October 2nd, 2024
BALTIMORE — After a tight, tense American League Wild Card Series Game 1 on Tuesday — during which only one total run was scored — the Royals are on the cusp of advancing to the AL Division Series in their first postseason appearance since their 2015 World Series championship run. They’ll have an opportunity to sweep the Orioles in Game 2 on Wednesday at Camden Yards.
Kansas City returned to October for the first time in nine years and promptly defeated Baltimore, 1-0, in the opener of the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series. Bobby Witt Jr. (RBI single in the sixth inning) and Cole Ragans (six dominant frames) served as the stars of the contest.
“You definitely want Game 1, right?” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “And we did just enough on the offensive side. The pitching was remarkable. The atmosphere was great. I mean, you could tell right away, right from the anthem when they scream, ‘O,’ it was loud. But it helps when you’re not letting them get on the board to keep things in check.”
By winning Wednesday’s Game 2, the Royals would advance to face the top-seeded Yankees in the ALDS.
“Gives me the chills thinking about it. Hearing the crowd here, I can’t imagine it at ‘The K,’” Witt said. “We wanted to bring October baseball back to Kansas City. We are going to try to keep doing that.”
The Orioles, on the other hand, still haven’t won a postseason game since Game 3 of the 2014 ALDS, as their playoff losing streak was extended to nine. They need to win Wednesday to force a Game 3 on Thursday, or else they’ll be swept out of October for the second consecutive year.
In the brief history of the best-of-three Wild Card Series, teams winning Game 1 have gone on to advance 14 out of 16 times. Of the 10 teams to take Game 1 on the road, eight have won the series, including seven via sweep.
“It’s all hands on deck,” O’s first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn said. “Whatever we can do to win a baseball game tomorrow and live another day.”
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 2 is live right now on ESPN, with Sean McDonough, Jessica Mendoza and Ben McDonald in the booth.
All games are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV (authentication to a participating Pay TV provider is required). Live games are also available in select countries outside the U.S. For full details, click here.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Royals: RHP Seth Lugo
Lugo takes the mound with a chance to send the Royals to the next round, and much like they did with Ragans on Tuesday, they feel great about their chances with Lugo. The 34-year-old finished the regular season with a 3.00 ERA across 33 starts and ranked second in baseball with 206 2/3 innings. Lugo throws the kitchen sink at hitters with his nine-plus pitches, and he relies on weak contact to go deep into games. He’s a veteran, but he has only one postseason appearance, when he threw two scoreless innings for the Mets in the 2022 National League Wild Card Series.
Orioles: RHP Zach Eflin
The O’s will turn to Eflin to try to help extend their season. The 30-year-old right-hander was acquired from Tampa Bay on July 26, and he has been terrific since arriving in Baltimore, recording a 2.60 ERA in nine outings. Eflin didn’t allow more than three runs in any of those appearances, seven of which were quality starts. He has prior postseason experience, having posted a 5.17 ERA in 11 games (one start) over the previous two years for the Phillies and Rays.
“We have an opportunity to right the ship,” Eflin said. “We are going to show up prepared and be ready to go.”
What are the starting lineups?
Royals: Facing another right-hander, the Royals will roll out nearly the same lineup as they did Tuesday against Corbin Burnes and hope for better success than just one run. Subbing in Hunter Renfroe for Tommy Pham in right field is the only change for Game 2.
Orioles: The left-handed-hitting O’Hearn gets his first start of the series after not being in the lineup vs. the southpaw Ragans in Game 1. Adley Rutschman catches, with James McCann returning to the bench.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Royals: The Royals used their high-leverage relievers in Sam Long, Kris Bubic and Lucas Erceg, who earned his first career postseason save on Tuesday, but they’ll likely be available again in Game 2. The Royals also have lefty Angel Zerpa and righty John Schreiber fresh for the back end of games.
Orioles: Burnes kept Baltimore’s bullpen fresh by pitching eight-plus innings in Game 1. Left-hander Keegan Akin (two-thirds of an inning) and righty Seranthony Domínguez (one-third) both pitched, but they’ll be available again if needed in Game 2. The rest of the Orioles’ relief corps hasn’t pitched since Sunday or even longer.
Any injuries of note?
Royals: Ragans left Game 1 early with left calf cramps, but neither he nor the Royals are concerned about his availability moving forward if they clinch an ALDS appearance. No other new injuries occurred for Kansas City in Game 1, although it might have to see how Pasquantino feels after his first game back from a right broken thumb.
Orioles: No new injuries occurred for the O’s in Game 1. The only candidate to potentially return from the injured list this October is right-handed reliever Burch Smith (right adductor groin strain).
Who is hot and who is not?
Royals: Game 1 was a perfect example of the Royals’ season, and especially the past month: Their offense is still struggling, but their pitching is excellent. On Tuesday, one run was just enough. But Kansas City needs to see its hitters get hot, especially if it wants to make a deep run. Witt came through in the big moment with his RBI single on Tuesday, but the Royals didn’t have much opportunity elsewhere.
Orioles: Many of Baltimore’s hitters cooled off as the club got shut out in Game 1. The only exception was Mullins, who went 2-for-3 with a double after going 0-for-12 in the first three postseason games of his career last October. Urías also had a hit, improving to 8-for-29 (.276) since returning from a right ankle sprain on Sept. 22.
Rutschman remains mired in a slump. He went 0-for-4 in Game 1 after hitting .214 in 23 games during September.
Anything else fans might want to know?
Former Orioles outfielder Steve Pearce is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. He played in Baltimore from 2012-16, and he is best remembered for being one of the three players to score on Delmon Young’s go-ahead double in Game 3 of the ‘14 ALDS vs. Detroit. The O’s won that game, 7-6, and went on to sweep the series, 3-0.
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