masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgKANSAS CITY – Are the Orioles prepared to make another roster move today? There are some rumblings, so stay tuned.
They still have an eight-man bullpen, but someone will need to come off the roster Friday when catcher Steve Clevenger returns from paternity leave.
Perhaps they go back to a four-man bench today or place someone on the taxi squad. Anything goes around here.
With last night’s 8-5 win over the Royals, the Orioles moved to within two games of the second wild card. They can gain a…

KANSAS CITY – Are the Orioles prepared to make another roster move today? There are some rumblings, so stay tuned.

They still have an eight-man bullpen, but someone will need to come off the roster Friday when catcher Steve Clevenger returns from paternity leave.

Perhaps they go back to a four-man bench today or place someone on the taxi squad. Anything goes around here.

With last night’s 8-5 win over the Royals, the Orioles moved to within two games of the second wild card. They can gain a split of their four-game series with a victory this afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.

There were lots of key moments last night, but we shouldn’t overlook Brad Brach replacing Wei-Yin Chen with two outs in the seventh inning and retiring Ben Zobrist to strand Paulo Orlando at third base.

Brach had allowed 14 of 22 inherited runners to score before last night. He also posted a 1.10 ERA in 26 appearances since June 11, with 35 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings.

Steve Pearce has back-to-back two-hit games, including last night’s home run, and figures to stay in the lineup. He could cost Henry Urrutia some plate appearances, but manager Buck Showalter wants his bat in the lineup and his defense in left field.

I’d like to know how one estimation of Jonathan Schoop’s home run read 427 feet and another 484 feet, which would be the longest hit outside Coors Field this season.

I had no idea that Brian Matusz allowed only three home runs this season until looking up his stats following Mike Moustakas’ two-run shot in the eighth inning. The last home run off Matusz came on May 10.

Manny Machado’s 26 home runs are the most by an Orioles third baseman since Melvin Mora hit 27 in 2005. And before you mention Mark Reynolds, he also played first base. I’m talking home runs hit strictly as a third baseman.

Tillman-Throws-Orange-Sidebar.jpgChris Tillman has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his last nine starts, and three earned runs or fewer in eight of nine. I’m including the July 4 game in Chicago when he surrendered two runs and 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings.

Tillman is 2-2 with a 6.21 ERA in five career regular-season starts against the Royals and 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA in two starts at Kauffman Stadium, where he’s allowed eight runs and 15 hits in 12 2/3 innings.

In Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, Tillman allowed five runs and seven hits over 4 1/3 innings at Camden Yards.

Alcides Escobar is 5-for-14 with a double and home run against Tillman, Kendrys Morales is 5-for-9 with a double, Lorenzo Cain is 3-for-7 with a double and Moustakas is 3-for-10 with a home run.

Eric Hosmer is 1-for-11 and Ben Zobrist is 6-for-37 with a double and three home runs.

Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura has allowed one earned run or fewer in three consecutive starts, totaling three earned runs over 19 innings with eight walks and 21 strikeouts. He’s 1-1 with a 1.26 ERA in two career regular-season starts against the Orioles, with two runs surrendered over 14 1/3 innings.

Ventura faced the Orioles in Game 2 of the ALCS and allowed four runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings.

The current Orioles are 8-for-41 (.195) against him. Matt Wieters is 2-for-4, Adam Jones is 2-for-10 with a home run and Chris Davis is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.