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Pile your offers of fealty and dedication high, as it is time to kowtow to the Birthday King. It’s Félix Hernández’s 33rd birthday and he’s received a challenger in the form of a rival kingdom, the Royals to be particular. Kansas City has had one of the worst starts offensively of any team, and their roster seems ill-designed to dig out of that hole. Hopefully that will be grounds for another solid start for Félix in the balmy Midwest. The top three of the Royals order has been strong, but the bottom of the lineup has failed to hit at an MLB level.
Lineups. Dylan Moore starting at shortstop pic.twitter.com/lnaHYsUpCP
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) April 8, 2019
As for the M’s, they’ll run out what is arguably the worst defensive lineup in years, but a theoretically offensively potent one. Mallex Smith is getting a scheduled day off, while Tim Beckham is receiving an extra day to rest his hamstring after a bit of tightness yesterday. According to Scott Servais, he’s available to pinch-hit late in the game if needed. The Mariners will have a chance to run up the offensive numbers off Homer Bailey, who has struggled mightily over the past three seasons, and it’d be great of them to do so and give Fifi the greatest present of all - run support.
Game Time: 5:15 PM PT
TV: ROOT
Radio: 710 AM ESPN Seattle
Online: MLB.TV
And just for birthday’s sakes, Happy Félix Day, everyone.