners have an 18-49 record when opponents outhit them.
Ranking 23rd in home runs, Kansas City has hit 130 this season. Seattle ranks fifth with 187 home runs.
Ranking 11th, Seattle is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 8.53 per game. Kansas City ranks in the top five at third with 9.31.
Ranking 13th, Seattle is in the top half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.730). Kansas City ranks in the top 10 at ninth with an OPS of .739.
The Mariners are 36-61 in games where they allow one or more home runs. The Royals are 39-47 when they allow at least one homer.
