Baltimore @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 30, 2010 ) Baltimore 5, Kansas City 7
The first four years of Alex Gordon’s career haven’t exactly gone the way he would have liked.
If Gordon needs inspiration from anyone, though, all he has to do is look at Saturday’s starter for the Kansas City Royals, Zack Greinke.
Greinke battled personal problems and ineffectiveness during his first five seasons with the Royals before breaking through last year and winning the American League Cy Young Award.
Now it’s Gordon’s turn to persevere. Once considered the brightest "can’t miss" prospect in the Royals’ system, Gordon only recently returned to the Royals about a week ago from Triple-A to play the outfield.
While he’s hitting just .183 for the season, Gordon has hit in five straight games. His three-run, walkoff homer with two outs on Friday night was exactly the type of boost both he and the Royals needed.
Gordon’s homer helped the Royals snap a five-game losing streak with a 7-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. It was just his second homer of the season, but finally gave him something to celebrate.
Now Kansas City will try to capitalize on the momentum with its ace on the mound.
Greinke was blasted by the Minnesota Twins in his last start, allowing a season-high eight runs in just four innings. Prior to that, he had a 1.71 ERA in his three previous starts and still represents the Royals’ best chance at victory. They haven’t won consecutive games since sweeping a three-game series from the Seattle Mariners on July 5-7.
The Royals will have a great shot at consecutive wins when they face Brad Bergesen on Saturday. Bergesen is clinging to his spot in Baltimore’s rotation and could be making his final start unless he turns it around quickly.
Bergesen lugs a 6.95 ERA into his start and hasn’t won since May 12. He has lost all five of his July starts, but Baltimore interim manager Juan Samuel is hesitant to make a move with Bergesen because the Orioles lack many options behind him.
Top prospect Chris Tillman has been roughed up in six starts this season and was blasted again earlier this week in his return to Triple-A.
While the Orioles continue to sort out their rotation, they at least have a spot for another blossoming prospect. Josh Bell is expected to rejoin the team Saturday and take over at third base following the trade involving Miguel Tejada.
The team had to wait 10 days to recall Bell after he was optioned to Triple-A on July 21. With Saturday’s 4 p.m. trade deadline looming, the only other Oriole who could be dealt would probably be Ty Wigginton.
Wigginton, who is batting .256 this season with 16 homers and 53 RBIs, is versatile enough to play most anywhere in the infield or corner outfield. He has hit in six straight games and nine of his last 10.