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Seattle Mariners probable pitchers & starting lineups vs. Kansas City Royals, June 9

The Mariners will look to avoid a sweep in Kansas City against the surging Royals, trying to salvage the series with a win in the finale

Houston Astros v Seattle Mariners
Houston Astros v Seattle Mariners | Steph Chambers/GettyImages

The Mariners have had a tough weekend in Kansas City. They blew a 9-2 lead on Friday Night, and got smacked around yesterday, and they will face one of the best pitchers in the American League today in Cole Ragans. Even though the Mariners have lost three out of the last four games, they still have a commanding five-game lead in the A.L. West over the Texas Rangers.

The Mariners record stands at 36-30, and they are the only team in the A.L. West to have a .500 record or better. The Royals come in with a record of 39-26, 3 games behind the first place Cleveland Guardians. Even though it is way too early to be talking about the Wild Card, as it stands today, the Royals hold a 5.5-game lead over the Boston Red Sox, the first team out of the playoffs.

The Mariners are also facing another tough injury with Ty France going down. When France passed Edgar Martinez for most "hit by pitches" in franchise history, the record-breaking HBP hit Ty in the heel, and he has not felt right since. Fast rising prospect Tyler Locklear actually will be called up to take France's spot on the 26-man roster presumably. The 40-man roster is full, so there will need to be a corresponding move made to clear a spot for Locklear.

Probable pitchers for today's game, June 9

  • The Mariners will give the ball to George Kirby (5-5, 4.05 ERA) this afternoon. The Mariners have won Kirby's last two starts, with Kirby pitching in 11 innings, giving up just three runs and striking out 17. His last start came against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, where he went just five innings but struck out nine. Kirby has battled consistency this year, but he is still not walking hardly anybody. He has only walked two hitters over his last 30 innings!
  • As for the Royals, as I mentioned above, they will turn to Cole Ragans to try and complete the sweep. Ragans was ranked inside the top five for Cy Young favorites this offseason. The tough lefty's career has skyrocketed over the past year or so. He was traded to Kansas City from the Texas Rangers last year for Aroldis Chapman. Since joining the Royals, Ragans has a 9-6 record with a 2.92 ERA over 144.2 innings. While the Rangers and Chapman did win the World Series last year, Rangers fans everywhere are kicking themselves over losing Ragans.

Seattle Mariners starting lineup, June 9

1. J.P. Crawford, SS
2. Dylan Moore, 3B
3. Julio Rodriguez, CF
4. Mitch Garver, C
5. Cal Raleigh, DH
6. Mitch Haniger, RF
7. Tyler Locklear, 1B
8. Victor Robles, LF
9. Ryan Bliss, 2B

Kansas City Royals starting lineup, June 9

1. Maikel Garcia, 3B
2. Bobby Witt Jr., SS
3. Vinny Pasquantino, 1B
4. Salvador Perez, DH
5. Nick Loftin, 2B
6. MJ Melendez, LF
7. Freddy Fermin, C
8. Hunter Renfroe, RF
9. Kyle Isbel, CF

Where can I stream today's game?

Where can I watch today's game?

  • Mariners fans can watch today's game on ROOTNW
  • Royals fans can watch today's game on Bally Sports Kansas City

Where can I listen to today's game?

  • Mariners fans can listen to today's game on 710KIRO
  • Royals fans can listen to today's game on KCSP 610

Game notes

  • The only current Mariner to ever face Cole Ragans is Luke Raley. He is 1/2 off of Ragans.
  • The only current Royal's hitter to ever hit a home run off of George Kirby is Nelson Velasquez, who is not in the lineup today.
  • Tyler Locklear will make his major league debut today. He is hitting .293/.404/.520/.925 through 51 games in AA and AAA with 9 home runs and 33 RBI.
  • A.L. MVP contender Bobby Witt Jr. is 4/9 in this series so far.
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