Yusei Kikuchi versus Triston McKenzie does not scream pitchers’ duel, but both are facing suspect offenses and should be able to deliver their best on Saturday in Cleveland.
Kikuchi has done his best work away from Seattle, with a 3.71 road ERA and 3.6 strikeout-to-walk rate. His strikeouts per nine innings rate has gone from 6.5 his first season to 9.3 in 2021.
The Indians will look to McKenzie to issue fewer walks. He’s dishing out an AL-high 35 this season (7.6 per nine innings). But he has 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings while allowing just six hits per nine innings. McKenzie also gets the advantage of facing a Mariners team that ranks 23rd in MLB walks-per-at bat percentage and last in both batting average and on-base percentage.
The Indians rank 29th in on-base percentage and fifth in bullpen ERA, so it should be a silent Saturday for the bats on the shores of Lake Erie.
The play: Mariners-Indians total. Under 9.5 runs.