Jamie Moyer’s Notebook: Kansas City Royals vs. Seattle Mariners June 23, 2015
By Max Carter
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Kansas City Royals (40-27) vs. Seattle Mariners (32-39) 7:10 PM PST
Pitching Matchup: Jeremy Guthrie RHP (5-4, 5.55 ERA) vs. Mike Montgomery LHP (1-2, 2.73 ERA)
Jeremy Guthrie: If it weren’t for the 11 runs that Jeremy Guthrie allowed to the Yankees in one fateful inning on May 25, he would be having a very solid year. The guy is a reliable starting pitcher, with a career ERA of 4.28 over 288 games, and 28 wins over the last two seasons with the Kansas City Royals. The 36-year-old veteran will look to build on his last start, in which he logged six innings of two run ball, using a shockingly low 67 pitches to get the job done. We will see what the Seattle Mariners bats can muster tonight against the right-hander.
Mike Montgomery: The 25-year-0ld Montgomery has been very efficient for Lloyd McClendon and his Seattle Mariners, logging 26.1 innings in his first four big league starts. His most recent outing, against the San Francisco Giants, was the longest of them all, going 7.1 innings but allowing four runs. After allowing two runs or fewer in his first three starts, Monty will be looking to get back on track tonight against the Royals. The Seattle Mariners, who are back at seven games below .500 and 8.5 games back in the AL West, need to make their move sooner than later, and will turn to Mike Montgomery tonight for a quality outing.
Lineups:
Kansas City Royals:
1. Alcides Escobar SS
2. Mike Moustakas 3B
3. Lorenzo Cain CF
4. Eric Hosmer 1B
5. Kendrys Morales DH
6. Alex Gordon LF
7. Salvador Perez C
8. Alex Rios RF
9. Omar Infante 2B
Notes: The Kansas City Royals are the complete opposites of the Seattle Mariners, seemingly scoring every runner that reaches base. Their batting average with runners in scoring position is an impressive .289, and they lead all of baseball in batting average with runners in scoring position and two outs, coming into tonight’s game at .291. Mike Montgomery is going to have his hands full tonight, especially since the Royals have a lineup full of right-handed bats.
Seattle Mariners:
Jun 22, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman
Robinson Cano(22) runs around the bases after hitting a solo-home run against Kansas City Royals pitcher
Joe Blanton(49) during the first inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
1. Logan Morrison 1B
2. Austin Jackson CF
3. Robinson Cano 2B
4. Nelson Cruz DH
5. Kyle Seager 3B
6. Seth Smith RF
7. Dustin Ackley LF
8. Brad Miller SS
9. Mike Zunino C
Notes: Jeremy Guthrie has surrendered an opponents batting average of .303 this season, and a WHIP of 1.49. As long as the Seattle Mariners can drive in runs when the opportunities present themselves, they should be able to score some runs tonight. That, however, could be quite a lot to ask for. Although they have improved over the last few weeks, the Seattle Mariners are second to last in baseball, and last in the American League in batting average with runners in scoring position, hitting a paltry .210.
3 Things to Watch For:
May 24, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners center field Dustin Ackley (13) bats against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second inning against Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
1. Dustin Butt-Crackley, Part Two
With Mark Trumbo out of the lineup tonight and the right-handed Guthrie on the mound for the Royals, Dustin Ackley will get the start in left field. Playing a large role in this decision, I’m sure, is Ackley’s 6 for 10 career off of Jeremy Guthrie, with two homers and three runs batted in. Many people think that Dustin’s time in Seattle has been up for a year or so now, but I think that he has a thing or two left to say. A couple of hits for Ackley, including an RBI.
2. Montgomery Stifles The Cocky Royals
The Royals seem to have an air about them that just makes you want to hate them. Admittedly, although I am a Seahawks fan, I would compare them to the Hawks. They sucked for a while, but now they are great, and they have a massive chip on their shoulder, so people don’t like the way the carry themselves. Or perhaps it is just because of the whole All-Star Game thing… Either way, I say that the steady, young Montgomery dials it in tonight against the KC bats. At least six innings of solid work from Monty, allowing no more than two runs and striking out at least six.
3. We Win, Because I Am There
Since my return from New Zealand, I have attended one Seattle Mariners game, and it was a 5-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Star Wars night. That makes me 1-0 at games this season, which, of course, means that there is a 100 percent chance that the Mariners will win tonight. Look for me on TV, I’ll be the one looking way too optimistic.
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- Seattle Mariners: Zunino part of 5 player swap. What it means for the M’s.
- Seattle Mariners: Mitch Haniger, and Edgar Martinez headed to Japan
- Seattle Mariners: Trading for Joc Pederson from L.A. – 3 scenarios
Last Game’s Predictions:
1. M’s Gonna Swat Some Bombs–Walk
Believe it or not, the Seattle Mariners only had two hits last night (sarcasm). However, one of them was a deep homer by Robinson Cano in the first inning, so we will give this one a walk. Not quite the slug fest we were hoping for, though.
2. The Outfield Boots It–Walk
This one gets a walk as well. Although there were no errors committed by the Seattle Mariners’ slow, aged outfield last night, Nelson Cruz did leave the game with an injury to his pelvic bone. While Cruz has been surprisingly adequate in right field this year, perhaps that is not where we want the 34-year-old slugger, if just for health purposes.
3. Felix Is Ultra-Good–Out
Felix did not have his best stuff last night, allowing nine hits over 6.2 innings, en route to four runs and a loss. It is pretty incredible when you find yourself disappointed by a performance like that, but this is Felix Hernandez we are talking about. We need The King to get back on track, and start dominating hitters once again.
Season Tally:
Hits: 40 Outs: 66 Batting Average: .377