Orioles at Royals
The Baltimore Orioles are not hitting enough to beat the Kansas City Royals. The Orioles try to get the bats working and earn a split of the four-game series when they visit the Royals in Thursday's finale of a four-game set. Baltimore totaled five runs in a pair of one-run losses the past two nights and coughed up a late lead to lose Wednesday.
The Orioles are trying to track down the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East and got off to a strong start out of the All-Star break with a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers. With Baltimore's three-game showdown against Boston looming this weekend, Kansas City was supposed to help the Orioles draw closer than their current position, 3 1/2 games out of first. The Royals foiled those plans with a tying eighth-inning home run from Eric Hosmer and Alcides Escobar’s walk-off double in Wednesday’s 4-3 win.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), FSN Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (8-3, 3.34 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (9-7, 4.41)
Gonzalez has allowed one run in each of his last three starts and has not surrendered more than three in his last eight turns. The Mexican right-hander scattered eight hits in 6 2/3 innings at Texas on Saturday to pick up the win. Gonzalez yielded one run in eight innings to win his only previous start against Kansas City on Aug. 10, 2012.
Guthrie, who pitched for Baltimore from 2007-2011, is in a rut with a 2-3 record and 6.23 ERA in his last six starts. The veteran was bailed out by his offense and earned a win despite allowing five runs in six innings Saturday against Detroit. Guthrie had little trouble in his first career start against his former teammates May 9, allowing two runs (one earned) in six innings to win at Baltimore.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Orioles signed Cuban OF Dariel Alvarez to a minor-league contract. The 24-year-old will be assigned to Class A Frederick after some seasoning at the team complex in Sarasota, Fla.
2. Hosmer’s two home runs on Wednesday were his first since July 4.
3. Baltimore RF Nick Markakis has reached base safely in 14 straight games.