masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgChris Davis returns to the Orioles lineup tonight in Kansas City and is batting sixth for the 12th time this season.
Trey Mancini is in right field and Anthony Santander is the designated hitter. DJ Stewart is in left field and batting cleanup.
Hanser Alberto, playing second base tonight, is leading the majors with a .417 average against left-handers. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last Orioles player with a .400 average versus lefties was shortstop Mike Bordick (.402) in…

Chris Davis returns to the Orioles lineup tonight in Kansas City and is batting sixth for the 12th time this season.

Trey Mancini is in right field and Anthony Santander is the designated hitter. DJ Stewart is in left field and batting cleanup.

Hanser Alberto, playing second base tonight, is leading the majors with a .417 average against left-handers. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last Orioles player with a .400 average versus lefties was shortstop Mike Bordick (.402) in 1999.

Alberto’s 75 hits against left-handers breaks Rafael Palmeiro’s club record of 73 in 1998.

Villar-Headfirst-Black-sidebar.jpgJonathan Villar is the first Orioles player with multiple three-steal games in the same season since Don Baylor in 1973. His 32 steals are the most by an Orioles player since Brian Roberts had 40 in 2008.

According to STATS research that goes back to 1974, Villar is the first Orioles player to steal second base, third base and home in the same game.

Before Pedro Severino, only two catchers in Orioles history had achieved four hits, three RBIs and a steal in the same game: Matt Wieters on May 26, 2013 in Toronto and Ramón Hernández on May 6, 2007 against the Indians.

He’s the second catcher since 1908 with two such games in a single season, joining the Twins’ Joe Mauer (2005) and the Philadelphia Athletics’ Frankie Hayes (1936).

The Orioles have won six of their last nine games since a 1-13 stretch. Last night’s win was their first at Kauffman Stadium since April 2016.

They went 10-for-22 with runners in scoring position, their most hits since going 12-for-23 against the Athletics on Aug. 16, 2015.

John Means became the sixth Orioles left-hander with a 10-win rookie season, joining Wei-Yin Chen (12 in 2012), Zack Britton (11 in 2011), Brian Matusz (10 in 2010), Eric Bell (10 in 1987) and Steve Barber (10 in 1960).

The Orioles are facing Royals right-hander Jorge López, who’s 2-7 with a 6.56 ERA and 1.521 WHIP in 33 games, including 12 starts. His last two appearances have come in relief, including Monday’s game against the Athletics, when he allowed five runs in 1 2/3 innings.

López’s last start was against the Orioles on Aug. 19 and he held them to one run over five innings.

Villar is 1-for-4 with a home run against him.

The Orioles have won 45 games this season, two fewer than their 2018 total. The 45th win last year came on Sept. 23 and the 46th in Game 2 of a Sept. 26 doubleheader.

For the Orioles
Jonathan Villar SS
Trey Mancini RF
Anthony Santander DH
DJ Stewart LF
Hanser Alberto 2B
Chris Davis 1B
Rio Ruiz 3B
Stevie Wilkerson CF
Chance Sisco C

Dylan Bundy RHP

For the Royals
Whit Merrifield 2B
Jorge Soler DH
Hunter Dozier 3B
Alex Gordon LF
Ryan O’Hearn 1B
Bubba Starling RF
Meibrys Viloria C
Brett Phillips CF
Nicky Lopez SS

Jorge López RHP