Seattle Mariners Gameday Preview versus the Royals

Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports. Mariners won 8-3.

Initials Thoughts:

Chicks dig the long ball. In last night’s game the M’s launched two of them, netting a victory for wheeling and dealing Chris Young.

The M’s are back at 2 games over .500, still 2.5 behind the division leading Athletics. The way the pack is starting to look in the AL West, if the M’s stay competitive, this division could go down to the wire.

Game Details:

Seattle Mariners 19-17. Last 10: (7-3).

Kansas City Royals 17-19. Last 10: (3-7).

Time: 1:10 PM Pacific. Location: Seattle, Washington. Safeco Field.

MATCHUPS:

Pitching:

Seattle Mariners LHP Roenis Elias (3-2, 3.27 ERA) v. Jeremy Guthrie RHP (2-2, 3.91 ERA).

EDGE: Elias. His stuff isn’t always on point, his command isn’t always spot-on, but he is a hard-nosed Major League pitcher that is learning to battle when his stuff isn’t at his best. Guthrie has had a good start to the season, though he has given up 8 home runs in his starts. Both pitch well, but a few runs will be scored in today’s game.

Projected Lineups:

Mariners:

James Jones 8

Stefen Romero 9

Robinson Cano 4

Corey Hart DH

Justin Smoak 3

Kyle Seager 5

Dustin Ackley 7

Mike Zunino 2

Willie Bloomquist 6

Of Note: Why didn’t James Jones get a real look in spring training? He batted leadoff Saturday and went 1-2 with 2 walks. And get this, in his 16 plate appearances he has 3 walks, and 2 whole strikeouts. Makes Abraham Almonte‘s struggles seem even more dramatic. Also, Michael Saunders hyperextended his knee in last night’s game.

Royals:

Nori Aoki 8

Eric Hosmer 2

Billy Butler DH

Alex Gordon 7

Danny Valencia 4

Lorenzo Cain 8

Mike Moustakas 5

Brett Hayes 2

Alcides Escobar 6

Of Note: The Royals bats were quieted once again in the series with only 4 hits, two of them by DH Billy Butler. The night before they managed 14 singles off of Maurer, but they were quieted once again by surprise Mariner starting pitching.

Other Notes:

The AL West race is getting tighter: the M’s are 19-17, the Angels are 18-17, and the Rangers are 19-18. All within 3 games of the division-leading A’s at 22-15– who have won three in a row after losing their first three to the M’s in this week’s series.

Lowly Houston sits 11 games back already, at a meager 11-26.

Final Thoughts:

As Daniel said the other day, let the good times roll! These Mariners are winning in all the small ways competitive teams eek out their victories. Smart, solid baseball and big plays when big plays are needed. It’s Mother’s Day, so expect the boys in blue to treat their mother’s to a happy happy day.

Score Prediction:

Mariners 5, Royals 2