MLB Baseball

2025-09-16 - Seattle Mariners at Kansas City Royals

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

Seattle Mariners @ Kansas City Royals
United States : MLB Baseball
Tuesday 16th August 2025 - Scheduled 7:40pm
12:40am (British Time)

Preview

Looking back at the pre-season expectations ahead of the 2025 year, there are a number of teams that have surpassed expectations and plenty who have underwhelmed.

One of the standout teams that had more expected from them is the Kansas City Royals (75-75) who are just about clinging onto Playoff life with games trickling down. At this point of the season, it would be a huge surprise if the Royals can not only get past two teams ahead of them, but then track down one of the Wild Card spots having failed to challenge the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central.

The Royals had lost six of seven games before salvaging one game in a series loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. They will be well aware that they likely need to win at least ten of the remaining twelve games to have any hope of sneaking into the post-season and that has to begin in this three game series.

Unfortunately for Kansas City, the road team coming into town have just won nine in a row to move to the top of the American League West and that momentum has given the Seattle Mariners (82-68) the momentum going into the final two weeks of the regular season.

There is only 0.5 games between the Mariners and the Houston Astros and 3.5 games between them and 2023 World Champipns Texas Rangers.

With that in mind, there is still all to play for as far as Seattle are concerned and that is whether it comes down to winning the Division or even securing a Wild Card spot.

The Mariners will give the ball to Logan Gilbert to begin the series and the pitcher has a 4-6 record in twenty-two starts, albeit with a 3.54 ERA. That is a number that will give Gilbert every chance to conclude this season without picking up another losing record and Seattle have faith in this starter and what he is offering the team.

There has been some misfortune about the record- Logan Gilbert has made two starts in September and allowed two earned runs in over 10 Innings thrown, but the batting lineup has not been able to back him up and he has not factored into the decision.

Earlier this season, Logan Gilbert was one out away from recording 5 completed Innings against the Kansas City Royals and he allowed a single run in his time on the mound. However, just as the two September starts, Gilbert did not factor into the decision.

Kansas City are going to counter with Michael Wacha who has a 9-11 record with a 3.45 ERA in his twenty-eight starts in 2025. The veteran has been a consistent performer over the last four years and he will always give his team an opportunity to win games.

A concussion meant Michael Wacha had to miss his last scheduled start and the Royals are likely going to be keeping an eye on him. He ended August by allowing seven runs in a little over 10 Innings thrown, but Wacha's sole start this month saw him hold the Minnesota Twins to a single run in almost 6 completed Innings.

He has also faced this opponent once this season, but Michael Wacha was knocked around for five runs in 5 Innings and absorbed the decision loss to the Mariners.

These teams split a four game series hosted by Seattle back in July.

Prediction

Both starting pitchers will feel they can set the table for success in the opener of this three game set, but Michael Wacha may not have as many Innings in him as normal as he returns from a concussion.

This could give the high-flying Seattle Mariners the edge and it is hard to step in front of a team that have just won nine in a row to move to the top of the American League West.

Logan Gilbert has produced a couple of solid September outings and he may be able to do the same and allow the bullpen to close things up for the Mariners as they look to keep the pressure on the likes of Houston and Texas within the Division and those in the Wild Card Race.