Mariners v. Royals series preview: Four meaningful games

Game Four – Sunday – First Pitch: 1:15 PM CT

Sunday has, currently, Erasmo Ramirez squaring off against Ian Kennedy. In Ramirez’s first start back with the Mariners, he made it through 3.2 innings before surrendering 3 runs, and Servais pulled him out of the game before more damage could be done. Ramirez is in a tough spot as a starter, because he isn’t ever going to get a team deep in the game. He has the stuff to go through the order 2 times, but will allow his fair share of baserunners, so those 2 times through will only get him at the most  4-5 innings.

Possibly, and this has no real weight, so take it as solely speculation, but possibly, the Mariners could call up Marco Gonzales to make his first big league start since being acquired from the Cardinals. Dipoto said we would see him soon, and after Ramirez giving an effort of exactly what fans expected, maybe soon is this weekend.

Kennedy has been solid of late, with six quality starts in his last eight starts, but has yet to record a win at Kauffman Stadium yet this year. He has a 4.60 ERA with a BAA of .222. The Mariners definitely could go to town against Kennedy and pick up a big win Sunday.