Seattle @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Apr 1, 2012 ) Kansas City 4, Seattle 6
The Kansas City Royals continue their 10-game homestand Monday, when they begin a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners. Kansas City, which is 10 games under .500 at home, began its lengthy stay at Kauffman Stadium by dropping two of three to the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox, including a 2-1 setback on Sunday. The loss was the Royals' fifth in six games.
Seattle also has struggled of late, losing six of its last eight - including two of three at home to Texas over the weekend. The Mariners' bats are in need of a wakeup call as the team has hit .186 over its last 17 games. Justin Smoak has shown no signs of breaking out of his season-long slump. The first baseman saw his average dip to .199 after an 0-for-4 performance Sunday.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Root Sports (Seattle), FSN (Kansas City)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Jason Vargas (8-7, 4.07 ERA) vs. Royals LH Jonathan Sanchez (1-5, 6.75)
Vargas has made three superb starts since being battered for 10 runs in 4 1/3 innings at Arizona on June 20 but has only one victory to show for his efforts. After allowing a total of three runs over 14 2/3 frames in a pair of no-decisions, the 29-year-old yielded one run in a complete-game win at Oakland on July 7. Vargas has won two of his three career starts against Kansas City.
Sanchez has yet to win since his season debut on April 8, going 0-5 in 10 starts. The 29-year-old is coming off a loss at Detroit on July 6 in which he yielded four runs over 5 2/3 innings. Sanchez is 0-1 in five outings at home this season and has surrendered six runs in two of his last three starts at Kauffman Stadium.
WALK-OFFS
1. Seattle has been involved in 45 games decided by two runs or fewer, the second-highest total in the AL behind Detroit (49). The Mariners are 17-28 in those contests.
2. Kansas City SS Alcides Escobar came back strong from the All-Star break, going 6-for-13 with two home runs and six RBIs in the three-game series against the White Sox.
3. The Mariners have lost seven consecutive series since winning two of three against San Francisco from June 15-17.