Mariners at Royals (Game 2)
Robinson Cano hopes to add to his historic doubles total when his Seattle Mariners visit the Kansas City Royals on Sunday for a traditional doubleheader that will conclude their four-game series. The 34-year-old Cano, who was denied that chance when Saturday's contest was rained out, became the 63rd player in major-league history to record 500 career two-base hits in Seattle's 5-2 victory on Friday.
Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz was in Saturday's starting lineup before the game was washed away and is expected to play Sunday after being scratched from Friday's triumph due to back spasms. The All-Star is tied for the American League lead with 80 RBIs. Seattle has won five of its last seven contests and is 1 1/2 games behind Kansas City, which holds the second AL wild-card spot despite having lost four of five. The Royals have scored a total of 11 runs in that span, with six coming in the lone victory, while Eric Hosmer has gone 0-for-8 over the first two games of the series following an eight-game hitting streak.
TV: 5:15 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FSN Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (4-3, 4.83 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jake Junis (3-2, 5.50)
Ramirez lasted only 3 1/3 innings in his debut for Seattle on Tuesday, when he yielded three runs and five hits - two homers - in a no-decision at Texas. The 27-year-old Nicaraguan had made six straight relief appearances for Tampa Bay before being acquired on July 28 for Steve Cishek. Ramirez, who also pitched for the Mariners from 2012-14, surrendered two runs on one hit and one walk in one inning of relief against Kansas City on May 9 while with the Rays.
Junis is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Omaha to make his seventh start for the Royals this year. The 24-year-old native of Illinois last pitched for Kansas City on July 24, when he picked up the victory after working a scoreless inning out of the bullpen at Detroit. Junis, who has gone 3-5 despite posting a 2.92 ERA in 12 starts for the Storm Chasers, will be facing Seattle for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals C Salvador Perez may land on the disabled list due to the intercostal strain he suffered in Friday's loss.
2. Mariners CF Jarrod Dyson is 4-for-7 with two stolen bases in the series against his former club.
3. Seattle C Mike Zunino is hitless in seven at-bats (four strikeouts) in the set and just 1-for-18 over his last seven contests.