Royals vs Mariners Preview: Underdogs Find Edge

The Kansas City Royals are rolling into Seattle after a thrilling win yesterday. They beat the Mariners 7-6 in a wild back-and-forth battle that showed real resilience. Now they're ready for Sunday's matchup at T-Mobile Park. Seth Lugo will take the mound for Kansas City, bringing his high-quality stuff. The Royals' pitching staff has serious depth with Cole Ragans leading the rotation. However, they're dealing with some injuries right now. Carlos Estévez, their reliable closer who saved 42 games last season, won't be available yet. Despite these challenges, Kansas City's pitching should keep them competitive in close games today.

The Seattle Mariners boast incredible talent up and down their lineup. Julio Rodríguez has become one of baseball's brightest young stars in just four seasons. Last year he blasted 32 home runs, drove in 95 runs, and stole 30 bases. That's the kind of all-around talent that wins games. Meanwhile, Cal Raleigh is coming off an absolutely historic season. He crushed 60 home runs and drove in 125 runs, leading all of baseball. Although Raleigh is dealing with general soreness today, his presence looms large for the Mariners. When both players are healthy, Seattle has serious firepower.

When you watch this game, you'll see two teams built on strong pitching. Seattle's rotation features Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo anchoring the top, with George Kirby, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo providing excellent depth throughout. Emerson Hancock starts for the Mariners today. The consistency across their staff makes them reliable in close contests. Kansas City counters with its own capable rotation, where Michael Wacha and Chris Bubich add stability alongside Ragans and Lugo. Both bullpens feature elite closers ready to protect leads. This pitching matchup should make for a competitive, tight game where runs might be hard to come by. Strong defense and precision pitching will likely decide the outcome.