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Royals-Mariners Preview

Aug 30, 2009 - 5:41 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Kansas City (49-79) at Seattle (67-62), 4:10 p.m. EDT

A lack of discipline at the plate has been hurting the Seattle Mariners as they try to remain in the AL wild-card hunt. Facing Zack Greinke may not help matters.

The Mariners' injury-depleted lineup looks to avoid being shut down by Greinke in a matchup with the lowly Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Seattle (68-62), 7 1/2 games behind wild-card leader Boston, may need to be a little more selective at the plate if it hopes to make a run.

The Mariners have struck out 294 times while going 16-16 since July 23. They're second only to Texas (297) during that span.

After being fanned 18 times in splitting the first two contests of this four-game series, the Mariners had six in an 8-4 win over AL-worst Kansas City (49-80) on Saturday night.

Seattle next faces Greinke (12-8, 2.43 ERA), who struck out a team-record 15 and allowed two runs in eight innings to beat Cleveland 6-2 on Tuesday night. The right-hander topped his career high with 12 strikeouts in the first six innings and broke Mark Gubicza's 21-year-old team record of 14 in the seventh.

Greinke is third in the majors with 197 strikeouts in 181 1-3 innings.

"With two strikes, I usually try to strike guys out," he said.

Greinke has 23 strikeouts in five starts versus the Mariners, going 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA.

With Ichiro Suzuki (calf) out the past six games, Seattle is even more vulnerable to strikeouts. Suzuki has never struck out more than 77 times in a season.

The nine-time All-Star, 16 hits shy of reaching 200 in a record nine straight seasons, is uncertain for Sunday.

"We're on the exact same page with him," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "All I told him is let's be smart about it, whatever day that is (for his return)."

Seattle is also without Russell Branyan, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a herniated disk in his back. The 33-year-old first baseman has set career highs with 31 homers and 76 RBIs.

Jack Hannahan started at first base Saturday, going 2 for 4 with a home run. He entered the game hitting .194 in 18 games against the Royals but helped Seattle reach its highest run total since a 9-4 win over Cleveland on Aug. 21.

Kansas City went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position as it lost for the eighth time in 10 games. Cleanup hitter Mike Jacobs is 1 for 16 over his last four.

Kansas City next looks to solve Seattle starter Ryan Rowland-Smith (2-1, 4.05), who is 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in five starts at home. He gave up two runs in 6 1-3 innings as Seattle beat Oakland 4-2 in 10 innings at Safeco Field on Tuesday night.

The left-hander has not received a decision in two starts and four relief appearances against the Royals, posting a 4.91 ERA.