The Kansas City Royals enter Monday night’s game at T-Mobile Park with a 39–45 record and a sense of urgency as they aim to reverse recent fortunes and reassert themselves in the AL Central picture. Michael Wacha is expected to get the start, and the veteran right-hander remains a crucial figure in a pitching staff that has lacked consistency but is capable of shutting down lineups when he’s locating well and keeping hitters guessing with his changeup-heavy arsenal. Wacha’s experience and ability to induce soft contact will be especially important against a Mariners lineup that thrives in situational hitting and can grind out at-bats, and the Royals will look to support him with early run production to keep him in a position of leverage. Offensively, Kansas City continues to struggle to sustain rallies and generate consistent scoring, as evidenced by the team hitting the total under in 54 of their last 77 games, a statistic that underscores their inability to take advantage of scoring opportunities despite flashes of power from Salvador Perez and Bobby Witt Jr. Witt, in particular, remains a bright spot in the lineup, combining speed and pop with elite defensive ability, but he’s often lacked protection in the order, making it easier for opposing pitchers to work around him.

The Royals’ offensive game plan will likely rely on aggressive baserunning, short swings, and an emphasis on contact, as they’re not a lineup built to rely solely on home runs, and stringing hits together will be key against Seattle’s disciplined pitching staff. Defensively, Kansas City has made strides over the last few weeks, showing better fundamentals and cleaner execution, particularly in the infield, where double plays and good positioning have saved runs and reduced damage in tight games. However, their bullpen remains a concern, especially in late innings, where command issues and lack of depth have cost them winnable contests, so the Royals will be looking for a long outing from Wacha or perhaps piggybacking with a multi-inning reliever to bridge the gap to the ninth. Manager Matt Quatraro continues to emphasize player development alongside competitiveness, and games like this offer valuable reps for younger players while also testing their poise in high-leverage road environments. Kansas City has covered the run line in just under half of their games, and while they often stay within striking distance, they’ve struggled to close the deal in the later innings, which makes early scoring and clean defense all the more important. If the Royals can get solid at-bats from the bottom of their order and avoid mental lapses on the bases and in the field, they have a chance to make this a competitive game despite the Mariners holding the edge in pitching depth and recent form. With the trade deadline looming, players know that every game now serves as both a team opportunity and an individual audition, and how Kansas City responds to that pressure in games like this could shape the remainder of their season.