Royals vs Mariners Prediction, Pick and Preview, August 26: MLB

Credit: photo by Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

 

Odds

Time	10:10 p.m. EST
Royals money line	+148
Royals run line	+1.0 (+102)
Mariners money line	-179
Mariners run line	-1.0 (-120)
Over / under	8 (-110)

 

Key stats

	Royals	Mariners
Record	56-70	69-58
Road / home record	24-39	37-25
Last 10 record	7-3	7-3
Streak	L2	W3
Over / under record	54-62-10	63-61-3
Runs / game	4.13	4.20
Runs allowed / game	4.87	4.64

 

Preview

The Royals are in Seattle for the first of a three-game series against the Mariners.  Kansas City lost their last series 2-1 after dropping their last two games and ending their four-game winning streak.  The Mariners swept their last series 2-0 and have now won three games on the trot.  The Royals are averaging 5.17 runs per game in their last six games despite being shut out in one of their losses.  The Mariners meanwhile are averaging only four runs per game in their last five. 

Pitching matchup

Royals

Brad Keller (8-12, 5.43 ERA) Brad Keller will take the mound for the Royals.  The fourth-year pitcher has a WHIP of 1.64 and a 5.43 ERA in 2021 down from his career-best 2.97 ERA in 2020.  He began in 2018 with a 3.08 ERA, followed by a 4.19 ERA in 2019.  Keller in his four games in August so far has surrendered 14 runs off 24 hits accompanied by eight walks and 24 strikeouts with a 4.79 ERA over that span.  This will be his first meeting of the season against Seattle.

Mariners

Yusei Kikuchi (7-7, 4.22 ERA) Yusei Kikuchi gets his 24th start of the season.  Kikuchi's ERA in 2021 is 4.22 after having a 5.46 ERA in his rookie season in 2019 and then a 5.17 ERA in 2020.  He has a WHIP of 1.26 in 2021 as well.  In his last four games, he's given up 12 runs - five home runs - off 22 hits with 12 walks and 18 strikeouts.  Kikuchi faces the Royals for the first time in 2021 hoping to win his second game in August.

Prediction

The Mariners bats had been kept quiet but were able to bounce back in their last series. Now momentum is back on their side and they have enough to fend off the Kansas City pitching.  

PICK: Mariners (-179)

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