Kansas City @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 28, 2010 ) Seattle 6, Kansas City 5
Seattle Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez won’t be making an appearance at the All-Star Game on July 13 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, but he might be pitching as well as anybody in the majors the past month.
Hernandez (6-5, 3.03 ERA) will open a three-game home series with the Kansas City Royals on Monday night coming off a two-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts against the New York Yankees on Wednesday.
He sandwiched back-to-back complete games around a nine-inning performance in which he received a no-decision. A poor May, in which he went 0-3, hurt his chances for any All-Star consideration, and Hernandez said he did not expect to make the All-Star Game when selections were announced Sunday.
He has matched Mariners left-hander Cliff Lee, who was selected to the All-Star Game, in every start the past month.
Hernandez leads the American League in innings pitched (121 2/3) and is third in strikeouts with 116.
Hernandez is 3-2 with a 2.90 ERA in six career starts against the Royals. He lost to them on April 26 at Kauffman Stadium, going seven innings and allowing two earned runs and seven hits. He also had seven strikeouts.
Kansas City right fielder David DeJesus is 7-for-20 lifetime against Hernandez with three doubles and five RBIs.
The Royals were crushed, 11-0, on Sunday night by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, missing a chance for their first three-game series sweep of the season. Torii Hunter had two homers and drove in seven runs, tying a career high, as the Angels handed the Royals their most lopsided loss of the season.
Kansas City (36-46) tries to regroup with right-hander Brian Bannister (7-6, 5.46) on the hill.
Bannister would love to be able to match Hernandez’s ability to pitch deep into games.
Bannister lasted just four innings Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox, throwing 90 pitches. He allowed four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and a pair of walks.
He has not made it past the fourth inning in three of his last four starts. Bannister has lost four of five career starts against the Mariners.
Milton Bradley, who rested for the Mariners on Sunday, likely will play as he is a .400 hitter against Bannister with a homer and two RBIs in limited action.
In addition to Lee, Seattle right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, who is batting .328, was selected for the All-Star Game.
Closer Joakim Soria is the Royals’ only All-Star representative. Soria has 22 saves in 24 opportunities and is tied with Neftali Feliz of the Texas Rangers for the most saves in the American League.