Seattle @ Kansas City Preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2013 ) Seattle 1, Kansas City 3

Kansas City needs an extremely strong final month to land an American League wild-card berth and the Royals strive to improve to 3-0 in September when they host the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. The Royals won the opener of the four-game set on Monday and sits five games behind Tampa Bay with 25 contests remaining. Struggling Seattle has scored one run over its last two games and is 3-8 since manager Eric Wedge returned from a stroke.

The Royals won for the sixth time in eight games with Monday’s 3-1 victory, which also represented the first of seven games against the Mariners in September. Shortstop Alcides Escobar stole two bases – he’s 18-for-18 on the season – in the opener to raise Kansas City’s major league-leading total to 128. Seattle has scored three or fewer runs in nine of its last 11 games.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), FSN (Kansas City)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (5-1, 5.18 ERA) vs. Royals LH Bruce Chen (6-2, 2.79)

Ramirez matched a season high with seven strikeouts and gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings while beating Houston in his last outing. He has allowed five earned runs in 19 1/3 innings over his last three outings. Ramirez is 3-0 with a 4.13 ERA in four road starts this season.

Chen allowed one run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings to beat Minnesota in his last turn. The solid start followed two consecutive rough outings in which he allowed 13 runs, 14 hits and six walks in nine innings in losses to Detroit and Washington. Chen is 4-1 with a 3.23 ERA in 13 career appearances (nine starts) against Seattle.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seattle 1B Justin Smoak is in a 3-for-47 slump that has seen his average drop 26 points to .247.

2. Royals All-Star closer Greg Holland converted his 30th consecutive save opportunity in the opener. He has 37 overall in 39 opportunities.

3. Mariners C Mike Zunino (wrist) was hitless in three at-bats Monday in his first game since being injured in late July.

PREDICTION: Royals 6, Mariners 2