Royals hope to hold down Trumbo, Orioles
Mark Trumbo’s first two months in Baltimore have been a smashing success. Could the outfielder finally meet his match, though, in a hurler who specializes in stifling the O’s?
With Yordano Ventura (4-3, 4.82) on the mound, Kansas City hopes to steal the second of its three-game set at Camden Yards. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv still list the Orioles as 1.5-run favorites, while the Royals enter as +117 underdogs. The over/under run figure stands at 9.5.
Buck Showalter’s club used Trumbo’s MLB-best 19th homer to take Monday’s series opener. The veteran slugger’s on pace to belt 55 dingers, which would shatter his previous career high of 34. Trumbo also boasts a .295 average and 44 RBIs in his first year in Charm City.
This evening, mustering any bit of fireworks would represent a major feat. Ventura is 4-1 with 37 strikeouts in five turns vs. Baltimore. In his most recent appearance, the fireballer held division rival Cleveland to one earned run over six innings.
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Ubaldo Jimenez (2-6, 6.59) doesn’t exactly inspire the same confidence. He’s 0-3 with a 9.97 ERA since May 12. That WHIP of 1.85 must come across as downright heavenly to patient, albeit powerful, Kansas City hitters such as Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer.
Despite the Orioles’ position atop the American League East, we’re riding with the road warriors here. Ned Yost’s crew continues to look better and better away from Kauffman Stadium. You’ve got to favor Ventura, too, as he encounters arguably one of the majors’ worst starting options at present.
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