The team that’s able to generate some offense — any offense — might be in the best shape when the Kansas City Royals and host Baltimore Orioles meet in the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams have recorded a shutout in the series. The Royals responded from a 3-0 loss on Friday night by winning 4-0 on Saturday night.
The Orioles could get a boost from prospect Coby Mayo, an infielder who is back in Baltimore. He’ll try to make an impact in this go-around, though he entered Saturday’s game as a pinch hitter and ended up 0-for-2.
The Royals have made moves as well, recalling catcher Luke Maile from Triple-A Omaha because of concerns about Salvador Perez’s availability due to a sore left hip. Maile is a nine-year veteran who spent spring training with the Royals.
“The pitching staff has always been super consistent here, so to kind of be on the other side of it, to be with these guys, is awesome,” Maile said of his first big-league assignment with Kansas City.
With Saturday’s game running late because of a 57-minute rain delay after the first inning, it could be a chance for Maile to be in the lineup, especially if Perez isn’t ready to return. Perez last played Thursday at Tampa Bay as the designated hitter, while Freddy Fermin has been logging time behind the plate.
Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said that Perez can be considered day-to-day in hopes he can avoid the injured list.
The Royals starting pitcher on Sunday will be right-hander Michael Lorenzen (3-3, 3.48 ERA). He has worked six innings in each of his past two starts, giving up one run each time.
Lorenzen didn’t face the Orioles in the teams’ series last month in Kansas City, but he’s 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in three career appearance (two starts) against Baltimore.
The Orioles hope veteran right-hander Kyle Gibson (0-1, 22.09 ERA) will fare better on Sunday than he did in his season debut on Tuesday against the visiting New York Yankees. Gibson gave up five homers and nine runs in 3 2/3 innings.
Gibson is 11-6 with a 4.00 ERA in 28 career outings covering 155 1/3 innings against the Royals. It’s the team he has faced the most in the majors.
The Orioles have options when it comes to pitching because they were off Thursday and they have another off day Monday. Veteran right-hander Charlie Morton has moved to the bullpen in an attempt to get him on track.
“I honestly don’t know how to look at it other than take the opportunity to take the ball when it’s given to me and try to go get outs,” Morton said.
So Morton could be available for Sunday’s game. He helped the Orioles get through Tuesday’s lopsided loss to the Yankees by working 2 1/3 innings out of the the bullpen.
“Kind of the way our rotation is right now, too. You kind of never know what’s going to happen,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. “He had a really good outing his last time when he went 2 1/3 and threw the ball great. Hopefully, he can build on that.”
Kansas City leads the season series against Baltimore 3-2.
–Field Level Media
