KANSAS CITY ROYALS NOTES:
SWEPT AT SEA: The Royals suffered a 6-1 loss in Miami Wednesday night in a series sweep vs. the Marlins, their sixth of the season…the Royals took a brief lead in the top of the 3rd on an RBI single by Nick Pratto, but the Marlins answered in the bottom half on a 3-run home run by Jesús Sánchez…Jordan Lyles retired 13 of the next 14 batters through the 7th, at which point he trailed 3-1 but qualified for the Royals 1st quality start in more than three weeks…at just 80 pitches, Lyles came back out for the 8th and allowed back-to-back singles to begin the frame and was relieved by Jose Cuas, who allowed a 2-run double to Bryan De La Cruz to score both inherited runners, charging the 4th and 5th runs of Lyles’ final line…the Royals offense was held to just 3 hits and only 1 after the 3rd inning…the loss dropped the Royals to 0-3 on this trip and 1-5 in the month of June.
ROSTER MOVE: The Royals announced today that outfielder Edward Olivares has been placed on the Restricted List…in a corresponding move, infielder/outfielder Nate Eaton has been recalled from Triple-A Omaha for his third stint with the Royals this season…he went 3-for-52 (.058) on his previous two big league stints this year, but he’s hit .290 (20-for-69) with an .811 OPS and 10 steals in as many attempts in 16 games at Omaha…with the Royals, Eaton has appeared at all three outfield positions and third base, and also pitched a scoreless inning.
LEADS LOST: Wednesday night marked Kansas City’s 21st blown lead loss, matching St. Louis and Oakland for the most in the Majors…the Royals have held a lead in 24 of their last 33 games (72.7%) since the start of May, but they’re 11-22 during that stretch with 13 blown lead losses, including a blown lead in 4 of their last 7 road games.
CHIEFS DAY AT THE K: The Royals yesterday announced details for Chiefs Day at The K on Monday night, when they will celebrate Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVII championship…the Royals will host Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Andy Reid, among others from the Super Bowl-winning team…many of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium’s gameday traditions will follow the Chiefs to Kauffman Stadium, including the Chiefs cheerleaders, flag runners, KC Wolf and more…Crown Vision will also show highlights from the Chiefs fourth quarter comeback in the Super Bowl…fans should be in their seats by 6:45 to see Coach Reid, Mahomes and Kelce carry the Super Bowl LVII trophy from the bullpen to the infield, and Kelce will throw out the first pitch to Mahomes.
COUNTDOWN TO 50,000: The Royals enter tonight with 49,990 pitching strikeouts in 55 seasons, and are just 10 shy of becoming the 24th franchise to reach 50,000…the Royals have recorded double digit strikeouts in 21 of their 62 games (33.9%) this season after doing so only 34 times (21.0%) in 2022…the Royals all-time strikeouts leader is Kevin Appier with 1,458, and Zack Greinke is the club’s active leader with 1,054 strikeouts as a Royal, which are 3 strikeouts shy of Paul Splittorff (1,057) for 5th place on the franchise’s all-time strikeouts list.
ROYAL RUNDOWN: Tonight marks the Royals 63rd game of the season, which means 100 games remain on the 2023 schedule…the Royals are 18-44 (.290), 12.5 games behind the division-leading Twins (31-32) in the American League Central…this marks their 2nd-worst 62-game start in franchise history, 2 games better than the 2006 Royals, who were 16-46 (.258) at this point…since the Royals retired the first 21 batters in a 7-0 win in St. Louis on Memorial Day, they have lost 6 of their last 7 games and have been outscored 36-17 (-19).
FOR STARTERS: Jordan Lyles completed 7.0 innings in Wednesday night’s loss in Miami, marking the first time a Royals starting pitcher recorded at least 6.0 innings in more than three weeks, since Brady Singer did it on May 16 at San Diego…Royals starters have completed 6.0 innings in only 13 of 62 games (21.0%), tied with Oakland for the fewest in the Majors…as a result, the bullpen has been worked for 242.1 innings, 6th most in the Majors.
Royals starters have allowed 1 run or fewer in 6 of the last 13 games, a stretch in which their 3.75 ERA (25 ER in 60.0 IP) ranks 8th in the Majors…Royals starters have 65 strikeouts in 60.0 innings over the last 13 games for a 26.2 K% and 9.8 K/9, which 2nd and tied for 3rd, respectively among starting staffs since May 23.
WHAT A RELIEF!: Kansas City’s bullpen ranks 29th in the Majors with a 4.90 ERA, but it has been taxed to the tune of 242.1 innings, 6th most in the Majors, and there are many other underlying numbers that suggest improvement from last season…for example, Royals relievers have recorded 274 strikeouts this season, 2nd most in the Majors behind this weekend’s opponent, Baltimore (278)…Royals relievers have struck out 25.6% of their batters in 2023—tied for 7th most—which marks a significant improvement over last year’s 21.2 K% (26th).
Scott Barlow has not allowed a run in 14 of his last 15 appearances since April 22, a stretch in which he has 2 wins, 6 saves, a 1.10 ERA (2 ER in 16.1 IP) and has held opponents to a .143 average (8-for-56) with just 2 extra-base hits (.392 OPS), 5 walks (2.8 BB/9) and 25 strikeouts (13.8 K/9)…Barlow’s season K% of 35.1 ranks 9th among qualified American League relievers and is well above his career average of 29.2%.
Taylor Clarke has not allowed a run since May 2 vs. Baltimore and has recorded a career-high 14.0 scoreless innings in 13 appearances since, a stretch in which opponents are batting .149 (7-for-47) with 2 extra-base hits (.407 OPS), 4 walks (2.6 BB/9) and 14 strikeouts (9.0 K/9)…his 7 holds during this run of 13 scoreless outings are only 2 shy of Hector Neris, who has a Majors-most 9 holds in 14 outings since May 3.
LET’S GO, PRATTO!: Nick Pratto was recalled on April 28 and has played in 35 of the Royals 37 games since…including 2 games he played during his first stint with the Royals from April 5-6, Pratto leads the team (min. 100 plate appearances) in batting average (.299), on-base percentage (.395) and OPS (.859), and ranks 2nd to Salvador Perez (.498) in slugging percentage (.465)…since his April 28 recall, his .407 on-base percentage ranks 4th in the American League and his .308 batting average (37-for-120) ranks 8th.
He’s reached safely in each of his last 15 starts dating back to May 20, during which he has an .858 OPS.
Pratto has batted leadoff in 11 of the club’s last 14 games since May 22…in his 11 games batting leadoff, he has reached base to begin the game eight times—including 6 hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch—for a .727 on-base percentage.
VS. BALTIMORE: The Royals continue their Father’s Trip with a 3-game visit to Baltimore, where they haven’t won a series since 2014…the Royals are 6-16 at Camden Yards over their last seven series here with six losses and one 4-game split…these two teams met at Kauffman Stadium last month for an eventful 3-game series from May 2-4…the Royals blew an early 3-0 lead in Game 1 en route to an 11-7 loss, but they tied the series with a 6-0 win in Game 2, a 1-hour, 59-minute game that is 1 of only 6 9-inning games this year to be completed in less than 2 hours…the Orioles won a wild rubber game by a 13-10 score…Kansas City erased a 8-1 deficit to take a 9-8 lead in the 7th, but the O’s scored 2 in the 8th and 3 in the 9th to complete a comeback of their own.
TIME OF GAME: Wednesday’s 2-hour, 3-minute game in Miami was the Royals 5th fastest of the season and was 4 minutes longer than their shortest
game, a 1-hour, 59-minute contest vs. these Orioles on May 3 at Kauffman Stadium…for the season, Kansas City’s average game time of 2:35 is the 2nd fastest in the Majors and would be their 6th-fastest average in franchise history…their last season with a faster average was 1978 (2 hours, 32 minutes).
TONIGHT’S STARTERS: LHP DANIEL LYNCH (0-1, 4.35)
DANIEL LYNCH is making his 3rd start of the year and 45th of his career tonight vs. the Orioles…it’s his 3rd career start vs. the O’s…Lynch, 26, was selected by the Royals in the 1st round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Virginia.
ONE BAD INNING LEADS TO LOSS NO. 1: Making his 2nd start of the season, Lynch suffered his 1st loss in Kansas City’s 6-4 defeat vs. Colorado last Saturday at Kauffman Stadium, in which he allowed 5 runs (3 ER) on 6 hits and 1 walk in 5.0 innings, with 7 strikeouts…all of the damage against Lynch came in his 38-pitch 1st inning, when he surrendered 5 runs on 3 hits, 1 error and 1 sacrifice fly…he allowed five of the first six batters to reach and didn’t record an out until his 20th pitch… he went on to retire 14 of 18, stranding 3 hits scattered over his final 4.0 innings.
ROAD TO RECOVERY: Lynch was returned from his rehab assignment and reinstated from the 15-day Injured List on May 28, after missing the first 53 games of the season due to a rotator cuff strain…his rehab process took him all over the country, as he made 2 starts at Extended Spring Training in Surprise, Ariz., in which he pitched 5.0 innings with 9 strikeouts, before being promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where he made 1 start on May 2 vs. Wichita and struck out 6 batters in 2.1 innings of work…from there, he joined Triple-A Omaha, where he made 4 starts and combined to go 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA (7 ER in 18.0 IP) with 18 strikeouts to just 3 walks.
All stops included, Lynch recorded 25.1 innings and struck out 33 batters with just 4 walks across 7 rehab appearances from April 23-May 23.
FIRST THING’S FIRST: Daniel surrendered 79 runs in 27 starts (131.2 IP) last year, and 19 of those runs came in the 1st inning (24.0%)…this trend was an improvement from 2021, when he allowed 20 1st-inning runs in 15 starts, accounting for 43.5% of the 46 runs he allowed for the season…but Lynch’s 1st-inning woes showed up again in his most recent start last Saturday vs. Colorado, when he allowed 5 runs in a 38-pitch 1st frame…of the 132 runs he’s allowed in 44 career starts, 44 have come in the 1st inning, in which he has an 8.24 ERA (40 ER in 43.2 IP)…but from the 2nd inning on in his career, he owns a 4.46 ERA (83 ER in 167.1 IP).
BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Orioles rallied from a 3-0 first-inning deficit to beat the Brewers yesterday, 6-3…Baltimore scored all six runs in the final three innings, including a go-ahead two-out, two-run home run from Gunnar Henderson in the eighth inning…Kyle Bradish needed 32 pitches in the first inning but recovered to strike out a season-high 10 batters in 5.0+ innings.
The Birds have now scored 107 runs in the seventh inning or later, third-most in MLB behind Toronto (108) and Los Angeles-NL (116).
Henderson’s home run was his first career go-ahead homer in the eighth inning or later and the second in the seventh inning or later, joining a solo blast in the seventh inning on June 2 at San Francisco.
Adley Rutschman singled twice, finishing 2-for-5 with a run scored; his single leading off the sixth inning was at 110.2 mph, his second-hardest hit ball of the season and third-hardest of his career.
Ramón Urías went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, a run scored, and an RBI; he was 3-for-26 since returning from the Injured List on May 26.
COMEBACK KIDS: The O’s lead MLB with 21 comeback wins this season…Their 57 come-from-behind victories since the start of 2022 are second-most in MLB behind Los Angeles-NL (64).
STRIKE A POSE: Baltimore pitchers have struck out at least nine batters in seven straight games since May 31 and have fanned at least 11 hitters in six of those seven… The 84 strikeouts during that time are the most in any seven-game stretch in team history (since 1954)…This comes on the heels of 40 strikeouts in six games from May 25-30…The 39 punch outs in the last three games are tied for the most in a three-game span in O’s history, joining September 6-8, 1996.
Orioles’ pitching ranks seventh in MLB with 580 strikeouts…The team is on pace to strike out 1,522 batters (9.4/G) which would shatter the club record (since 1954) of 1,248 strikeouts (7.7/G) set in 2016 and 2019.
O’s relievers lead MLB with 278 strikeouts
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS: Of Baltimore’s 62 games this season, 54 have been decided by four or fewer runs, second-most in MLB behind Los Angeles-AL with 56…The O’s have gone 34-20 in those games, the most wins and second-best winning percentage (.630) in the majors behind Tampa Bay (.652, 30-16)…The O’s are 25-14 in games decided by three or fewer runs, the best winning percentage (.641) and tied for the most wins in such games in MLB, behind Cleveland (25-23) and Toronto (25-15).
WHAT’S TRENDING: The O’s have won 29 of their last 46 games, 32 of 50, and 33 of 53…The 38-24 (.613) overall record is tied for the third-best in MLB to start the season (see box at right)…Entering today, the Orioles are one of four teams in MLB with a winning percentage over .600 along with Tampa Bay (.708, 46-19), Texas (.656, 40-21), and Atlanta (.613, 38-24).
This marks the ninth time in team history (since 1954) that Baltimore has had a winning percentage above .600 through 62 games to begin a season and the first time since 1997 (.694, 43-19); six of the previous eight occurrences resulted in playoff appearances (1997, 1979, 1971, 1970, 1969, and 1966).
HOME COOKING: The Orioles begin a six-game, seven-day homestand tonight with three games against Kansas City through Sunday…Following an off day on Monday, the Birds host Toronto for three games from June 13-15.
AGAINST THE ROYALS: Baltimore and Kansas City wrap up the six-game season series this weekend…The O’s took two of three games at Kauffman Stadium from May 2-4…The Orioles went 4-3 against the Royals in 2022, going 2-1 at Oriole Park.
BIG TIME RUTSCH: Adley Rutschman leads the AL with 45 walks and 109 times on base (64 H, 45 BB)…He’s also fourth in the AL with a .399 on-base percentage…He ranks among MLB switch hitters in OBP (1st), OPS (2nd, .824), and batting average (3rd, .283), and among primary catchers in OBP (1st), OPS (3rd), and AVG (4th).
HAYS OF OUR LIVES: Austin Hays was named the Fielding Bible Award Co-Defensive Player of the Month for May with Toronto’s Kevin Kiermaier by Sports Info Solutions after he led MLB with 10 Defensive Runs Saved…Hays has four outfield assists this season, tied for fourth in the AL…His 21 outfield assists since the start of 2021 are tied for the second-most in the AL and fifth-most in MLB during that time.
He ranks seventh in the AL with a .302 batting average.
His .391 (27-for-69) batting average in the seventh inning or later leads MLB.
Hays also leads MLB with a .424 (25-for-59) average with two outs; the next closest player is Los Angeles-NL’s Freddie Freeman, who is hitting .388 (26- for-67) with two outs.
ROSTER MOVES: The O’s recalled Nick Vespi from Triple-A Norfolk today…In a corresponding move, Bruce Zimmermann was optioned to the Tides.
SCORING CHANGE: MLB has made the following scoring change affecting the Orioles:
In the ninth inning on June 4 at San Francisco, Anthony Santander reached base on what was originally ruled a fielding error by second baseman Brett Wisely…The ruling has been changed to a base hit.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – #68 TYLER WELLS – RHP
QUICK HITS: Scheduled to make his 13th appearance (12th start) of the season, seventh start at home, and seventh career appearance (fourth start) against the Royals tonight…Went 7-7 with a 4.25 ERA (49 ER/103.2 IP) in 23 starts for the O’s in 2022…Made his first career start on April 10, 2022 at Tampa Bay; dealt the loss after allowing four runs on three hits (1 HR) with two walks and two strikeouts in 1.2 innings…Did not walk a batter in five consecutive starts from April 21 to May 15, 2022, becoming the only Oriole starting pitcher in franchise history (since 1954) to not walk a batter in five consecutive games…Allowed three earned runs-orfewer in 17 straight starts from April 16 to July 15, 2022…Ended the 2022 season on the 15-day Injured List with right shoulder inflammation…Also spent time on the Injured List with lower left side discomfort in 2022…Originally selected by Minnesota in the 15th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal State, San Bernardino before being taken by the Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft on December 10, 2020.
LAST TIME OUT: Earned the win in his last start on June 4 at San Francisco, allowing two runs on four hits (1 HR) with two walks and a career-high nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings…Has tossed at least 5.0 innings in each of his 12 appearances (11 starts) this season, tied for the third-most such outings in MLB; entered 2023 with 12 games of 5.0-plus innings (all in 2022)…Threw a career-high tying 102 pitches (2x, last: 4/26/23 vs. BOS), 65 strikes.
PACKING A PUNCH: Tyler Wells has struck out at least seven batters in each of his last five starts since May 13, tied with Erik Bedard (2007) for the second-longest streak by an Orioles pitcher since the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954, trailing only an eight-game streak by Connie Johnson in 1957…His streak is tied with Miami’s Jesús Luzardo for the second-longest active streak in MLB, behind Atlanta’s Spencer Strider (13 G).
WATCH ME WHIP: Wells enters play today leading MLB with a 0.85 WHIP…Also ranks among qualified pitchers in opponent on-base percentage (1st, .224), batting average (2nd, .178), H/9 (2nd, 5.80), BB/9 (10th, 1.84), and OPS (T-12th, .605)… Has allowed 59 baserunners (44 H, 14 BB, 1 HBP) across 12 appearances (68.1 IP) this season, the fewest in MLB (min. 60.0 IP)…His 44 hits surrendered this season are the third-fewest among qualified pitchers, while his 14 walks are tied for the sixth-fewest…He posted a 0.72 WHIP in April, tied for the seventh-lowest mark by an O’s pitcher in a calendar month in club history (since 1954) and lowest since Scott McGregor recorded a franchise-record 0.61 WHIP in May 1978…Wells issued just three walks and allowed 18 hits in 29.0 innings through his first five appearances (four starts) in April.
LOVING LEFTIES: Opposing left-handed batters are slashing .189/.228/.340 (68-for-359) against Wells through his first 79 career games (34 starts)…He has recorded more career strikeouts against lefties (103) than hits allowed (68)… Ranks among pitchers in opponent on-base percentage (3rd, .228), batting average (8th, .189), and OPS (8th, .568) against lefties in MLB since he debuted in 2021 (min. 300 BFP).
CAREER AGAINST THE ROYALS: Making his seventh career appearance (fourth start) against the Royals tonight…Owns a 3-0 record with a 3.54 ERA (8 ER/20.1 IP) through his first six career appearances…Earned his second win of the season in his last start against the Royals on May 2 at Kansas City…Allowed four runs on three hits (3 HR, a career-high) with three walks and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings…Threw 92 pitches, 60 strikes.
CAREER AGAINST THE AL CENTRAL: Making his 21st career appearance (12th start) against the AL Central…Owns a 5-4 record with a 3.49 ERA (27 ER/69.2 IP) and one save through 20 career outings against the division…Dealt his second loss of the season in his last start against the AL Central on May 29 vs. Cleveland… Allowed one run on four hits with seven strikeouts…Issued no walks in a start for the third time this season (last: 4/9 vs. NYY)…Threw 101 pitches, 65 strikes.
