Mariners at Royals
Just when the Seattle Mariners’ bats were coming to life, Mother Nature slowed their momentum. The Mariners hope to pick up where they left off when they begin a three-game road series against the Kansas City Royals on Monday.
Seattle set a season high for runs in an 11-4 win at Minnesota on Saturday, but the hot bats were put on hold when the series finale was postponed due to inclement weather. The offensive outburst was encouraging for a Mariners team that had totaled three runs in losing its previous two contests and is light on power with slugger Nelson Cruz on the disabled list. The Royals have even less firepower, as they rank near the bottom of the American League in most offensive categories - including home runs as they have hit just two. Kansas City has scored two runs or fewer in five straight games but posted a pair of 1-0 victories in that span.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (1-0, 4.26 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jakob Junis (1-0, 0.00)
Gonzales’ second start of the season had to wait a day because of Sunday’s postponement in Minnesota. The 26-year-old was solid in his debut, allowing three runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings en route to a win at San Francisco. He did serve up a pair of home runs at spacious AT&T Park, however, which might warrant some concern.
Junis was dominant in his first outing of the season, striking out six over seven scoreless innings to win at Detroit. The 25-year-old allowed only three singles and a walk, carrying over from his impressive spring. Junis has been excellent at home in his young career, going 3-0 with a 3.43 ERA in nine games (seven starts) at Kauffman Stadium.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners CF Dee Gordon (11-for-30) and 2B Robinson Cano (11-for-25) both are riding seven-game hitting streaks.
2. Royals RF Jorge Soler recorded three hits on Sunday, snapping an 0-for-34 drought dating to July 2.
3. Seattle SS Jean Segura is 11-for-25 during his six-game hitting streak.