Royals at Orioles
Chris Davis could be finding his home run swing as the last-place Baltimore Orioles go after their third series victory of the season when the Kansas City Royals pay a visit Thursday night for the finale of a three-game set. Davis, who belted 223 homers over the previous six seasons, had struggled in 2018 before launching home runs the last two days - including a three-run blast in the 5-3 victory Wednesday.
Davis, batting .176, hit his fourth homer of the season in the fourth inning Wednesday and Mark Trumbo plated a pair of runs with a single in the eighth to snap a 3-3 tie as the Orioles went on to end a seven-game losing streak. Chris Tillman goes after his second victory when he takes the mound for Baltimore on Thursday against fellow right-hander Ian Kennedy, who has been snakebit much of the season. The Royals lost for the fourth time in 11 games Wednesday after going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position - the lone hit being Lucas Duda’s two-run blast in the fourth inning. Kansas City’s Mike Moustakas went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts after knocking in eight runs over the previous two games while teammate Jorge Soler is 6-for-11 across the last three contests and boasts nine RBIs in his past eight outings.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Kansas City, MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Ian Kennedy (1-3, 2.92 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Chris Tillman (1-5, 9.24)
Kennedy gave up six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over six scoreless innings last time out without getting a decision in a 4-2 Kansas City victory. The 33-year-old USC product has allowed two or fewer runs in five of his seven starts and owns 35 strikeouts across 37 innings. Manny Machado is 2-for-3 with a double versus Kennedy, who is 0-2 with a 6.89 ERA in four career games against Baltimore and is 10 strikeouts shy of 1,500 overall.
Tillman followed up his best outing of the season by getting pounded for seven runs on seven hits in one-plus inning to take the loss against the Los Angeles Angels last Thursday. The 30-year-old California native had given up one hit and two walks over seven scoreless innings to beat Detroit on April 27 for his only win. Moustakas and Salvador Perez are each 6-for-16 with a home run against Tillman, who is 3-3 with a 5.37 ERA in nine games versus the Royals.
WALK-OFFS
1. Kansas City LF Alex Gordon is 12-for-28 with three homers over his last seven contests.
2. Baltimore placed RHP Darren O’Day (elbow) on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday and recalled LHP Tanner Scott.
3. Royals OF Abraham Almonte left Wednesday’s game due to illness and his status for Thursday is uncertain.