News » A pair of injured Braves starters are on their way back."O

pening Day has been out of the equation for a while now but both Mike Foltynewicz and Mike Soroka took a step forward towards a late April return on Sunday. Foltynewicz entered the spring as the odds on favorite to be Atlanta’s Opening Day starter but a sore elbow put him on the shelf after just one spring outing. He played catch last week but will need to complete a side session and throw live BP before being cleared to pitch in games. The Athletic’s David O’Brien reported that Foltynewicz’s side session took place on Sunday and that it went well. Mike Soroka’s 2018 season ended after just five major league starts due to shoulder inflammation. He came to spring looking to get a jump start on his return but experienced more shoulder soreness which was reportedly unrelated to the soreness he had last season. He has yet to appear in a game this spring but that could be right around the corner after throwing a live BP session on Sunday. It has been apparent for sometime that Atlanta won’t open the season with the best version of its 25-man roster. In addition to Foltynewicz and Soroka http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-greinke-jersey , it now looks like A.J. Minter and Darren O’Day will begin the season on the injured list as well. That means Atlanta’s depth will be tested from the outset but the good news is, both Folty and Soroka appear on their way back and could be ready before the end of April. Kansas City Royals (24-48, fifth in the AL Central) vs. Seattle Mariners (31-45, fifth in the AL West)Seattle; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Homer Bailey (5-6, 5.37 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 61 strikeouts) Mariners: Yusei Kikuchi (3-4, 4.78 ERA Shelby Miller Jersey , 1.43 WHIP, 55 strikeouts)Article continues below ...BOTTOM LINE:The Mariners are 13-23 in home games. Seattle has slugged .451, good for third in the American League. Daniel Vogelbach leads the club with a .535 slugging percentage, including 26 extra-base hits and 17 home runs.The Royals are 10-25 on the road. Kansas City’s lineup has 72 home runs this season, Jorge Soler leads them with 19 homers. The Royals won the last meeting 6-4. Brian Flynn earned his first victory and Soler went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs for Kansas City. Anthony Bass took his second loss for Seattle.TOP PERFORMERS: Vogelbach leads the Mariners with 17 home runs and is batting .256. Tom Murphy is 6-for-20 with four home runs and 10 RBIs over the last 10 games for Seattle.Soler leads the Royals with 51 RBIs and is batting .245. Whit Merrifield is 15-for-43 with three doubles, a home run and five RBIs over the last 10 games for Kansas City.LAST 10 GAMES: Mariners: 5-5, .256 batting average, 5.79 ERA, outscored by three runsRoyals: 5-5 Chris Owings Jersey , .221 batting average, 3.38 ERA, outscored opponents by two runsMariners Injuries: Arodys Vizcaino: 60-day IL (shoulder), Sam Tuivailala: 60-day IL (achilles/shoulder), Hunter Strickland: 60-day IL (lat), Connor Sadzeck: 10-day IL (elbow), Felix Hernandez: 10-day IL (shoulder), Brandon Brennan: 10-day IL (shoulder), Chasen Bradford: 10-day IL (forearm) http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-greinke-jersey , Mitch Haniger: 10-day IL (testicle), Braden Bishop: 10-day IL (neck), Ryon Healy: 10-day IL (back).Royals Injuries: Trevor Oaks: 60-day IL (hip), Jesse Hahn: 60-day IL (elbow), Hunter Dozier: 10-day IL (chest), Salvador Perez: 60-day IL (elbow).