Game thread LII – Mariners at Royals

Well, the Royals won’t be getting a series sweep against the Mariners this time. But perhaps they could still win the series and begin to right the ship that is their rapidly sinking season. If they can do it, a lot will depend on the offense finally getting going again. But it will also depend on Stephen Kolek pitching to his highest Royals potential for the eighth time in nine starts.

In his last start out against the Cardinals, he once again became the guy the Royals had seen in six straight starts before the disastrous White Sox series. He didn’t generate swing and miss, but he just kept getting outs. What would be even better is if he could take a page out of last year’s efforts and pitch deep into the game, allowing an inconsistent bullpen that has suffered injuries to some of its best to cover as little of the game as possible. Kolek made a start against the Mariners last year and went 7.1 innings of 2-run ball with 8 strikeouts and only 1 walk. Outside the complete game shutout against the Rockies in his second career start, it was the best he’s ever pitched. The Royals might need him to be even better.

The Mariners will counter with George Kirby. Kirby’s strikeouts are down considerably this year, and his walks are at the highest they’ve ever been, though still not high. Still, none of that has prevented him from pitching quite effectively for the Mariners in his fifth big league season. Kirby throws seven different pitches, none more than 31% of the time, so he can be difficult to pigeonhole. He doesn’t get a lot of swing and miss, but he also doesn’t give up much hard contact. A lot of his success comes on convincing hitters to chase outside the zone to generate that weaker contact. The Royals hitters will need to be disciplined and identify pitches quickly if they want to succeed against him today.

Kirby didn’t pitch in the earlier series this season, but he did face them last June 30. He picked up the win that day with six shutout innings on five strikeouts.

Same lineup, different day. They can’t lose EVERY game like this, though, can they?