KANSAS CITY ROYALS NOTES:
SKID HITS A HANDFUL: The Royals suffered a 6-1 loss to the Orioles yesterday, falling to 0-5 on this 6-game road trip pending today’s finale…Brady Singer allowed 3 walks and 2 run-scoring hits in a 39-pitch 1st inning, which was all the offense Baltimore needed, as Kansas City went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine baserunners…all told, Singer allowed 4 runs on 6 hits in 4.1 innings and recorded 4 strikeouts, including the 400th of his career in the 1st inning…Freddy Fermin snapped an 0-for-14 skid with an RBI single in the 5th inning to mark Kansas City’s only run…Edward Olivares went 3-for-3 with 2 doubles and a walk, which he drew to end a 14-pitch plate appearance in the 7th inning, during which he fouled off 7 consecutive pitches to mark the longest plate appearance by a Royal that resulted in a baserunner since Alcides Escobar singled to end a 14-pitch at-bat vs. Cleveland’s Tony Sipp on July 31, 2011.
TIME CHANGE: The Minnesota Twins announced this weekend that their Monday, July 3 game vs. the Royals at Target Field will now begin at 7:10 p.m. CT…the game was originally scheduled for a 6:40 p.m. CT first pitch.
TRIP TRACKER: The Royals are 0-5 on this road trip that began with 3 losses in Miami, and have been outscored 30-11 (-19)…they are seeking a win today to avoid what would be their longest winless trip in six years, since they went 0-7 at Texas (0-4) and at the White Sox (0-3) from April 20-26, 2017…the Royals are batting .204 (32-for-157) on this trip and have scored 2 runs or fewer in each of their last 4 games, during which they have not hit a home run…the 4-game homer drought is their longest since May 4-10, 2022 (5 games).
Since the Royals took a perfect game bid into the 8th inning en route to a 7-0 win in St. Louis on Memorial Day, they have lost 8 of their last 9 games, during which they’ve been outscored 45-20 (-25) and have scored 2 runs or fewer in 7 of those 9 games…the Royals only win during this 9-game stretch was a 2-0 victory vs. the Rockies a week ago today, their 2nd straight victorious Sunday after starting 1-7.
The Royals are 3-17-1 in series and have been swept in 3 games six times, one shy of their 2022 total…they’ve won the series finale to avoid a sweep four times, including their win a week ago today vs. the Rockies.
OPENING ACT: Carlos Hernández will start in the opener role today for the 4th time this season…it will mark the 7th game in which the Royals will deploy an opener this year and the first time since the 1st game on this trip, last Monday in Miami, when Hernández retired all six batters he faced over 2.0 scoreless innings, throwing 19 of his 23 pitches for strikes (82.6%)…the Royals are 2-4 in their previous 6 games in which they’ve used an opener, and those pitchers have combined for 10.0 innings with 1 unearned run allowed on 3 hits and 15 strikeouts.
Hernández has been charged with 15 runs in 31.1 innings this season, but 9 of those 15 runs (60.0%) have come in 2 appearances, in which he’s recorded 1 out…if you set aside the 9 runs and 0.1 inning from his season totals, he’s allowed just 6 runs in 31.0 innings over his other 24 appearances, good for a 1.74 ERA.
Among pitchers who have thrown at least 200 four-seam fastballs, Hernández’s average velocity of 99.1 mph ranks 3rd in the Majors behind Ryan Helsley (99.6 mph) and teammate Aroldis Chapman (99.5 mph).
WHAT A RELIEF!: Kansas City’s bullpen ranks 28th in the Majors with a 4.86 ERA, but it has been taxed to the tune of 248.0 innings, 7th most in the Majors, and there are many other underlying numbers that suggest improvement from last season…for example, Royals relievers have recorded 283 strikeouts this season, 2nd most in the Majors behind this weekend’s opponent, Baltimore (284)…Royals relievers have struck out 25.9% of their batters in 2023—6th most in MLB—which marks a significant improvement over last year’s 21.2 K% (26th).
Taylor Clarke has not allowed a run since May 2 vs. Baltimore and has recorded a career-high 15.0 scoreless innings in 14 appearances since, a stretch in which opponents are batting .176 (9-for-51) with 2 extra-base hits (.466 OPS), 5 walks (3.0 BB/9) and 15 strikeouts (9.0 K/9)…it’s tied for the 4th-longest active scoreless streak in the Majors and is the longest by a Royal since Brady Singer’s 15.1-inning streak last August.
ON DECK: Following today’s finale in Baltimore, the Royals will fly home to begin a 6-game homestand tomorrow night, with the 1st of 3 night games vs. the Cincinnati Reds…the Royals will enjoy another off day on Thursday—their fifth consecutive Thursday without a game—before hosting the Angels next weekend.
AFTERNOON DELIGHT: Today’s 12:35 p.m. CT start marks the Royals 2nd straight day game this weekend and their 29th day game out of 65 (44.6%), tied 5th most in the American League…the Royals are scheduled for 64 day games this season, which would match 2021 for their 2nd most in a single season, trailing only the 2022 Royals (69)…the Royals are 9-19 in day games this year, but have won 6 of their last 12 games after starting 3-13.
VS. BALTIMORE: The Royals conclude their Father’s Trip today with the series finale in Baltimore, where they haven’t won a series since 2014…the Royals are 6-18 at Camden Yards over their last eight series here (including this one) with seven losses and one 4-game split…despite their run of tough luck, the Royals have not been swept here since July 31-Aug. 2, 2017, a series in which they were outscored 15-3, including a 6-0 shutout in the finale.
TIME OF GAME: Wednesday’s 2-hour, 3-minute game in Miami was the Royals 5th fastest of the year and was 4 minutes longer than their shortest game, a 1-hour, 59-minute contest vs. these Orioles on May 3 in Kansas City…for the season, the Royals average game time of 2:35 is tied with Tampa Bay for the fastest in the Majors and would be their 6th-fastest average in club history…their last season with a faster average was 1978 (2 hours, 32 minutes).
TODAY’S STARTERS: RHP CARLOS HERNÁNDEZ (0-3, 4.31)
Carlos is making his 4th appearance as the opener this season and second this road trip (Monday in Miami)…last pitched on Friday in Baltimore, when he threw a 1-2-3 7th inning.
Took his 3rd loss of the year—and 2nd in as many outings—on June 2 vs. the Rockies after allowing 4 runs in the 8th inning after entering with a 2-1 lead…Carlos pitched to an 8.64 ERA (8 ER in 8.1 IP) over his 1st 9 appearances this year, but he bounced back and pitched to a 0.96 ERA (2 ER in 18.2 IP) from April 24-May 27…but in his last 4 appearances, he’s allowed 5 runs on 5 hits in 4.1 innings.
His 33 strikeouts since April 24 rank 2nd in the American League (min. 15 G), behind Baltimore’s Félix Bautista (45).
He made his 2nd appearance as the opener on May 21 vs. the White Sox and spun 2.0 scoreless frames, including a 1-2-3 1st inning with 3 strikeouts.
Carlos helped Team Venezuela reach the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where they fell to Team USA 9-7…he made a pair of appearances in the tournament, once on March 14 against Nicaragua, when he threw 2.0 scoreless frames with 4 strikeouts, and in the quarterfinal game vs. the United States on March 18, when he got 2 outs, including a strikeout of Team USA Captain Mike Trout.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Orioles beat the Royals yesterday, 6-1, to secure a winning series…Anthony Santander tied a season high with three hits, matched a career high with two doubles, scored twice, and drove in a run…Gunnar Henderson and Adam Frazier both homered…Cole Irvin allowed one run over 5.1 innings in his first appearance with the O’s since May 20 and first start since April 13.
Baltimore has won at least three games in a row for the fifth time this season and for the first time since a three-gamer from May 19-21.
The win tied the largest margin of victory by the Orioles for the fifth time this year and the first time at home.
Austin Voth’s 14-pitch walk to Edward Olivares in the seventh inning was the longest plate appearance against the Birds since Tampa Bay’s Shane Peterson doubled on the 15th pitch from Dylan Bundy in the top of the fourth inning on July 1, 2017.
Frazier’s homer was the 50th of his career and seventh of the season in his 62nd game, tied for the second-most in his career with 2020 and behind the 10 he hit in both 2018 and 2019, all with Pittsburgh; He had eight combined home runs in 311 games the last two seasons between Seattle, San Diego, and Pittsburgh.
SWEEP DREAMS: Baltimore is looking for the fourth series sweep of the season today, first since going 3-0 at Toronto from May 19-21, and first at home since taking three games against Detroit from April 21-23…The Orioles haven’t swept a series against Kansas City since winning all three games from July 31 to August 2, 2017 at Oriole Park.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: The O’s improved to 22-5 (.815) when scoring first this season, the third-best winning percentage in MLB…The Orioles are 77-23 (.770) when plating the first run of the game since the start of 2022, the fifth-best winning percentage in the majors during that time.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS: Of Baltimore’s 64 games this season, 55 have been decided by four or fewer runs, second-most in MLB behind Los Angeles-AL with 58…The O’s have gone 35-20 in those games, the most wins and second-best winning percentage (.636) in the majors behind Tampa Bay (.638, 30-17)…The Orioles are 26-14 in games decided by three or fewer runs, the best winning percentage (.650) and tied for the most wins in such games in MLB with Cleveland (26-24) and Atlanta (26-19).
WHAT’S TRENDING: The O’s have won 31 of their last 48 games, 34 of 52, and 36 of 55… The 40-24 (.625) 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 five teams in MLB with a winning percentage over .600 along with Tampa Bay (.701, 47-20), Texas (.651, 41-22), Atlanta (.625, 40-24), and Arizona (.609, 39-25). This marks the seventh time in team history (since 1954) that Baltimore has won 40 of the first 64 games to begin a season and the first time since 1997 (45-19); all six of the previous occurrences resulted in playoff appearances (1997, 1979, 1971, 1970, 1969, and 1966).
HOME COOKING: The Orioles began a six-game, seven-day homestand on Friday with three games against Kansas City through today…Following an off day tomorrow, 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 today…The O’s took two of three games at Kauffman Stadium from May 2-4… The Orioles have clinched their third straight season series victory over the Royals (4-3 in 2022, 4-3 in 2021) and have not lost a season series to Kansas City since going 2-4 in 2018 (DNP in 2020, 3-3 in 2019). The Birds are 18-6 (.750) in the last 24 games against the Royals at Oriole Park since 2015.
STRIKE A POSE: Baltimore pitchers rank seventh in MLB with 595 strikeouts…The team is on pace to strike out over 1,500 batters (9.3/G) which would shatter the club record of 1,248 strikeouts (7.7/G) set in 2016 and matched in 2019. O’s relievers lead MLB with 284 strikeouts.
WHAT A RELIEF: The Baltimore bullpen has not surrendered a run in three straight games (10.0 IP) while allowing six hits and three walk with 10 strikeouts during that time…The ‘pen has pitched to a 2.22 ERA (7 ER/28.1 IP) this month and four of those runs came on June 7 at Milwaukee…For the season, O’s relievers have a 3.34 ERA (90 ER/242.1 IP), ranked fourth in the AL and fifth in MLB.
BIG TIME RUTSCH: Adley Rutschman leads the AL with 46 walks and is tied for the AL lead with 110 times on base (64 H, 46 BB)…He’s also fifth in the AL with a .390 on-base percentage.
YOUNG GUNN: Gunnar Henderson is slashing .301/.346/.589 (22-for-73) with four doubles, one triple, five homers, 12 runs scored, 11 RBI, five walks, and three stolen bases in 23 games (20 GS) since May 13…During that time, he ranks among AL rookies in home runs (T-1st), OPS (2nd, .935), slugging (2nd), runs (T-2nd), total bases (T-2nd, 43), batting average (4th), and RBI (T-4th).
HAYS OF OUR LIVES: Austin Hays has hit in six straight games since June 4, the longest active stretch by an Oriole and one shy of his season high of seven set from May 7-14, and in seven of eight games since June 2…He’s slashed .333/.360/.542 (8- for-24) with two doubles, one homer, four runs, four RBI, one walk, and one stolen base during his current hitting streak. He ranks third in the AL and ninth in MLB with a .307 batting average. His .386 (27-for-70) batting average in the seventh inning or later leads MLB. He also leads MLB with a .417 (25-for-60) average with two outs. 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; his 21 outfield assists since the start of 2021 are tied for the second-most in the AL and fifth-most in MLB.
AY, TONE: Anthony Santander is slashing .289/.304/.556 (13-for-45) with seven doubles, one triple, one homer, six runs, eight RBI, and one walk in his last 11 games since May 29…During that time, he is tied for the MLB lead in doubles and is tied for third in MLB with nine extra-base hits…For the season, he is tied for third in the AL and tied for sixth in MLB with 19 doubles and is tied for seventh in the AL with 29 extra-base hits.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – #48 KYLE GIBSON RHP
QUICK HITS: Scheduled to make his 14th start of the season, sixth at home, and 28th career appearance (26th start) career start against the Royals this afternoon…Became the first O’s pitcher in club history (since 1954) to start and win each of his three first appearances
with the team…Started a season 4-0 for the second time in his career, joining a 6-0 start with Texas in 2021; became the fifth Oriole starting pitcher since 2004 to begin a year 4-0, joining John Means (4-0 in 2021), Bud Norris (4-0 in 2013), Wei-Yin Chen (4-0 in 2012), and Erik Bedard (4-0 in 2006)…Tossed 7.0 shutout frames on May 25 at New York-AL, becoming the oldest O’s pitcher (35-214) to work 7.0-or-more scoreless innings in a start since Freddy García (36-236) also tossed 7.0 scoreless frames on May 30, 2013 vs. Washington…Also marked his first shutout start of 7.0-or-more innings since also tossing 7.0 scoreless frames on August 27, 2022 vs. Pittsburgh with Philadelphia…The O’s signed Gibson to a one-year contract on December 5, 2022…He has also spent time with the Twins, Phillies, and Rangers across 10 Major League seasons.
LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor into the decision in his last start on June 6 at Milwaukee, allowing two runs on fi ve hits with two walks, a hit batter, and seven strikeouts in 5.0+ innings…Left with one runner on, who was stranded…Marked his shortest start since May 14 vs. Pittsburgh (5.0 IP)…Completed 5.0 innings for the seventh straight start… Threw 96 pitches, 58 strikes.
HOMER (UN)HAPPY: Gibson has not allowed a home run in five straight starts since May 14, his longest such streak since keeping opponents in the yard in seven straight outings from September 26, 2020 to April 29, 2021…Also marks the longest homerless streak by an O’s starter since Spenser Watkins also allowed zero home runs in five straight starts from May 22 to July 13, 2022, and is tied for the second-longest active streak among MLB starting pitchers behind Chicago- NL’s Justin Steele (9G)…Has allowed just six home runs in 76.2 innings across his 13 starts; entering play today, he ranks among qualified pitchers in HR/9 (10th , 0.72).
ALL HE DOES IS WIN, WIN, WIN: Gibson earned his seventh win in his 12th start of the season on May 30 vs. Cleveland…Last season, he earned his seventh victory in his 21at start on August 5 vs. Washington with Philadelphia…Entering play today, he is one of 13 MLB pitchers with seven-or-more wins…Did not win his eighth decision in 2022 until his 23rd start on August 16 at Cincinnati.
CAREER AGAINST THE ROYALS: Making his 28th career appearance (26th start) and second start this season against the Royals this afternoon…His 28 appearances against Kansas City will be his most against any team, while his 26 starts are tied for the most with Detroit…Dealt the loss in his last start against Kansas City on May 3 at Kauffman Stadium…Allowed six runs on 10 hits (1 HR), both season highs, in 6.2 innings… Did not record a walk or a strikeout in a start for the first time in his career…His 11 career quality starts against the Royals are tied with Detroit for his second-most against any opponent, trailing only Chicago-AL (12)…Threw 74 pitches, 49 strikes.
CAREER AGAINST THE AL CENTRAL: Making his 97th career appearance (93rd start) against the AL Central…Has made five starts against the division in 2023, going 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA (17 ER/28.1 IP) in those games…Earned the win in his last start against the division on May 30 vs. Cleveland…Allowed three runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts in 5.2 innings…Retired the first 10 batters in order before allowing a one-out single to Amed Rosario in the fourth inning…Threw 95 pitches, 60 strikes… Made his MLB debut on June 29, 2013 against the Royals with Minnesota; earned the win after allowing two runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and a hit batter in 6.0 innings at Target Field…Threw 91 pitches, 64 strikes…With the Rangers, he tossed a career-low 0.1 inning on April 1, 2021, at Kansas City…Owns a 34-32 record with a 4.54 ERA (270 ER/535.0 IP) through his first 96 games (92 starts) against the AL Central.
HOME COOKING: Making his sixth home start of the 2023 campaign this afternoon… Earned the win in his last start at Oriole Park on May 30 vs. Cleveland…Allowed three runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts in 5.2 innings…Retired the fi rst 10 batters in order before allowing a one-out single to Amed Rosario in the fourth inning…Threw 95 pitches, 60 strikes…Owns a 3-2 record with a 3.38 ERA (11 ER/29.1 IP) in fi ve home starts this season…Owns a 49-50 record with a 4.49 ERA (390 ER/781.2 IP) and 59 quality starts in 138 career home appearances (136 GS).
