Mariners series preview: Can the Royals dump the Dumper?
The Kansas City Royals face the Seattle Mariners in a series at T-Mobile Park, with both teams showing mixed results early in the 2026 season. The Mariners, despite a slow start, are improving and getting key contributions from players like Cal Raleigh and Brendan Donovan, who is returning from injury. Seattle's pitching, led by Bryan Woo and Emerson Hancock, has been strong, while the Royals struggle offensively and defensively.
- ▪The Mariners won six of their last seven games after dropping 15 of their first 25 in 2026.
- ▪Brendan Donovan is hitting .304/.437/.518 in 18 games before missing time with a groin injury.
- ▪Cal Raleigh has hit five home runs in his last nine games but is not on pace to match his league-leading 60 from last year.
- ▪J.P. Crawford has the fifth-best walk rate in MLB at 18.8 percent.
- ▪Emerson Hancock has not allowed more than three runs in any start this season and had a six-inning no-hit outing in his season debut.
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