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As Mark Brown noted in his series preview, the Orioles will finally get to play someone a little closer to their level in the Kansas City Royals. The Royals, currently sitting at 44-80, still hold a better record than Baltimore, but who doesn’t?
John Means will take the mound and look to right the ship after some tough second-half starts. A matchup against the Royals could be just what the doctor ordered. As Mark Brown noted, Means has just one quality start out of five post-break outings. His current ERA, 3.76, is a season high.
Trey Mancini will start at first base, while DJ Stewart, Anthony Santander and Jace Peterson man the outfield. Renato Núñez will serve as the designated hitter, while Pedro Severino catches. RIo Ruiz, Jonathan Villar and Hanser Alberto will round out the infield.
Can the Orioles kick off the series on a high note? Let’s find out!
For Baltimore:
- Jonathan Villar SS
- Trey Mancini 1B
- Anthony Santander CF
- Renato Núñez DH
- Jace Peterson LF
- Hanser Alberto 2B
- DJ Stewart RF
- Pedro Severino C
- Rio Ruiz 3B
Starter: John Means LHP