The set-up: The 4-3 Seattle Mariners and the 4-3 Kansas City Royals open a three-game road series on Monday at Kauffman Stadium. Seattle set a season high for runs in an 11-4 win at Minnesota on Saturday, but the series finale was postponed due to inclement weather. However, the offensive outburst was a good sign for a Mariners team that had totaled just three runs in losing its previous two games. The Royals have shown even less firepower in the early going, as they rank near the bottom of MLB in most offensive categories. KC ranks last in runs (2.29 per) and HRs (2), while ranking 28th in BA (.205) and 29th in OPS (.555). The Royals went 2-3 on their trip to Detroit and Cleveland but the good news for the Royals was they got good pitching on the trip, giving up just six runs in the last four games.

The pitching matchup: The Mariners will go with lefty Marco Gonzales (1-0, 4.26 ERA) and the Royals will counter with Jakob Junis (1-0, 0.00 ERA).Gonzales' second start of the season was pushed back to tonight, because of Sunday's postponement in Minnesota. He was solid in his debut, allowing three runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings en route to a 6-4 win at San Francisco. However, he did serve up a pair of HRs at spacious AT&T Park, which might warrant some concern. Gonzales has started one game in his career against the Royals, a no-decision on Aug. 6 when he pitched four innings, allowing five runs and seven hits, while striking out five and issuing only one walk. Junis was dominant in his first outing of the season, striking out six over seven scoreless innings to win 1-0 at Detroit last Tuesday. He allowed only three singles and a walk, carrying over from his impressive spring. Junis has been excellent at home in his young career, going 3-0 with a 3.43 ERA in nine games (seven starts) at Kauffman Stadium. Monday will be Junis' second career start against the Mariners. His other start came Aug. 6, a 9-1 victory in which he pitched eight innings, allowing one run and four hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.

The pick: Not sure I trust Junis to pitch anywhere near as well as he did last Tuesday, even though the Mariners are dealing with a number of injuries as Nelson Cruz (ankle), Mike Zunino (left oblique) and Ben Gamel (right oblique). are all on the DL. The 2018 season appears to be a rebuilding process for the Royals. this season. Kansas City won the 1985 World Series but it wasn't until 2015 when KC returned to the postseason. The Royals made it to the World Series that season, before losing a dramtic seven-game series to Madison Bumgarner and the SF Giants. KC came right back the following year and captured the franchise's second-ever World Series title by beating the Mets in five games. However, reality has returned to KC, as the Royals own back-to-season of 81 and 80 wins. The Royals lost a couple key contributors during the off-season when Eric Hosmer signed with the San Diego Padres and Lorenzo Cain joined the Milwaukee Brewers. Then right before the start of this season, KC lost five-time All-Star catcher Salvador Perez for at least four-to-six weeks when he tore the MCL in his left knee when he lost his balance while carrying luggage. Can't make that up. Make Seattle a 10* play.