Two teams looking to turn their seasons around collide this Friday as the Kansas City Royals visit the Seattle Mariners to kick off a weekend series at T-Mobile Park. Both clubs have stumbled out of the gate, making this matchup a crucial early-season test.
The Mariners (16-16) have struggled to replicate last year's postseason magic, with key bats like Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, J.P. Crawford, and Josh Naylor all posting OPS marks below .700. That offensive inconsistency has made it tough for Seattle to build momentum, despite solid pitching. Right-hander Bryan Woo (3.86 ERA) will take the mound, looking to rebound after a rough outing against the Cardinals where he surrendered seven runs.
Kansas City faces similar offensive woes. Salvador Pérez (.589 OPS) and Vinnie Pasquantino (.600 OPS, .167 average) have yet to find their rhythm, but the Royals can lean on superstar Bobby Witt Jr. and the continued emergence of Carter Jensen, who impressed during his MLB debut last season. Lefty Cole Ragans (5.00 ERA in six starts) gets the ball for KC, hoping to settle into form after a shaky start to the year.
With both teams hungry for a win, expect a tightly contested opener under the Seattle lights. First pitch is set for 9:45 p.m. ET.
How to Watch: This Friday's game won't air on traditional TV. Instead, it streams exclusively as part of Apple TV's "Friday Night Baseball" package. New subscribers can enjoy a free one-week trial, with the service costing $12.99/month thereafter. The Apple TV app is available on smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and gaming consoles—perfect for catching all the action from the comfort of your home.
Whether you're cheering for the Royals or the Mariners, this series opener promises plenty of drama as two talented but underperforming teams battle to get back on track.