KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — The Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals conclude their four-game series Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium, with the teams splitting the first two contests.

Seattle (25-28) enters the rubber match after a 5-0 loss Saturday, a game in which George Kirby allowed three earned runs over six innings. The Mariners, who have dropped four of their last five, look to right-hander Bryan Woo (4-2) or right-hander Seth Lugo (1-4), with the club yet to confirm a starter at press time.

Kansas City (21-31) earned a series-tying victory Saturday behind a complete-game two-hit shutout from right-hander Stephen Kolek (W, 5-0), who struck out two and walked none. Kolek has allowed no runs over 15 1/3 innings across his last two starts. First pitch is scheduled for the evening under partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 77 degrees.

Seattle’s Kirby, who took the loss Saturday, has pitched to a 5.40 ERA over his last three outings, allowing 11 earned runs in 16 2/3 innings. The right-hander was sharp May 11 at Houston, allowing one run in five innings in a victory, but has been inconsistent.

Kolek has been dominant for Kansas City, posting a 0.00 ERA and 0.29 WHIP over his last two starts spanning 15 1/3 innings. In his May 12 start against the White Sox, however, he allowed five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.

The series opened with Seattle’s 2-0 win Friday, when Mariners pitchers combined on a three-hitter. The Royals took the series opener May 1 in Seattle, 7-6, and have won three of the five meetings this season.

Both teams have been scuffling. Seattle has lost five of its last seven overall. Kansas City has dropped seven of its last 10.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-1 Seattle victory. The Mariners are installed as -1.5 run-line favorites, with the over/under set at 8.5.

Following this series, Seattle travels to for a three-game set beginning Monday. Kansas City hosts the New York Yankees for a three-game series starting Monday.