The Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles will search for any edge they can find to try to climb from the depths of the American League pecking order.
The teams will begin a three-game series Friday night in Baltimore.
The Orioles, who are in last place in the AL East, have lost four straight home series, going 1-2 in each. The most recent was this week against the Chicago Cubs, with Baltimore avoiding a sweep by winning 3-2 on Thursday afternoon.
The Royals, who sit last in the AL Central, will face a last-place team for their second series of the week. They lost the final two games of a three-game visit to the New York Mets, falling 7-3 on Thursday afternoon.
Kansas City hasn’t won a road series in its last four stops, though it did go 2-2 against the AL-best Tampa Bay Rays last month.
The Royals could see a significant lineup boost this weekend with the expected return of first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, who hasn’t played in the majors since June 13 due to a right hamate fracture and has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha.
“He feels like he is ready to go,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He is trying to see pitches and judge his health.”
Pasquantino is considered one of the cornerstones of Kansas City’s offense, though he has struggled with a .224 batting average and 32 RBIs this year. However, he has an eight-game hitting streak he put together before sustaining the injury.
“He is a guy that knows how to deal with the mental part of it, which is just as big as the physical,” Quatraro said.
The Orioles mixed things up Thursday by putting designated hitter Adley Rutschman in the lead-off spot. It probably won’t be the usual setup, as Rutschman is often behind the plate as the catcher.
“He doesn’t have to scramble to take his gear off and go,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said of the situation with Rutschman as the DH. “The perfect storm of his DH day and see what it looks like.”
Baltimore received a two-run, game-winning single from pinch hitter Jeremiah Jackson in the eighth inning Thursday.
“He’s extremely self-confident, and he knows his ability,” Albernaz said. “He’s always prepared, and he does a great job of getting his swing off.”
The Royals lost two of three games at home to Baltimore from April 20-22.
The Orioles on Friday will start right-hander Brandon Young (7-2, 3.38 ERA), who will aim for his fifth win since the beginning of June. His victory in an 8-5 game Saturday at Cincinnati came despite Young giving up four runs.
Right-hander Luinder Avila (4-3, 5.05 ERA) is listed as Kansas City’s starter for the series opener. He has transitioned from the bullpen and logged four or more innings in four straight assignments. He has a personal three-game winning streak covering his last four outings, including Sunday’s 5-2 victory when he held the visiting Philadelphia Phillies to one run and three hits in five innings.
Both projected starters are in their second seasons in the majors. This will be the first time they face their respective opponent.
–Field Level Media
