masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgHanser Alberto is leading off tonight for the Orioles, bringing a .407 average against left-handers to Kansas City that leads the majors.
The 72 hits off left-handed pitching this season are tied with Rafael Palmeiro in 1996 for second-most in Orioles history. Palmeiro holds the club record with 73 hits in 1998.
The last player to exceed 80 hits off southpaws was the Mariners’ Ichiro Suzuki (84) in 2004.
Alberto hasn’t struck out in his last 44 plate appearances since Aug. 14, the longest…

Hanser Alberto is leading off tonight for the Orioles, bringing a .407 average against left-handers to Kansas City that leads the majors.

The 72 hits off left-handed pitching this season are tied with Rafael Palmeiro in 1996 for second-most in Orioles history. Palmeiro holds the club record with 73 hits in 1998.

The last player to exceed 80 hits off southpaws was the Mariners’ Ichiro Suzuki (84) in 2004.

Hanser-Alberto-Sac-Bunt-Gray-Sidebar.jpgAlberto hasn’t struck out in his last 44 plate appearances since Aug. 14, the longest active streak in the majors. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons owns the longest streak this season at 61 plate appearances.

The streak by Alberto is the longest from an Orioles player since outfielder Delmon Young (44) in 2015. Outfielder Nick Markakis is the last Orioles player with a longer streak, going 57 plate appearances without a strikeout in 2012.

Trey Mancini is playing first base tonight. DJ Stewart is in left field, Stevie Wilkerson in center and Anthony Santander in right.

Left-hander John Means comes off the family medical emergency list and starts tonight.

The bullpen’s 1.93 ERA since Aug. 20 is the third-lowest in the majors. The Yankees are first at 0.96 and the Braves second at 1.88.

Paul Richards managed his final game with the Orioles on this date in 1961. Luman Harris took over as interim manager the next day and guided the club to a 17-10 record for the remainder of the season.

For the Orioles
Hanser Alberto 3B
Trey Mancini 1B
Anthony Santander RF
Renato Núñez DH
Jonathan Villar 2B
Pedro Severino C
DJ Stewart LF
Stevie Wilkerson CF
Richie Martin SS

John Means LHP

For the Royals
Whit Merrifield RF
Jorge Soler DH
Hunter Dozier 3B
Alex Gordon LF
Cheslor Cuthbert 1B
Bubba Starling CF
Humberto Arteaga SS
Nick Dini C
Nicky Lopez 2B

Eric Skoglund LHP

Dylan Bundy and Aaron Brooks are starting the last two games of the series. The Royals are countering with Jorge López and left-hander Danny Duffy.