MLB Prediction: Will the Mariners get to .500 vs. Royals? 7/3/17
Will the Seattle Mariners get back to .500 when they host the Kansas City Royals tonight at 10:10PM ET? Here’s our MLB Prediction for this game.
THE ODDS
According to the latest oddsmakers, Seattle is favored at home, as the Mariners are getting odds of -140 to win, while the Royals are listed with odds of +130 to win. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 9 runs. These two have yet to meet this season.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The pitching matchup tonight has Ian Kennedy (2-6, 4.72 ERA) on the mound for the Royals to face Andrew Moore (1-0, 3.86) of the Mariners. Moore is making only his second start of the season. He went seven innings against the Tigers on June 22 and allowed six hits and three runs with four strikeouts. Kennedy has been bringing his ERA down in recent starts, allowing just five earned runs over his last 17.2 innings, all on solo home runs. This season, Kennedy has 62 strikeouts with 33 walks and a 1.18 WHIP.
ROYALS
The Royals are coming off a four-game series win over the Twins at home this weekend. The Royals are 41-40 overall and 17-21 on the road. KC is putting up 4.15 runs per game while allowing 4.48 per contest. Kansas City is being led by Salvador Perez, who has 16 home runs with 51 RBI and a .290 average. Mike Moustakas is adding 22 home runs and 49 RBI.
MARINERS
The Mariners are coming off a series win in Los Angeles over the Angels, but they have lost five of their last seven games overall. Seattle is now 41-42 overall and 25-17 at home. The Mariners are scoring 4.86 runs per game while also allowing 4.86 per contest. Seattle is led by its powerful duo of Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano. Cruz has a .287 average with 17 doubles, 14 homers and 59 RBI. Cano is adding 13 doubles, 17 homers and 60 RBI while hitting .284.
MLB PREDICTION
Seattle is a team that shifts between hot-and-cold. They come into this series somewhat cold, but have the ability to get back on track with a favorable matchup. Kansas City has improved a lot in the last month, but Kennedy still isn’t a pitcher the team can count on. Moore should be able to be competitive against this low-scoring KC lineup and I suspect his powerful hitters behind him will get to Kennedy early and give him enough run support to move to 2-0.
MLB Prediction: Seattle Mariners -140
