Kansas City @ Seattle preview

Kansas City at Seattle

Last Meeting ( Jul 26, 2012 ) Kansas City 1, Seattle 4

The Seattle Mariners are getting healthy at the Kansas City Royals' expense. The Mariners posted their eighth win in 13 outings - and fourth in five games versus Kansas City - with a 4-1 home triumph in the series opener on Thursday. Seattle's winning ways have been aided by the club's habit of getting the early jump on its opponents. The Mariners have scored in the first inning in 11 of their last 17 games.

While the Mariners' fortunes are trending upward, the Royals are headed in the opposite direction. They have lost 18 of their last 24 overall - and 11 of 14 on the road. Billy Butler collected his 200th career double to drive in Kansas City's lone run before adding another two-base hit in the ninth inning. Butler is just 1-for-6 against Friday starter Blake Beavan.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FSKC (Kansas City), ROOT (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Blake Beavan (5-6, 5.54)

Guthrie's first start for his new team was reminiscent of many of his appearances with Colorado. The 33-year-old, who hasn't won since May 31, yielded five runs on four hits in five innings to take the loss against Minnesota on Sunday. Guthrie fell to 2-6 in his career versus Seattle after permitting six runs in as many innings in a 6-4 loss on May 20.

Beavan collected his second straight win since returning to the Mariners after pitching eight solid innings in a 2-1 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. The 23-year-old struggled in his last outing versus Kansas City, but improved to 2-0 in his young career against the club after laboring through six frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners 1B Mike Carp entered Thursday's contest with a .146 batting average. He posted his first multi-hit game since May 12 after going 3-for-4 with a two-run single to lift his average to .172.

2. Kansas City OF Jeff Francoeur recorded his 12th assist to claim the major-league lead. Francoeur forced out Casper Wells at second base on a shallow fly ball from John Jaso.

3. Seattle 2B Dustin Ackley did his best to put a 1-for-29 slump behind him. Ackley went 2-for-3 and reached base with a pair of walks on Thursday.