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Guthrie is still not pitching.
Kris Medlen starts in his spot in the rotation tonight. He will be dealing with a limited pitch count. When the move was announced, David Eiland had the following to say:
Dave Eiland says it will take Medlen two to three starts to build up to 90-100 pitches.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) August 21, 2015
So Medlen will likely be dealing with a 60-75-pitch limit--this will surely be detailed on the broadcast. This should get him about as deep into the game as Guthrie would have gotten with 110 pitches. And with a fraction of the runs allowed.
This marks Medlen's first major-league start since his return from Tommy John surgery number two. What transpires tonight is anyone's guess, but it will likely be a more effective performance than the Royals would have gotten from Jeremy Guthrie, whose 2015 season has been abysmal. Like second-worst ERA, worst FIP, and worst xFIP amongst qualified starters bad.
Medlen faces Baltimore Orioles' starter Ubaldo Jimenez. Jimenez owns a 3.97 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 3.58 xFIP, and 3.71 SIERA. While his K-rates have been right around his career averages, his BB% (7.9) and BB/9 (3.04) are both at career-best marks.
Guthrie is still not pitching.
The Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles will align themselves thusly:
Tonight’s #Orioles lineup vs. the Royals at 8:10 ET on @masnOrioles, @MLBTV & @1057thefan. http://t.co/rYZQuuPPLA pic.twitter.com/9f0mEqn0xN
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 24, 2015
Kris Medlen makes 1st #Royals start vs O’s, 7:10 CT on @FSKansasCity, @MLBTV &@610SportsKC. http://t.co/rxiliI4O0X pic.twitter.com/YHSjkXkN2X
— Royals (@Royals) August 24, 2015
Royals fans have to be hoping the hook for Infante and Rios is coming soon.