Royals v. Orioles – Pitching Matchups Preview

The Royals starting rotation looks to stay strong against a powerful Orioles lineup

The Royals and Orioles are slated for a three game series, starting tonight at 7:15 PM CT at Kauffman Stadium.

Both teams enter the series leading their respective divisions and coming off series wins against divisional opponents.

Here is Mike Vamosi’s series preview

Here also are some angry Jason La Canfora tweets about the Royals

That tweet was published as the Royals were taking a 2-0 World Series lead against the Mets. Hmm.

This tweet was sent as the Royals were about to come back from four-runs down in the 8th to win game four of the ALDS.

It’s going to be fun weekend. Let’s get started.

Next: Game One - Chris Young seeking rebound

Saturday: RHP Kris Medlen (1-0, 2.38 ERA) v. TBD

Kris Medlen thus far has been everything the Royals expected him to be when Dayton Moore signed him last year.

The hope was that, after he recovered from his injury, that he would become a similar starting pitcher to the guy he was in 2013. So far, Medlen has been better, giving up just three earned runs over his 11.1 innings and, even more encouragingly, striking out 11 batters during that span.

The eight walks aren’t encouraging, but given his sporadic work schedule so far this season, inconsistent command is understandable. Since giving up two runs in the first inning of his first start on April 12, Medlen has given up just one earned run over 10.1 innings.

With Chris Young’s struggles and some very iffy rotational depth (albeit a lot of rotational depth), Medlen’s success will be absolutely huge. Specifically, in the innings column.

Kansas City will remember Jeremy Guthrie fondly, not just for his lovable antics and productive first two seasons in Kansas City, but also for his notorious inning eating abilities.

The Royals rotation has dominated so far, but are in the bottom half of the league in innings. Medlen’s production is fantastic, but it is just icing on the cake, as long as Medlen is eating innings and protecting a bullpen that will surely be used liberally as games get more and more high leverage.

The Orioles enter the series well rested, with a postponement on Sunday and an off day on Monday. However, the rotation was also mixed up, so there is no set starter for Saturday. The Royals will likely see either Vance Worley or Chris Tilllman.

Worley could be the likely culprit, with him never facing the Royals and Tillman giving up eight runs in 11.1 innings of work against the Royals last year in his two starts against Kansas City.

Must-See Matchup – Vance Worley (potentially) v. Mike Moustakas!

Can anybody guess why? Yes, you are correct, Kings of Kauffman reader:

Vance Worley throws a sinker!

In fact, he’s thrown it about 35% of the time this season and threw it a whopping 51% of the time last September.

I’m kind of stretching here because we don’t have a definite starter for Baltimore and hardly any Oriole hitters have experience against Medlen.

But, it is another possible right-handed starter with a sinker against Moustakas, who is smashing everything right now.

If it is Tillman, the whole lineup will smash.

Next: Game Three - Yordano Ventura seeks rhythm

Sunday: RHP Yordano Ventura (1-0, 2.81 ERA) v. Mike Wright (1-1, 5.73 ERA)

So far in 2016, Yordano Ventura has been pretty Yordano Ventura-ish. He has struck out 17 in his 16 innings of work, but has also walked 12, and has failed to go at least six innings in two of his three starts.

He has also not thrown over 100 pitches in a start yet in 2016.

He has been effective, however, giving up just five runs in those 16 innings.

The only thing the Royals rotation has struggled with thus far is efficiency, having just two starts of at least seven innings of work to their name.

Despite the positive results, Ventura has been the microcosm of this issue, struggling with his command, and at times even his control, while walking a tight rope for much of his 5-6 innings of work.

I expect Ventura to find his rhythm. His ability to maneuver past the walks and lack of command show just how good his stuff is. When he finds his rhythm, he could really do some damage.

He will be opposed by Mike Wright, a 26-year old righty with a drastically different journey to the major leagues to Ventura’s.

Wright is a former third round draft pick, who countered his minor league seasons with strokes of brilliance and struggle.

He pitched above his age level nearly every step of the way, despite not being drafted out of high school.

However, his time in the Major Leagues has been tumultuous at best, and giving his progressed age due to his late start, is already running against his own clock, something that Ventura has never really faced.

They both have similar arsenal’s this season, with Ventura’s velocity being down, as both average around 94-96 on their fastballs. Write throws a 90 MPH sinker (!!) into the mix, and while in the past has featured a curveball, has seemingly ditched the pitch in favor of a slider-changeup offspeed combo.

The Royals face him once in 2015, tagging him for four runs in five innings.

Must-See Matchup – Mike Wright v. Lorenzo Cain

In that said start against the Royals, Cain drove in two of the four runs on two home runs. It was Cain’s second multi-home run game of his career.

Right now, Lorenzo is reeling, hitting just .222 and striking out in 28% of his at-bats.

He could use a boost, and although he only has three at-bats against Wright, maybe those two home runs were coincidental.

Next: Royals-Orioles Series Preview

Hopefully, he just sees Wright really well, can capitalize on Sunday, and hopefully get hot. And Maybe Alex Gordon will follow.

He also throws a sinker, so watch out for a Moose.