These two played a series in Seattle earlier this month and the Royals walked out with a sweep. Since then, Kansas City has gone 3-11, scored 28 runs in 14 games, and just got broomed at home by Boston. The vibes have flipped hard.
Logan Gilbert is the read of the night. His home/road splits are absurd — a 5.67 ERA at T-Mobile, a 1.59 ERA away from it — so getting him out of Seattle is half the battle. The catch: he just got tagged for 7 runs and 3 homers over 6.2 against the Padres, and Salvador Perez (7-for-19, 2 HR) and Bobby Witt Jr. (7-for-14) have hit him like they own him.
Noah Cameron stabilized a bit with a 6-inning, 3-run start against the Cardinals, but the lefty has now allowed 3+ runs in 6 straight. A 5.40 ERA with back tightness lingering all month is not the guy you want trying to outduel a Mariners road lineup that's been launching balls.
- Day-To-DayJ.P. Crawford SS — Crawford is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the White Sox.
- Day-To-DayTeddy McGraw SP — McGraw is working his way back from right elbow issues, Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline reports.
- 10-Day-ILBrendan Donovan 3B — Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Sunday that Donovan will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection for his strained left groin as well as his adductor and is expected to resume baseball activity in 2-to-3 weeks, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILCal Raleigh C — The Mariners will shut Raleigh (oblique) down for a week before re-evaluating him, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
- 10-Day-ILVictor Robles RF — Robles (pectoral) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.
- 10-Day-ILWill Wilson 3B — The Mariners placed Wilson on the 10-day injured list Saturday due to a fractured left thumb.
- 15-Day-ILGabe Speier RP — Speier (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with High-A Everett on Wednesday, allowing three runs on three hits, including two home runs, over one inning. He struck out two.
- 60-Day-ILMiles Mastrobuoni 3B — Seattle transferred Mastrobuoni (calf) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
- Day-To-DayAnthony Simonelli SP — no
- Day-To-DayJavier Vaz 2B — Vaz (fingers) has produced a .238/.304/.262 slash line with zero home runs and three stolen bases in 10 games since being activated from Double-A Northwest Arkansas' 7-day injured list April 22.
- Day-To-DayTyson Guerrero RP — no
- 10-Day-ILJonathan India 2B — The Royals announced Tuesday that India underwent season-ending surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder.
- 15-Day-ILMatt Strahm RP — Strahm received an injection Monday to help with symptoms of right knee inflammation, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILCole Ragans SP — Ragans (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILKris Bubic SP — Bubic (3-2) took the loss against the White Sox on Thursday, pitching four innings and allowing five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out one batter.
- 15-Day-ILCarlos Estevez RP — Estevez (foot) was diagnosed with a right rotator cuff strain Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The Seattle injured list is the real story. No Cal Raleigh, no Brendan Donovan, J.P. Crawford day-to-day, Robles still on rehab — that's a lot of lineup card to fill in. They've covered for it with road power, but if the Witt/Perez core wakes up against Gilbert, the math gets ugly fast.
Market has Seattle at -130 and the total parked at 8. Given Gilbert's road form and KC's offense looking like batting practice in reverse, the chalk is earning it. Just respect that Royals lineup against this specific pitcher — the history is real.