Hot-hitting Salvador Perez will be looking to extend his 10-game hitting streak as the Kansas City Royals (-110) host the Seattle Mariners (-110) at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium on Sunday with the three-game series all square at 1-1. The early total has been set at 7.5.The Mariners (83-68) evened up the series 1-1 after winning 6-5 on Saturday, their fourth head-to-head victory in five games this season. Reliever Paul Sewald was credited with the win after throwing two scoreless innings, and Andres Munoz earned his fourth save with a scoreless ninth. Cal Raleigh was 2 for 3 with a home run and a double in the win. He drove in three runs. Ty France went 3 for 5 with a double, one run, and one RBI. Vinnie Pasquantino went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs for the Royals (62-90). Drew Waters went 3 for 4 with a triple, one run, and one RBI.
ON THE MOUND
Luis Castillo (7-6, 2.85 ERA) is in line to take the mound for Seattle. The RHP allowed four runs over 4.2 innings in his last start, a 4-1 road defeat against the Athletics on Tuesday. He took the loss, giving up six hits while striking out four and walking two. Castillo is making his first appearance against the Royals this season. Castillo made one start against the Royals in 2021, a 7-6 road loss for the Reds on July 6. He surrendered one run on three hits over seven innings, striking out four and walking one. RHP Max Castillo (0-1, 2.97 ERA) is on the mound for Kansas City. He has made two appearances against the Mariners this season, including one start, giving up four runs (2 ER) over 7.1 innings (0-0, 2.45) with eight strikeouts and one walk. In his last start on September 4, Castillo took a no-decision on the road against the Tigers. He threw 4.2 innings and gave up two runs on five hits, striking out five and walking one in the 3-2 victory.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Seattle has averaged 3.6 runs a game, a small drop compared to their season average of 4.2. Against righties like Castillo this season, the M’s have a .700 OPS. Julio Rodriguez is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a .855 OPS in 383 at-bats. Kansas City is averaging 4.8 runs per game in the last five, up slightly from 3.9 for the season. The Royals have a .673 OPS against right-handers in 2022, fifth lowest in the league. With a .729 OPS over 419 at-bats, Bobby Witt Jr. has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Seattle is 44-36 away from T-Mobile Park in 2022, scoring 4.5 runs per game while allowing 3.9 runs. Kansas City has gone 38-42 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 4.0 runs per game while surrendering 4.8. In the last 10 meetings at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium, Seattle is 8-2 with an average scoreline of 5.7-4.2.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Mariners are second in the AL West, 16 games behind the division-leading Astros. They currently occupy one of the Wild Card spots, sitting third with a magic number of zero. The Royals are fourth in the AL Central, 23 games behind the Guardians.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Seattle Mariners (-190)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
