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The Baltimore Orioles have one more game guaranteed in their postseason after losing the first matchup with the Kansas City Royals. Tonight, they will face off with the Orioles' season on the line. After 163 games, it comes down to this.
The Royals, however, are in a good position. Stealing the first game means they only need to win one of the remaining two, and they can wrap things up tonight.
Royals vs. Orioles Recent form and records
The Baltimore Orioles finished the season on a three-game win streak, but they lost the opener in the playoffs. All told, they were 7-3 in their last 10 regular season games and finished 91-71.
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The Kansas City Royals won the final game of the regular season, but they limped in, at 4-6 in their last 10. They rebounded to win the first playoff matchup, though.
Players to watch
Starting pitchers
Seth Lugo (16-9, 3.00 ERA, 181 SO) vs. Zach Eflin (10-9, 3.59 ERA, 134 SO)
Seth Lugo has a 1.09 WHIP and 181 strikeouts in 206.2 innings.
Last Start: Two innings, one hit, no earned runs, one walk, and three strikeouts.
Career vs. Orioles: 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA and four strikeouts in three appearances.
Zach Eflin has a 1.15 WHIP and 134 strikeouts in 165.1 innings.
Last Start: 4.2 innings, four hits, three earned runs, five walks, and one strikeout.
Career vs. Royals: 3-1 with a 5.09 ERA and 17 strikeouts in four appearances.
Must-watch Hitters
Royals
Bobby Witt Jr. recorded the only RBI last night, and he has five hits in his last five games. He also has one run, another RBI, and three walks during that time as well.
Salvador Perez has six hits in his last five games (21 at-bats) and scored a run, hit one double, and had one RBI and one walk.
Orioles
Ryan Mountcastle has seven hits in his last six games (22 at-bats). He also doubled, scored a run, and recorded two RBIs in that span.
Cedric Mullins has nine hits in his last five games (17 at-bats) to go along with one double, six runs, and two walks.
Royals vs. Orioles Baseball Betting Odds
Royals vs. Orioles Expert Predictions
The Orioles are clinging to dear life for the second year in a row. Last year, they were swept at home after winning 101 games. This year, albeit in the Wild Card, they're trying not to be swept at home again. They should be able to stave that off.
Seth Lugo vs. Zach Eflin is a tight matchup on paper, but Eflin pitched well down the stretch. The Orioles overall pitched very well yesterday, but it was their bats that failed. Look for them to come through to stave off elimination.
Run Line: -1.5
Total Runs: Under 7.5
Prediction: Orioles 4, Royals 3
