Royals at Mariners
Whit Merrifield hopes to build off a career performance when the Kansas City Royals attempt to complete a three-game sweep of the host Seattle Mariners on Wednesday afternoon. Merrifield went 3-for-4 in Tuesday's 9-0 triumph, matching a personal best with two homers and establishing one with six RBIs.
Merrifield, who also scored three times, is riding an eight-game hitting streak during which he has gone 14-for-35 with three blasts and 10 RBIs. The 30-year-old second baseman, who hasn't gone without a hit in back-to-back games yet this season, is 14-for-36 in eight career contests at Seattle. Jorge Soler also went deep on Tuesday, giving him three blasts and five RBIs over his last four games. Tom Murphy doubled in Tuesday's loss and has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games for the Mariners, who are 0-14 in contests in which they do not hit a home run.
TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Brad Keller (3-8, 3.97 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (7-6, 4.50)
Keller avoided losing his fourth consecutive start on Friday but was unable to stop the slide with a victory as he settled for a no-decision at Minnesota despite scattering three hits over seven scoreless innings. The 23-year-old native of Georgia has worked at least seven frames in four of his last five outings, a stretch that began with his most recent victory on May 22 in St. Louis. Keller, who also has made a relief appearance against the Mariners, allowed one run and six hits over eight innings of a loss at Seattle on July 1 of last season for his lone complete game in the major leagues.
This season has been one of streaks for Gonzales, who began the campaign by winning four straight starts and five consecutive decisions, then endured a string of six losses in seven turns before posting back-to-back victories. The 27-year-old native of Colorado's most recent win came in Oakland on Friday, when he allowed two runs - one earned - and seven hits in seven innings. Gonzales improved to 2-1 with one complete game and a 5.06 ERA when he permitted three runs and six hits over six frames in a victory at Kansas City on April 9.
WALK-OFFS
1. The road team has won each of the six meetings between the clubs thus far this year.
2. Kansas City SS Adalberto Mondesi exited Tuesday's game with tightness in his groin and is day-to-day.
3. Seattle RHP Felix Hernandez (lat), who hasn't pitched since May 11, was slated to undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday.