SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 25: Ty France #23 of the Seattle Mariners and Eugenio Suarez #28 celebrate after the game against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on August 25, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners won 7-5. (Photo by …
SEATTLE - The Seattle Mariners play the Kansas City Royals Saturday afternoon at T-Mobile Park with a 1-0 lead in the series.
Seattle has a 72-56 record overall and a 35-28 record in home games. The Mariners have the best team ERA in the AL at 3.72. Kansas City is 41-89 overall and 18-49 on the road. The Royals have the 10th-ranked team batting average in the AL at .243.
Saturday will be the sixth time the two teams have met this season. So far, the Mariners lead the season series 4-1.
PITCHING PROBABLES
Royals: Jordan Lyles (3-14, 6.01 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 93 strikeouts)
Mariners: Logan Gilbert (11-5, 3.77 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 146 strikeouts)
TOP PERFORMERS
Julio Rodriguez leads the Mariners with a .279 batting average, and has 30 doubles, a triple, 21 home runs, 40 walks and 80 RBI. Teoscar Hernandez is 19-for-45 with two home runs and nine RBI over the past 10 games.
Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals with 58 extra base hits (24 doubles, eight triples and 26 home runs). Nelson Velazquez is 7-for-35 with three home runs and five RBI over the last 10 games.
Eugenio Suárez carries Mariners to 7-5 win over Royals as team grabs share of 1st place in AL West
Eugenio Suárez drove in three runs and made a key defensive play in the fourth inning to propel the Seattle Mariners into a first place tie with the Texas Rangers in the AL West with a 7-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.
LAST 10 GAMES
Mariners: 9-1, .327 batting average, 3.56 ERA, outscored opponents by 31 runs
Royals: 2-8, .252 batting average, 4.71 ERA, outscored by eight runs
Jarred Kelenic set to begin rehab stint next week for Mariners
Seattle Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic is expected to be sent out on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma next week as he continues his recovery from a broken foot sustained kicking a water cooler in July.
INJURIES
Mariners: Emerson Hancock: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tom Murphy: 10-Day IL (thumb), Marco Gonzales: 60-Day IL (forearm), Jarred Kelenic: 10-Day IL (foot), Penn Murfee: 60-Day IL (elbow), Robbie Ray: 60-Day IL (flexor), Easton McGee: 60-Day IL (forearm), Evan White: 60-Day IL (adductor)
Royals: Brad Keller: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Pratto: 10-Day IL (groin), Daniel Lynch: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Josh Staumont: 60-Day IL (neck), Josh Taylor: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Vinnie Pasquantino: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Kris Bubic: 60-Day IL (flexor)
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Seattle; Saturday, 1:10 p.m. PT