Orioles Magic

Monday, July 27-Thursday, July 30

Kansas City Royals (38-59) at Baltimore Orioles (42-55)

Pitching Matchups

Monday: KC - Bruce Chen (0-5, 6.58)
BAL - Rich Hill (3-3, 7.64)

Tuesday: KC - Brian Bannister (6-7, 3.76)
BAL - Jason Berken (1-8, 6.55)

Wednesday: KC - Zack Greinke (10-6, 2.04)
BAL - Chris Tillman (0-0, 0.00)

Thursday: KC - Luke Hochevar (6-3, 4.84)
BAL - Brad Bergesen (6-5, 3.45)

There aren't many teams worse than the Baltimore Orioles this year, but one of them, the Kansas City Royals, make their way to the Yard this week for a 4-game series. The last time the Orioles played the Royals was in early May. At the time the Royals were the darlings of baseball, a surprise first place team. However, since then the Royals remembered that they are garbage, and are back to being a last place team.

While to most this is a series between two of the worst teams in the American League, Orioles fans see it as another sign of hope. That hope is in the form of 21-year old pitcher Chris Tillman. Tillman was part of the Erik Bedard to Seattle trade and is considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball. The Orioles have already seen tons of promise out of rookie pitchers Brad Bergesen and David Hernandez. If Tillman can live up to the hype the Orioles could have 3/5 of a dominant rotation for years to come.

Tillman will face off against the Royals Zack Greinke on Wednesday. Greinkemania has calmed some in the last few months but Greinke is still a dominant pitcher, with just a 2.04 ERA, the best in baseball. On Monday night, the Orioles welcome back Bruce Chen, as he meets his counterpart in terribleness, Rich Hill. Chen played for the Orioles for a short time but I always remember going to the Yard and seeing his Joke of the Day. Maybe he can dust it off for old times sake on Monday.

While Bergesen and Hernandez have impressed as rookies, Jason Berken has been horrible. It is of course way too early to give up on Berken as a player, buf if he has another poor start on Tuesday night it might be time to send him back to the minors.

The Royals are pretty awful offensively, but have a couple players to keep an eye on. 2B Alberto Callaspo leads the team with a .304 average, DH Mike Jacobs has 13 home runs to lead the Royals, and LF David DeJesus is the team leader with 46 RBIs.

The Orioles made a change in their lineup on Sunday against the Red Sox, moving Nick Markakis to the cleanup spot, replacing a struggling Aubrey Huff. Huff's average has dropped to just .248, and I am really hoping the Orioles can move him by the trade deadline.

At first glance, I was confident of the Orioles taking this series, because they are at home. However, the pitching matchups favor the Royals in 3 of the 4 games. I think the Orioles wind up with a split.