MLB Predictions: Can Hernandez lead the Mariners past the Royals? 8/5/17
Can the Kansas City Royals take the rubber match with the Seattle Mariners when the two continue their weekend series at 7:15PM ET? Here’s our MLB Predictions for this contest.
THE ODDS
According to the latest oddsmakers, Kansas City is favored at home tonight, as the Royals are getting odds of -130 to win, while the Mariners are getting a money line of +120 to win. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 8.5 runs.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The pitching matchup tonight has Felix Hernandez (5-4, 4.28 ERA) on the mound for Seattle to face Danny Duffy (7-6, 3.42) of the Royals. King Felix has given up four runs in each of his last two starts. He has 69 strikeouts this season with 21 walks and a 1.36 WHIP. Duffy has been pretty solid as of late, allowing just one run in each of his last three starts. Duffy has 85 strikeouts with 29 walks and a 1.26 WHIP this season.
RECORDS
These two have split the first two games of the weekend series. Kansas City earned a 6-4 win on Thursday while the Mariners picked up a 5-2 win on the road on Friday night. The Mariners are now 56-55 overall and 24-28 on the road while the Royals are 56-52 overall and 31-24 at home.
FRIDAY’S RECAP
Friday saw some good pitching as James Paxton went six innings and allowed two earned runs to improve to 12-3 on the season. Jason Hammel gave up three runs over 6.1 innings to take his ninth loss. Danny Valencia drove in a pair of runs to lead the Mariners in the win. Jean Segura had a pair of hits and scored two runs. Brandon Moss had the lone RBI for the Royals.
MLB PREDICTIONS
King Felix is a pitcher that would normally be favored to win when he started. However, his outings have been rather un-King like. Duffy has looked more like a king on the mound, locking down his opponents for most of the season. Duffy should be able to settle in nicely at home against this Seattle lineup. The Royals can find a way to manufacture a few runs on King Felix and then get to the bullpen later.
MLB Predictions – Kansas City Royals -130
