MLB Parlay Picks – Mediocre Mariners Host Semi-Hot Royals, Greinke

The Seattle Mariners will be looking to snap out of their doldrums and get back in the win column when they play host to the semi-hot Kansas City Royals and 2009 AL Cy Young winner Zack Greinke at Safeco Field tonight at 10 PM ET.

Tuesday, July 6, 10:10 PM ET

MLB Odds
Kansas City Royals -1½ +110 -150
Zack Greinke -R
Seattle Mariners +1½ -130 +130
Ryan Roland-Smith -L
Over 7½ -105
Under 7½ -115

TV: FSKC-HD, FSN
Radio: Sirius 176 XM

Kansas City (37-46 SU, 40-39-3 O/U, 49-33 RL)
Seattle (34-48 SU, 33-41-7 O/U, 39-42 RL)

Scott Podsednik and Yuniesky Betancourt both drove in runs in the top of the 10th inning to lift the Royals to a 6-4 win over the on Monday night.

Kansas City cashed in for MLB betting backers as a +190 road underdog while the game’s final score played Over the 7-run O/U total.

Here is a look at the key trends for each team, followed by my in-depth analysis and MLB Free Picks.

• Under is 5-1 in Greinke’s last 6 starts vs. Mariners.
• Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Seattle.
• Over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
• Royals are 6-15 in the last 20 meetings in Seattle.

Kansas City 411

• Royals are 5-13 in Greinke’s last 18 starts.
• Royals are 1-5 in Greinke’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
• Royals are 0-4 in Greinke’s last 4 starts vs. American League West.

Alberto Callaspo went 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Royals as Kyle Farnsworth got the win in relief of Brian Bannister for Kansas City.

Seattle 411

• Mariners are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
• Mariners are 1-8 in Rowland-Smiths last 9 starts.

Russell Branyan smacked a two-run homer for Seattle in a losing effort while Chad Cordero took the loss after allowing the go-ahead runs in the top of the 10th.

The Starters: Tonight the Royals will turn to staff ace right-hander Zack Greinke (4-8, 3.94 ERA) while the Mariners counter with left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-7, 6.08 ERA).

Greinke has won two straight starts and picked up a win despite getting pounded for six runs on 10 hits in eight innings of a 7-6 win over the White Sox on Wednesday. Greinke gave up five straight hits and five runs in the eighth inning.

Rowland-Smith was solid in his last outing, limiting the New York Yankees to just two earned runs on five hits in six innings of a 4-2 loss on Thursday.

Analysis: I know the Kansas City Royals are one of the worst teams in all of baseball, but they still have a better record than the Seattle Mariners who have been one of the biggest disappointments in the league this season – and Ryan Roland-Smith isn’t close to being in the same category of pitchers that Zack Greinke is, not matter how pitiful Greinke’s teammates are.

The Mariners are averaging just 3.48 runs per game, ranking 28th overall while K.C. is putting up 4.42 runs per contest (18th).

Kansas City has also compiled a better road record this season than at home and have gone 4-1 in their last five road games.

In addition to playing the Royals to cash in with the outright road win and MLB Run Line cover, I also like the Under to play out for MLB gamblers as it has gone 5-1 in Greinke’s last six starts versus Seattle and 4-0 in the Mariners’ last four games as an underdog.

MLB Free Picks: Royals -1½ Runs/Under 7½ Total Runs