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Baltimore Orioles (11-5) vs. Kansas City Royals (11-6) Game 18 Open Thread

Here is your afternoon fire being thrown.

By Max Rieper
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Royals close out their six-game homestand today by trying to take the series against the Baltimore Orioles. Somehow, Ned Yost has managed to split the first two games with the "Chessmaster", Buck Showalter. Showalter pressed all the right buttons last night, asking his players to hit home runs and draw walks in an 8-3 win. However, he faces a much bigger challenge today, with Yordano Ventura on the hill. Ventura has been a bit of a mixed bag so far this year, but he does carry a 2.81 ERA with over a strikeout per inning pitched. He has given up just six runs in 26 career innings against Baltimore for a 2.08 ERA with 33 strikeouts, winning three of four starts.

Opposing him will be Mike Wright, a right-handed pitcher with a career 5.98 ERA in 14 career games in the Major Leagues, allowing opponents to hit .286/.367/.500 against him. The 26-year old has only struck out 5.5 per-nine innings in the Major Leagues, so this is quite a contrast in styles.

Mark your calendars, this is a rare Salvador Perez off-day.

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