Mariners vs. Royals Pick
Can the Kansas City Royals hold their ground at home when they host the Seattle Mariners tonight at 8:15PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, 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 prevail. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 9.5 runs. The Royals have won all three meetings with Seattle this season, which came in Seattle.
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Tonight’s pitching matchup has Yovani Gallardo (5-7, 5.34 ERA) on the mound for the Mariners to face Trevor Cahill (0-0, 11.25) of the Royals. Gallardo has been on a good run, allowing just five earned runs over his last six appearances, a total of 22 innings. Gallardo has 72 strikeouts this season with 42 walks and a 1.47 WHIP. Cahill didn’t impress in his KC debut, allowing five earned runs in four innings against the Red Sox. He has 74 strikeouts this season with 26 walks and a 1.42 WHIP.
Seattle has won four of its last five games entering the weekend, including series wins over the Mets and Rangers. Seattle is now 55-54 overall and 23-27 on the road. The Mariners are averaging 4.72 runs per game this season while also allowing 4.72 per contest. Leading the Mariners this season is Nelson Cruz, who has 22 home runs, 18 doubles and 80 RBI. Robinson Cano is adding 20 doubles, 19 home runs and 74 RBI.
Kansas City lost three games in Baltimore this week, scoring just three runs in the three games. The Royals are now 55-51 overall and 25-28 on the road. The Royals are posting 4.31 runs per game this year while giving up 4.42 per contest. KC is being led by Mike Moustakas, who has 30 home runs and 69 RBI. Salvador Perez is adding 20 doubles, 21 home runs and 65 RBI.
Cahill wasn’t looking good in his debut with the team and I don’t know that he will have much success against this Seattle team that is starting to heat up at the plate. Gallardo has been great on the mound as of late and I think that can continue against this lackluster KC batting order. I like the Mariners on the road tonight in a minor upset.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: SEATTLE MARINERS +120