​After a hot stretch of three consecutive victories, the Royals have hit a rough patch, dropping their last four games. In recent days, a couple of bullpen collapses and a stagnant offense have been the main differences for Kansas City, a pattern that has largely defined their season up to this point. Seth Lugo gets the ball for the Royals today. Since taking a line drive to the head, Lugo has struggled to find his footing on the mound. The long ball has been a recurring problem for him, but the hope is that he can turn back the clock and deliver a vintage performance as the team heads into the All-Star break.
Tyler Tolbert is out of the lineup again today, despite being one of the hottest hitters on the roster. Vinnie Pasquantino is serving as the designated hitter for the contest. Here are the rest of Kansas City’s starters for today. On the other side, the Baltimore Orioles may have a better record than the Royals, but they aren’t exactly a juggernaut. They’re under .500, yet the crowded American League Wild Card race keeps them squarely in the mix.
Baltimore will send right-hander Shane Baz to the mound, the former Tampa Bay Ray, to face Kansas City. Here are the Orioles’ starting lineup and pitchers set for today’s game. The Royals own a challenging stat—3-18 against the AL East this season—and they’ll look to reverse that trend by grabbing a win in this series opener.
First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. Central Time, and the game will be available to stream on Royals.TV. In a separate marquee event, the MLB Futures Game begins at 11 a.m. CT today. Blake Mitchell will be catching and hitting fifth for the U.S. squad, and Kendry Chourio could make an appearance on the mound. That game will be broadcast on NBC, offering fans a chance to catch some rising stars before the main slate heats up. This matchup, the surrounding storylines, and the ongoing shape of both teams’ seasons make for a compelling day of baseball as teams push toward the break.