Kansas City @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( May 8, 2013 ) Kansas City 3, Baltimore 5

Jeremy Guthrie makes his return to Camden Yards on Thursday when he leads the Kansas City Royals into the finale of a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles. Guthrie won 47 games with the Orioles from 2007-11, serving as the team's Opening Day starter three times. He enters his old stomping grounds on a roll, but will be tasked with slowing down surging Baltimore, which has won four straight and 14 of its last 20.

The Royals, meanwhile, have dropped three straight and looked sloppy in a 5-3 loss Wednesday night. They committed three errors and threw a wild pitch in a three-run Baltimore fifth that proved to be the difference. Alex Gordon remained the constant for Kansas City with a two-run homer, his second in as many nights. Mike Moustakas added a two-run shot and had three hits for the first time since April 5

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Kansas City (Kansas City), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (4-0, 2.40 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (2-2, 4.58)

Guthrie had some nice stretches while pitching in Baltimore, but not many that challenged his current run. He has not allowed a run in 16 2/3 consecutive innings, the bulk of which came in his first career shutout Saturday against the Chicago White Sox. Guthrie has won each of his last nine decisions dating to Aug. 8, 2012, and is unbeaten in 17 straight starts, a club record. The 34-year-old has been a bit more human on the road, posting a 3.32 ERA in three appearances this season, and he was often a better pitcher with the Orioles when he did not have to toe the rubber at Camden Yards, where he is 22-34 with a 4.25 ERA.

While Gonzalez's results have been rather ordinary, he should at least get credit for his consistency. He has lasted at least 5 1/3 innings in each of his six starts, but never more than 6 1/3. The 28-year-old has given up between three and five runs in his last five outings and has struck out exactly four hitters four times. In a loss at Anaheim on Friday, Gonzalez recorded a season-high five strikeouts and did not walk a batter for the first time this season, but two of the six hits he gave up left the yard. Gonzalez's best career start came against Kansas City at home Aug. 10, when he yielded a run in eight innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The three hitters in Baltimore's lineup Wednesday night who have faced Guthrie in the past (Nate McLouth, J.J. Hardy and Chris Davis) are a combined 0-for-15 with four strikeouts against him.

2. Orioles closer Jim Johnson converted his 34th straight save chance Wednesday, tying Randy Myers for the longest suck streak in franchise history.

3. Gordon's homer came with two outs in the fifth. He is 16-for-33 with four homers when batting with two outs.

PREDICTION: Royals 4, Orioles 3