Kansas City @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2011 ) Kansas City 4, Seattle 2

THE STORY: Eric Hosmer has kept himself in the running for the American League Rookie of the Year award, but will likely need to finish with a flourish to snag the honor. Hosmer seeks to take another step upward when the Kansas City Royals complete a four-game against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. The 21-year-old Hosmer hit a two-run homer during Kansas City’s 4-2 victory on Saturday and has 17 homers and 69 RBIs while leading AL rookies with 131 hits. The Royals are looking for a split of the series after Seattle won the first two games of the series.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Everett Teaford (0-0, 3.21 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Anthony Vasquez (1-2, 9.00 ERA)

The 27-year-old Teaford is making his first career start after faring well in 23 relief appearances. He has given up no runs and one hit in 5 2/3 innings over his last two outings. Opposing batters are hitting just .235 against him. He has never faced the Mariners.

Vasquez has lost back-to-back starts against the Los Angeles Angels after winning his first major-league outing against Cleveland. He has allowed two homers in each of his three starts. Vasquez has allowed 21 hits and walked seven in 15 innings.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (61-84): Seattle had just hits on Saturday after getting 15 one night earlier. Ichiro Suzuki struck out three times in four hitless at-bats and remains 33 hits shy of 200 with 17 games remaining. He went 6-for-8 in the first two games and has a career average of .365 in 90 games against the Royals. Justin Smoak homered for the second time in three games after being homerless since June 12. Despite the long drought, Smoak is second on the Mariners with 14 homers. Mike Carp also homered in Saturday’s loss. Rookie Dustin Ackley is hitless in 12 at-bats over the last four games.

ABOUT THE ROYALS (61-86): Kansas City received an amazing pitching performance from Felipe Paulino in Saturday’s victory. Paulino matched a career-best by striking out 11 and gave up just two hits in seven innings to improve to 3-10. Hosmer is batting .409 in 44 at-bats over the last 11 games. Jeff Francoeur added his 18th homer. Billy Butler went hitless in four at-bats and is 0-for-16 over the last four games to drop his average to .293. Butler is seeking his third consecutive .300 season. Second baseman Johnny Giavotella didn’t play Saturday after going 1-for-21 over his previous five games.

FINAL PITCH: Melky Cabrera’s outfield assist on Saturday was Kansas City’s major-league leading 49th of the season, the most in the majors since 2002. The franchise record is 53, set in 1969.