Orioles at Royals
The Baltimore Orioles' pitching staff already has made history with its inability to keep the ball in the park, but its recent efforts suggest better days are ahead. The Orioles attempt to guarantee themselves a season series victory on Saturday, when they continue their three-game set against the host Kansas City Royals.
Baltimore extended its own major-league record by surrendering its 264th home run on Friday, but Kansas City could do little else against John Means and Ryan Eades as the Orioles crushed the Royals 14-2. Although the offense has performed well over the last week, pitching has powered Baltimore during its 4-1 stretch, as it has held the opposition to three runs or fewer in each victory. The Orioles have enjoyed similar success during their three-game winning streak against the Royals, outscoring them 24-4 after dropping a 5-4 decision in their first meeting of the season. Kansas City has surrendered at least nine runs in three of its last five contests and is 8-25 over its last 33 games after winning nine of its first 12 following the All-Star break.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (6-13, 4.98 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jorge Lopez (2-7, 6.56)
Bundy won for the first time in six starts on Sunday after yielding three runs - two earned - on eight hits and two walks over five innings against Tampa Bay, marking the fourth time in five turns he's allowed fewer than three earned runs. The one exception was the Oklahoma native's only road outing in that stretch as he surrendered six runs in 5 2/3 frames against the New York Yankees. Bundy's best start over that same span came in a no-decision against Kansas City on Aug. 30, when he permitted one run in seven innings.
Lopez began the season in the rotation but will be making only his third start since the end of May, although each of his most recent turns have occurred in the last month. The 26-year-old worked a perfect inning in Cleveland on Sunday before getting roughed up for five runs in 1 2/3 frames the following day in another relief appearance against Oakland. Lopez made his last start on Aug. 19 in Baltimore, recording the victory after allowing one run on two hits and two walks in five innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles 2B Jonathan Villar recorded three stolen bases in the series opener, giving him 32 for the season and allowing him to join Brady Anderson (1992, 1999) and Don Baylor (1975) as the only players in team history with 20 homers and 30 steals in a single season.
2. Kansas City DH Jorge Soler homered for the second straight game on Friday to raise his 2019 total to 38, matching the single-season franchise record set in 2017 by Mike Moustakas.
3. Baltimore 3B Hanser Alberto has not struck out in his last 50 plate appearances - the longest active streak in the majors - and is batting .368 this month after going 5-for-6 on Friday.