The Orioles begin a three-game series tonight in Kansas City with Dylan Beavers moving up to third in the order for the first time this season. Beavers is serving as designated hitter.

The heart of the order needs to start thumping.

The 19 RBIs by the Orioles’ 3-5 hitters are the fewest among all major league teams. They’ve posted a .197 average, .301 on-base percentage and .307 slugging percentage.

Fast starts aren’t the norm for the offense, which is batting .182 in the first inning, .192 in the second and .163 in the third and has scored only 17 runs. The average jumps to .270 in the fourth, .293 in the fifth and .276 in the seventh.

Colton Cowser is in right field and Leody Taveras is in center. Taveras has registered a .524 on-base percentage in his 11 starts this season, the fifth-best mark by an Orioles player in his first 11 starts with the team, according to STATS. Frank Robinson is first with .592.

Jeremiah Jackson, getting another start at second base, is one of five Orioles with at least 60 hits and 10 home runs through his first 250 plate appearances over the last 50 years, per STATS. Trey Mancini had 75 hits and 17 home runs to rank first. Jackson is next with 67 hits, and he’s homered 10 times.

Blaze Alexander is at third base tonight.

The Orioles are averaging 5.95 runs per game in Kansas City since 2019, their second-highest total after 6.33 runs in Colorado, also per STATS.

Kyle Bradish has made four starts and posted a 5.49 ERA and 1.627 WHIP in 19 2/3 innings. He’s never faced the Royals.

Bradish is the fastest Orioles pitcher to record 400 strikeouts, doing it in 71 games. Tom Phoebus is next at 74 games.

The Orioles have lost six of seven and now they get right-hander Seth Lugo, who’s sporting a 1.48 ERA and 0.986 WHIP in four starts. He hasn’t surrendered a home run in 24 1/3 innings.

Lugo has a 2.93 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) against the Orioles. He held them to one earned run over six innings on April 4, 2025 in Kansas City.

Maikel Garcia has a career .375 average against the Orioles.

The Royals have lost seven in a row and are alone in last place in the American League Central with a 7-15 record. They’ve scored the fewest runs in the majors with 71, and their .635 OPS is lowest in the American League.

Vinnie Pasquantino is batting .157 with a .499 OPS. Salvador Perez is batting .152 with a .491 OPS. Bobby Witt Jr. still hasn’t hit a home run.

The Royals’ 4.61 ERA and 1.39 WHIP are 24th in the majors.

For the Orioles
Gunnar Henderson SS
Taylor Ward LF
Dylan Beavers DH
Pete Alonso 1B
Samuel Basallo C
Jeremiah Jackson 2B
Colton Cowser RF
Leody Taveras CF
Blaze Alexander 3B

Kyle Bradish RHP

Brandon Young was named International League Pitcher of the Week after tossing 5 2/3 hitless innings Saturday in Durham. He allowed one earned run and struck out 10 batters.

Left-hander Jayvien Sandridge cleared outright waivers yesterday and was assigned to Norfolk.

Right-hander Keagan Gillies began an injury rehab assignment with Class A Delmarva.

For the Royals
Maikel Garcia 3B
Bobby Witt Jr. SS
Vinnie Pasquantino 1B
Salvador Perez DH
Carter Jensen C
Michael Massey 2B
Jac Caglianone RF
Isaac Collins LF
Kyle Isbel CF

Seth Lugo RHP

On this date in 1992, Tigers catcher Mickey Tettleton became the first player to homer onto Eutaw Street.