Mariners at Royals
Robinson Cano is the 63rd player in major-league history to reach 500 career doubles and looks to add to that total on Saturday, when the Seattle Mariners visit the Kansas City Royals for the third contest of their four-game set. The 34-year-old Cano laced his historic two-base hit into right-field corner during Friday's 5-2 victory that evened the series at one win apiece.
Seattle slugger Nelson Cruz is questionable for Saturday after being scratched from the triumph due to neck spasms. The Mariners made up for the absence of their power hitter by stealing three bases as they moved within 1 1/2 games of the Royals for the American League's second wild-card spot. Kansas City is sliding in the wrong direction with four setbacks in five games and has scored just 11 runs during that stretch - with six coming in the lone victory. Eric Hosmer, who is 7-for-17 against Seattle's scheduled Saturday starter Felix Hernandez, is hitless in eight at-bats in the series after going 15-for-34 during an eight-game hitting streak.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FSN Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (5-4, 4.28 ERA) vs. Royals LH Danny Duffy (7-6, 3.42)
Hernandez has allowed four runs in each of his last two starts and is winless over his last three turns. The 31-year-old, who has been supplanted as the team's ace by the red-hot James Paxton, is allowing opponents to hit .273 against him - the second-worst average of his 13-year career. Hernandez lost to the Royals on July 4, when he gave up six runs - five earned - and six hits over six innings to fall to 5-6 with a 3.05 ERA in 14 career starts against them.
Duffy settled for a no-decision against Baltimore in his last turn after giving up one run for the third time in his last four outings. The 28-year-old has struck out 27 batters while walking only two over his last five starts and has issued just 29 free passes in 17 outings this season. Duffy recorded the win over Hernandez last month, when he gave up two runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings and is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) versus Seattle.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners CF Jarrod Dyson is 4-for-7 with two stolen bases in the series against his former club.
2. Royals C Salvador Perez (right side) departed after striking out in the sixth inning and underwent an MRI exam, with MGR Ned Yost saying his status won't be known until Saturday.
3. Seattle C Mike Zunino is hitless in seven at-bats (four strikeouts) in the series and 1-for-18 over his last seven contests.