The Orioles have one more series remaining before the All-Star break, with the Royals in town and rain in the forecast this weekend.

The Cubs could have put a real damper on the homestand by sweeping the Orioles, but Jeremiah Jackson’s pinch-hit, two-run double yesterday in the eighth inning changed the script. The Orioles are eight games below .500 instead of 10. They have a chance to finish the first half on a high note and instill more confidence that they can challenge for a Wild Card.

“Anytime we can carry momentum it’s good,” Jackson said. “Obviously, All-Star break’s coming up, but I think as far as we’re concerned, we’re just ready to play. I think we’re more concerned with just taking it day-by-day. Yeah, I mean, obviously we want to win them all, so looking forward to it.”

The Orioles still don’t have a winning streak of more than three games. What’s holding them back?

“I think a lot of it is little things that pop up here and there,” said reliever Andrew Kittredge, who recorded his second save yesterday. “We’ll play a really good game, and then one little facet of a game will kind of derail it at times. It doesn’t consistently seem to be the same thing every time.

“The teams that do the little things really well, with talent, those are teams that go a long way. We’ve got the talent. We’ve got to do the little things a little bit more consistently, whether it’s not giving up extra bases or taking extra bases or just making routine plays, not walking guys. Little things like that that kind of add up. In any given night, it doesn’t always seem to be one thing. But those are the kinds of things that I think have been costing us games.”

No. 95 will be played tonight, with the Orioles 12 ½ games out of first place and four out of the Wild Card. They’re 1 ½ behind the Blue Jays and the Red Sox, who have won six in a row.

The Royals might come across as an easy mark compared to the Cubs, with their 38-56 record that’s the second-worst in the American League and puts them in last place in the American League Central. They have a minus-75 run differential and are 17-30 on the road.

The Orioles are 161-99 all-time at home against the Royals.

They won two of three games in Kansas City in April and lost seven of their next 10. The Royals have won three of their last four after losing nine of 13.

The Royals are batting .247, which ranks 10th in the majors. Their 4.89 ERA and 1.449 WHIP are 28th. The rotation’s 4.66 ERA is 25th, and worse, the bullpen’s 5.22 ERA is 29th.

The team ERA was 3.73 last season, making the plus-1.16 jump the largest in the majors this year.

At least they have shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who’s batting .288/.359/.464 with 20 doubles and 13 home runs. He’s stolen 30 bases in 35 attempts.

The Orioles are sending Brandon Young to the mound for his 15th start. He’s registered a 3.38 ERA in 77 1/3 innings, with only seven home runs allowed. He hasn’t gone more than five innings in his last three outings.

Young hasn’t faced the Royals or any of their batters.

Gunnar Henderson is leading off tonight, followed by Adley Rutschman and Taylor Ward. Samuel Basallo is the designated hitter, Dylan Beavers is in right field, Colton Cowser is in center, and Blaze Alexander is at third base.

Jackson Holliday’s .368 average against the Royals is his highest versus any American League opponent. He’s playing second base.

Ward’s 71 walks are the most by an Orioles player prior to the All-Star break. Ken Singleton had 70 in 1975.

The Orioles have had 51.2 percent of their wins this season occur via comebacks, including three of the last four to rank fifth in the majors. It would be the team’s highest rate since 2010 (54.5 percent), according to STATS.

Kansas City right-hander Luinder Avila is making his ninth start and 18th appearance. He has a 5.05 ERA and 1.587 WHIP in 51 2/3 innings, with only five home runs allowed. He’s walked 31.

Avila has made seven starts since June 1 and allowed one run in five. His ERA ballooned to 6.19 on June 12 after allowing eight runs in two-thirds of an inning against the Astros.

Avila has appeared in 30 major league games and never faced the Orioles. He has no history with any of the hitters.

The first inning is an issue for Avila. He has a 15.75 ERA that’s second highest in the majors in a minimum eight innings. The Red Sox’s Brayan Bello is first at 16.88.

The Orioles haven’t been swept by the Royals at home in 29 consecutive series.

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

Brandon Young RHP

From the minors: Trey Gibson won’t make his next start with Triple-A Norfolk due to an illness.

For the Royals
Carter Jensen C
Bobby Witt Jr. SS
Jac Caglianone RF
Lane Thomas CF
Michael Massey 2B
Salvador Perez 1B
Josh Rojas 3B
Nick Loftin DH
Isaac Collins LF

Luinder Avila RHP