The Kansas City Royals are looking to turn the page on a rough April, and what better place to start than Seattle? After finishing the first month with a 12-19 record, the Royals find themselves just 3.5 games back in their division—a reminder that it's still early, and hope springs eternal in baseball.
Here's some good karma to lean on: Last season, a trip to Seattle in early July sparked a major turnaround for this squad. After dropping the first game on April 30, they rallied to win two of the next three, splitting the series before posting a 15-9 record in July. It may not be July yet, but the sights and sounds of T-Mobile Park could be just what the doctor ordered.
On the mound for Kansas City is Cole Ragans, coming off one of the most dominant outings of his career. In his last start, he fanned 11 batters without issuing a single walk in a win over the Angels. Sure, the Angels aren't the Mariners, but they've actually scored more runs this season than Seattle. So there's reason to believe Ragans can replicate that magic—even if he's been stronger at home than on the road this year. Let's chalk that up to recovering from a comebacker in Cleveland, which left him less than 100% in starts against Detroit and New York.
Ragans has faced the Mariners twice before. In 2024, he delivered a sharp 6-inning, 9-strikeout performance. His other start came last season when he returned from the IL and went 3.2 innings with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks. He's shown he can handle this lineup.
Opposing him is Seattle's Bryan Woo, who ranked among the top 20 starters in MLB last year. But 2025 has been a different story. Woo's strikeout numbers have dipped, he's allowing more fly balls, and he's struggling to strand runners. Translation: He's as vulnerable as he's ever been, and both he and the Royals' offense see this as a prime opportunity to get right.
The bottom of the Mariners' order has been a weak spot all season, and if Kansas City can capitalize early, they might just start writing a new chapter. After all, May flowers bloom from April showers—and this team has the talent to make it happen.