Seattle Mariners vs Kansas City Royals Prediction, 5/23/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Seattle Mariners vs Kansas City Royals

Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026

Location: Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO

TV: MLB.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Seattle (-128) Kansas City (+106)

The Seattle Mariners (24-27) are on their way to Kauffman Stadium on Saturday where they will go up against the Kansas City Royals (20-30). The moneyline on this contest has the Mariners at -128 while the Royals are priced at +106. The betting total comes in at 8. The pitchers who are expected to start are George Kirby and Stephen Kolek.

As a team, the Seattle Mariners are putting up 4.1 runs per game, which is 21st in the league. They have 210 runs and hold an on-base percentage of .318. The Mariners have accrued 68 two-baggers as a team and have hit 58 baseballs out of the park. They have 205 runs batted in in addition to 378 hits on the campaign, while their average at the plate is sitting at .226. Seattle has a slugging rate of .376 and have been rung up 462 times, while taking a walk on 197 occasions.

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They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 3.36 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.23. Mariners pitchers have surrendered 52 home runs and 199 runs in total (9th in the league). Seattle has surrendered 426 hits (8.4 per 9 innings) and 184 earned runs. The Mariners have an ERA of 3.64 over the course of the season (7th in MLB), and their staff has rung up 443 batters. They have walked 132 opposing batters and their FIP is 3.70 as a squad so far this season.

Mariners bullpen pitchers have gone to the mound with opponents on base 40 times in addition to having 64 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have racked up 29 holds on the campaign (13th in MLB). The Mariners relievers have compiled a save rate of 61.9% and have stepped onto the mound in 50 save situations. They have recorded 13 saves so far this season and have blown 8 of their 21 save chances. The relievers have inherited 53 base runners on the campaign and 17.0% of them crossing home plate. The Mariners have dispatched 159 relievers to the hill over the course of the season.

The Mariners have turned 69.0% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 4,089 innings, which has them sitting at 25th in baseball. The Seattle Mariners have notched a total of 1,363 putouts over the course of the season, in addition to 423 assists and 18 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .990 which puts them in 4th in baseball, and have accumulated 46 double plays.

Kirby has taken the ball for 699 innings and has earned 673 strikeouts so far in his pro baseball career. His earned run average is 3.58 (278 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.120. He has surrendered 674 base knocks (8.7 hits per 9 innings) and has 109 walks. Kirby (50-37 career mark) is the owner of a FIP of 3.52 and he has gone up against 2,852 hitters during his time in the major leagues.

Kansas City has accumulated 48 home runs on the campaign to go along with 187 RBIs. They have hit 83 two-baggers, while taking a walk 173 times and putting up 194 runs. The Kansas City Royals have accounted for a team OBP of .314 as well as a team batting average of .237 on the year. The Royals have a team SLG% of .382 and they tally 3.88 runs per outing (27th in MLB). They have struck out on 409 occasions (20th in MLB) and have notched a total of 392 base hits.

The Kansas City pitching staff have given up 224 runs so far this year and come in with a team ERA of 4.29 (211 earned runs conceded). They have surrendered 54 long balls and they allow 4.55 runs per 9 innings (17th in MLB). The Royals have a WHIP of 1.384 with a FIP of 4.28 as a squad on the campaign. They currently have a K/BB ratio of 8.50 (419 strikeouts vs 209 bases on balls). They are currently ranked 17th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 404.

Sitting with 43 save situations, the Royals have earned 20 holds and also 9 blown saves. Kansas City has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the hill in 23 save chances and they have converted 14 saves. Kansas City bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 23.7% out of their 38 inherited base runners. Their relievers have come in 51 times in high leverage situations in addition to 33 occasions with runners on. They are ranked 17th in baseball with a save percentage of 60.9%, and they have sent 156 bullpen pitchers onto the field so far this year.

In 3,987 innings played, the Royals have accumulated a efficiency on defense of 69.9% (18th in the majors). The Kansas City Royals have turned 43 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .989 (6th in professional baseball). The Royals have racked up 433 assists, 19 errors and have earned a total of 1,329 putouts this year.

In his MLB career, Kolek has allowed 170 hits while accumulating 128 punch outs in 176 frames. Kolek (10-7 win-loss record in his career) is the owner of a 4.04 ERA while allowing 8.7 hits per nine innings. He has conceded a total of 79 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.232 and a FIP of 4.0. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.72 and he has gone up against 741 opposing batters so far in his career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Seattle (-128)

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