The Orioles have one more series left before the All-Star break with the Royals in town and rain in the forecast this weekend.
The Cubs could have really put a damper on the home plate by beating the Orioles, but Jeremy Jackson’s two-run double in the eighth inning yesterday flipped the script. The Orioles are eight games under .500 instead of 10. They have a chance to end the first half on a high note and give them more confidence that they can compete for the Wild Card.
“Anytime we can get some momentum going, it’s good,” Jackson said. “Obviously the All-Star break is coming up, but I think as far as we’re concerned, we’re just ready to play. I think we’re more concerned with just taking it day by day. Yeah, I mean, obviously we want to win them all, so we’re looking forward to it.”
The Orioles still don’t have a winning streak of more than three games. What’s holding them back?
“I think a lot of it is little things that pop up here and there,” said reliever Andrew Kittredge, who recorded his second save yesterday. “We’ll play a really good game, but sometimes one little aspect of the game can derail it. It doesn’t seem to be the same all the time. It’s not the same every time.”
“Teams that do the little things really well, with talent, are the teams that go far. We have talent. We’ve got to do the little things a little more consistently, whether it’s giving up extra bases or stealing extra bases or just making routine plays and not walking guys. It’s the little things that add up. On any given night, it doesn’t always feel like it’s the same thing. But those are the things that I think have cost us games.”
Game 95 will be played tonight, with the Orioles 12 and a half games out of first place and four out of the Wild Card. They are one and a half behind the Blue Jays and Red Sox, who have won six games in a row.
The Royals may seem like easy pickings compared to the Cubs, with their 38-56 record second-worst in the American League and placing them in last place in the American League Central. Their mileage is minus 75, and on the highway it is 17-30.
The Orioles are 161-99 all-time at home against the Royals.
They won two of three games in Kansas City in April and lost seven of their next 10. The Royals have won three of their last four, losing nine of 13.
The Royals are batting .247, which ranks 10th.th in majors. Their 4.89 ERA and 1.449 WHIP are tied for 28th.th. The rotation’s 4.66 ERA is 25.thand to make matters worse, the bullpen’s 5.22 ERA is 29th.
The team’s ERA was 3.73 last season, making the plus-1.16 jump the biggest in the majors this year.
At least they have shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who is batting .288/.359/.464 with 20 doubles and 13 home runs. He stole 30 bases in 35 attempts.
The Orioles send Brandon Young to the mound for his 15th appearance.th start off. He registered a 3.38 ERA in 77 1/3 innings, allowing only seven home runs. He hasn’t gone more than five innings in his last three outings.
Young has not yet faced the Royals or any of their batters.
Gunnar Henderson leads tonight, followed by Adley Rutschman and Taylor Ward. Samuel Basallo is the designated hitter, Dylan Beavers is in right field, Colton Couser is in center and Blaze Alexander is at third base.
Jackson Holliday’s .368 batting average against the Royals is his highest of any opponent in the American League. He plays second base.
Ward’s 71 walks were the most by an Orioles player before the All-Star break. Ken Singleton was 70 in 1975.
51.2 percent of the Orioles’ wins this season have come on comebacks, including three of their last four fifth-place finishes in the majors. That would be the team’s highest mark since 2010 (54.5 percent), according to STATS.
Kansas City right-hander Luinder Avila makes his ninth start and 18th appearance. He has a 5.05 ERA and 1.587 WHIP in 51 2/3 innings, allowing just five home runs. He passed 31.
Avila has made seven starts since June 1 and allowed one run in five. His ERA rose to 6.19 on June 12 after allowing eight runs in two-thirds of an inning against the Astros.
Avila appeared in 30 major league games and never faced the Orioles. He has no history with any of the strikers.
The first inning is a problem for Avila. He has a 15.75 ERA, second-highest in the majors over at least eight innings. Brian Bello of the Red Sox is in first place with a score of 16.88.
The Orioles have not lost to the Royals at home in 29 consecutive series.
For the Orioles
Gunnar Henderson SS
Adleyruchman S
Taylor Ward LF
Pete Alonso 1B
Samuel Basallo D.H.
Dylan Beavers RF
Colton Couser CF
Blaze Alexander 3B
Jackson Holliday 2B
Brandon Young RHP
From the Minors: Trey Gibson will not make his next start with Triple-A Norfolk due to illness.
For members of the royal family
Carter Jensen S
Bobby Witt Jr. SS
Jacques Callanone RF
Lane Thomas CF
Michael Massey 2B
Salvador Perez 1B
Josh Rojas 3B
Nick Loftin DH
Isaac Collins LF
Luinder Avila RHP