Kansas City @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2010 ) Kansas City 7, Seattle 3
After a month of playing teams still in contention, the Seattle Mariners finally have somebody their own size to pick on when the Kansas City Royals come to town for a three-game series starting Friday night.
You can build a pyre for both of these clubs as their seasons are virtually dead.
Seattle (40-69) was shut out for the third time in five games Thursday night in a 6-0 loss to the Texas Rangers. Seattle, which has lost nine of 10, was swept by the Royals early last month.
Kansas City (46-62) has won four of its last six but designated mercurial outfielder Jose Guillen for assignment on Thursday.
Seattle won’t exactly open the series with an easy matchup, facing Zack Greinke (7-10, 3.97), the 2009 American League Cy Young winner. Greinke will oppose left-hander Luke French (0-2, 6.27).
Greinke has dominated the Mariners, going 4-0 with a 1.26 ERA in eight career starts. He has not allowed a run in two starts against them this season. He has allowed just two runs – one earned – in 39 innings. The right-hander beat the Mariners 3-2 on July 6, striking out nine and allowing an unearned run on two hits in seven innings.
The only Mariner to hit well against Greinke is 10-time All-Star Ichiro Suzuki, who is 7-for-22.
Greinke, though, has been frustrated with not only his season but the Royals’ continuing rebuilding. In Greinke’s seven years in Kansas City, the Royals have never had a winning record or finished higher than fourth in the American League Central.
In fact, the Royals have not made the playoffs since winning the World Series in 1985.
Greinke, whose current contract ends after the 2012 season, has said he is uncertain if he wants to stick around after that or go through another rebuilding phase since “obviously none of them have worked.”
Greinke seems to be a perfect fit for the small Kansas City market with his low-key demeanor. He has never sought the spotlight despite being the team’s franchise player.
French will try to get his first victory this season. He is 2-0 with a 3.97 ERA against the Royals
In his most recent start Sunday, the left-hander allowed four runs in six innings in a 4-0 loss at Minnesota.
Billy Butler is the only Royal with much experience against French, going 5-for-6 with three doubles and a homer.
Guillen will be searching for his 11th major league team after the Royals decided to go with younger prospects. They owe Guillen almost $4 million of his $12 million salary. The San Francisco Giants are reportedly interested in the right fielder/DH.
Kansas City has 10 days to trade, waive or release Guillen.