Mariners vs Royals Preview, Odds, Trends, & Free Pick [8/4/17]

Seattle (55-55) at Kansas City (56-51)
When: Friday, August 4th 2017
Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: ROOT Northwest, FSN Kansas City
Opening Odds: Seattle -150/8.5

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The Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals continue their important four-game series on Friday night as both teams are searching for the second Wild Card spot in the American League. The Royals improved to 4-0 this season against the Mariners after last night’s 6-4 victory in the opener. Seattle’s James Paxton looks to even the series and record his seventh consecutive victory after being named the American League Pitcher of the Month for July, going 6-0 with a 1.37 ERA. Paxton has developed into Seattle’s ace with Felix Hernandez struggling and is the first pitcher in franchise history to win six games in a single calendar month. Seattle will look to get back over the .500 mark and move closer to the Royals in the Wild Card standings. Currently, Kansas City has a 2.5 game lead over Seattle. Kansas City broke a three-game skid and received two homers from veteran Brandon Moss on Friday. Lorenzo Cain seems to have recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out of Wednesday’s game as he reached base three times (two singles, one walk) for the Royals and stole two bases. Eric Hosmer’s eight-game hitting streak came to an end last night for the Royals. He was 15-for-34 during the streak. Seattle’s Ben Gamel was 0-for-5 in the opener and is hitless in his last 15 at-bats.

Pitchers: Mariners – James Paxton (11-3, 2.68 ERA) | Royals – Jason Hammel (5-8, 4.75)

Paxton’s July included 46 strikeouts and just six walks in 39.1 innings and didn’t allow a home run. His last two outings against the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets have been scoreless ones, striking out 18 in 13 innings. Paxton is 1-0 with a 2.20 ERA in three career starts against Kansas City, but has had trouble with Moss (3-for-4, one homer) and Salvador Perez (3-for-7).

Jason Hammel gets the start for the Royals and broke a six-start winless streak last time out against Boston, allowing three runs and seven hits in seven innings. The former Cub is 3-2 with a 3.41 ERA in seven career starts versus the Mariners. Hammel, who is facing Seattle for the first time since 2014, has been hit hard by Robinson Cano (13-for-36, two homers).

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Paxton is one guy I would not bet against right now. He is just what Seattle needs to get back over the .500 mark and inch closer to the Royals in the WC standings. Seattle should be able to score enough runs off Hammel to come away with a win here.

Pick: Mariners -1.5 +120

W/L TRENDS

Seattle
  • Mariners are 5-1 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Mariners are 8-2 in their last 10 road games.
  • Mariners are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
  • Mariners are 4-1 in their last 5 games on grass.
  • Mariners are 6-2 in their last 8 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Mariners are 6-2 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
  • Mariners are 5-2 in their last 7 during game 2 of a series.
  • Mariners are 7-3 in their last 10 vs. American League Central.
  • Mariners are 9-4 in their last 13 games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Mariners are 6-0 in Paxtons last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
  • Mariners are 5-0 in Paxtons last 5 starts vs. American League Central.
  • Mariners are 5-0 in Paxtons last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Mariners are 5-0 in Paxtons last 5 starts with 4 days of rest.
  • Mariners are 6-0 in Paxtons last 6 starts.
  • Mariners are 6-0 in Paxtons last 6 starts on grass.
  • Mariners are 4-1 in Paxtons last 5 road starts.
  • Mariners are 4-1 in Paxtons last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Mariners are 4-1 in Paxtons last 5 Friday starts.
  • Mariners are 4-9 in Paxtons last 13 starts during game 2 of a series.
Kansas City
  • Royals are 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
  • Royals are 5-0 in their last 5 home games.
  • Royals are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Royals are 5-2 in their last 7 vs. American League West.
  • Royals are 15-6 in their last 21 during game 2 of a series.
  • Royals are 5-2 in their last 7 Friday games.
  • Royals are 2-5 in their last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter.
  • Royals are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
  • Royals are 1-4 in their last 5 games on grass.
  • Royals are 4-1 in Hammels last 5 starts with 4 days of rest.
  • Royals are 4-9 in Hammels last 13 home starts.
  • Royals are 0-4 in Hammels last 4 starts vs. American League West.

OU TRENDS

Seattle
  • Over is 5-1 in Mariners last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
  • Under is 4-1 in Mariners last 5 road games.
  • Under is 4-1 in Mariners last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
  • Under is 7-2 in Mariners last 9 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Under is 6-2 in Mariners last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Over is 5-2 in Mariners last 7 Friday games.
  • Under is 4-1 in Paxtons last 5 road starts.
  • Under is 4-1 in Paxtons last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Kansas City
  • Under is 4-0 in Royals last 4 overall.
  • Under is 4-0 in Royals last 4 on grass.
  • Under is 5-1-1 in Royals last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
  • Over is 5-1 in Royals last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Under is 5-1-1 in Royals last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Under is 4-1 in Royals last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
  • Under is 5-2 in Royals last 7 Friday games.
  • Under is 5-2 in Royals last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter.
  • Under is 14-6-2 in Royals last 22 vs. American League West.
  • Under is 4-0 in Hammels last 4 starts with 4 days of rest.
  • Under is 5-0 in Hammels last 5 starts on grass.
  • Over is 4-0 in Hammels last 4 starts during game 2 of a series.
  • Under is 5-0 in Hammels last 5 starts overall.
  • Under is 4-1 in Hammels last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.

HEAD TO HEAD

  • Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
  • Mariners are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings.

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