Seattle Mariners at Kansas City Royals
Pitchers: Brandon Morrow vs. Brandon Duckworth
Umpire: Jim Wolf (13-15, 2.09)
Conditions: 71 degrees at first pitch with light winds blowing out to center field at 5 mph.

Converted closer Brandon Morrow is just two starts into his late season audition in the Mariners’ rotation, and so far so good. Morrow tossed 7.2 innings of one-hit ball against the Yankees, then followed that up with five frames of two-run ball against the Angels.

Brandon Duckworth (2-1, 5.85 ERA) is 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA in three career games versus the Mariners, but he hasn’t faced the team since 2004. Duckworth, who pitches to contact, has been running strong in three of his four starts since being recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Aug. 24. The right-hander allowed two runs and seven hits, while striking out five in just over five innings at the Metrodome on Thursday.

Given Duckworth’s poor minor league peripherals, he’s a temporary fixture in the Royals rotation. However, he needs only pitch to his career numbers tonight to help with the play to the UNDER. The Royals are one of the better catch and throw teams in the league, and Duckworth needs only avoid bunch hits and seeing eye grounders to keep his team in the game.

Morrow (2-3, 1.64), who is making his third start took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of his first outing to earn a 3-1 home victory over the Yanks, and then gave up only two runs on five hits over five innings in his second start. Make no mistake, Morrow is a future stud in the Mariners rotation. The four-pitch right hander has an overwhelming fast ball and a terrific change up to compliment his breaking balls.

Morrow was supposed to throw no more than 100 pitches in his debut, but when he was carrying a no hitter into the late innings, that notion went out the window. And while his last start in LA wasn’t horrible, he wasn’t nearly as sharp as he was in his first start, and much of this likely had to do with the 109 pitches in his no-hit bid. His 90 pitches in his last start will have him fresh for tonight’s light-hitting Royals.

Seattle is the second lowest scoring team in the league at 4.1 runs per game and second worst in the league in free passes at 2.6 per game to only the Royals at 2.4 per game. The M’s score only 3.86 runs per game against right-handed starters and the Royals, 3.79 per contest.

KC is the third lowest scoring team in the league at 4.2 runs per game.

Both teams hit left-handed pitching significantly better than right-handers. In fact 31 of KC’s wins have come against southpaws

Home plate umpire Jim Wolf is a fair umpire who isn’t considered a QuesTec Vest. His 2.09 K:BB ratio is one of the larger numbers in the league and he works a fast and efficient game. His setup behind the plate favors right-handers, and despite his near .500 record of overs to unders he should be considered pitcher-friendly for tonight’s game.

The UNDER is 6-0 in Mariners last 6 road games and 6-0 in Mariners last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
The UNDER is 8-3 in Royals last 11 vs. American League West and 4-1 in Duckworth’s last 5 home starts.
The UNDER is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings between these two teams.

4 UNIT Play on the UNDER

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