Here we go again. The Orioles have won three straight games and are trying to make it four in a row. Can they do it? They have had seven previous opportunities to win a fourth in a row this season and they have failed every time. It is way past ridiculous. Perhaps the eighth time will be the charm.
This game also has the distinction of being the end of the non-mathematical first half of the season. After today, it’s the All-Star break and there are no games until Friday. Finally getting that fourth
straight win takes on a little extra significance for that reason: The Orioles can feel good about themselves going into the break and into the second half of the season. Fans who are capable of feeling good about the Orioles can feel good if they finally get this figurative monkey off their back.
They have to find a way to actually do it. That’s the thing. The Orioles need to combine acceptable enough hitting, pitching, and defense for a fourth straight game and win it. At home against a Royals team that’s got even more going wrong than the O’s do, they should be more than capable. They’ve already done it on Friday and Saturday.
Orioles lineup
- Gunnar Henderson – SS
- Taylor Ward – DH
- Dylan Beavers – LF
- Pete Alonso – 1B
- Samuel Basallo – C
- Blaze Alexander – 3B
- Colton Cowser – CF
- Leody Taveras – RF
- Jackson Holliday – 2B
This is the lineup and defense in support of Shane Baz. In the aggregate, he has been perfectly fine so far as an Oriole. The prospect cost the Orioles paid for him, in addition to his being given the contract extension before ever throwing a pitch for the team, helped set expectations a little higher than perfectly fine. It would be easier to feel good about it if he could shave half a run off his ERA.
Royals lineup
- Carter Jensen – C
- Bobby Witt Jr. – SS
- Jac Caglianone – RF
- Lane Thomas – CF
- Vinny Pasquantino – DH
- Salvador Perez – 1B
- Michael Massey – 2B
- Josh Rojas – 3B
- Isaac Collins – LF
The Royals starter, Seth Lugo, has a 4.56 ERA. He is not left-handed. The Orioles just need to take care of business and finally win that fourth game in a row.
