Orioles seek offensive consistency in series finale vs. Royals

The Baltimore Orioles could be a little more predictable now that they have a roster closer to the one they envisioned for this season.

When they play the last game of their three-game series Sunday afternoon in Kansas City, the Orioles would like a repeat of production that has surfaced at times across the first week-plus of the season.

Yet the batting order is bound to have moving parts, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. The addition of shortstop Gunnar Henderson will factor into the top of the order.

"When guys are getting days off, things change," Hyde said. "Depending on the starting pitcher, things change matchup-wise. Probably settle in a little bit more now that Gunnar is here."

Henderson, who was the designated hitter Saturday in his second game with Baltimore this season, is trying to get in a groove after beginning the season on a rehab assignment. He went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts Saturday.

The teams split the first two games of the series, with the Orioles winning 8-1 on Saturday after falling 8-2 on Friday.

"We've had our moments offensively," Hyde said. "We have the ability to put a lot of runs up on the board. We've shown that for the four wins. We just have to be a little more consistent.

"We drove so many baseballs (Saturday) that the wind was blowing straight in. It felt like we got some home runs taken away from us."

The Royals have homered only five times in eight games. Bobby Witt Jr. had his first homer of the season Saturday.

"Just got to get it through the wind," Witt said.

On Sunday, left-hander Cade Povich (0-0, 6.23 ERA) will start for the Orioles in his first appearance against the Royals. He struck out eight in 4 1/3 innings Monday against Boston.

"Got to keep the pitch count down and be able to go a little farther," Povich said.

Povich struggled at times in 2024 as a rookie, so he said there's already an increase in confidence.

"Definitely, way more confident," he said. "Getting my feet wet last year and understanding I'm able to pitch up here."

The Royals on Sunday will go with left-hander Kris Bubic (1-0, 0.00 ERA), who threw six shutout innings at Milwaukee in his season debut Monday. That was his first victory as a starter since 2022. He had Tommy John surgery in 2023.

"I took it as an opportunity to reset," Bubic said. "I'm happy to be starting, and I'm going to take this opportunity and run with it."

Baltimore's Jackson Holliday collected three hits Saturday.

"I feel like my process has been pretty good lately, hitting the ball hard," he said. "Just trying to use the big part of the field. Good things seem to happen when you do that."

Royals infielder Maikel Garcia went 0-for-4 on Saturday, marking the first game he started this year that he didn't collect at least one hit. Still, his start to the season has been encouraging for Kansas City.

"We're seeing that he can hit the ball hard," manager Matt Quatraro said. "He's gaining in strength and in confidence at the plate."

--Field Level Media