The Orioles have already split this four-game set at a minimum and they could get a series win in the finale.
One of the things that really makes baseball what it is is that no matter how good or bad the previous day’s game went, the next day you’re probably going to have to come back out and try to do it all again, and this game will mean just as much as the last one. Wednesday’s game turned into a great one for the Orioles. They can’t rest on the laurels of not being the worst team in MLB any more. They’re back at it here tonight.
The O’s have, at least, already guaranteed themselves a split of the series against the Royals. They could get a four-game series win if they pick up a win in the finale.
Theoretically, their chances aren’t bad. The de facto staff ace John Means is going to be in action. Trey Mancini is making a return to the starting lineup for the first time in several days. The Orioles, though, are very good at finding ways to lose games, so you never know how they will try to do it tonight.
Keep an eye on the out-of-town scoreboard for possible schadenfreude purposes, because if the Blue Jays beat the Yankees tonight, Toronto will only be a half-game behind New York for the second wild card spot.
Orioles lineup
- Cedric Mullins – CF
- Ryan Mountcastle – 1B
- Anthony Santander – RF
- Trey Mancini – DH
- DJ Stewart – LF
- Pedro Severino – C
- Jorge Mateo – SS
- Jahmai Jones – 2B
- Kelvin Gutiérrez – 3B
Royals lineup
- Whit Merrifield – 2B
- Nicky Lopez – SS
- Salvador Pérez – C
- Andrew Benintendi – LF
- Carlos Santana – 1B
- Adalberto Mondesi – DH
- Michael A. Taylor – CF
- Hanser Alberto – 3B
- Hunter Dozier – RF
Carlos Hernandez is starting for the Royals.