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This is the third series the Royals have played since the All-Star Break. All three series have finished in rubber matches; unfortunately the Royals got bounced in the first two. Perhaps the third time is the charm?
If the Royals have any hope of winning today, they're going to have to first muster some offense. Today they will have to make their attempt against A.J. Griffin. Griffin started the year alright, but was hurt and missed most of May and June. Since returning he has made 2 OK starts, but the last 3 have been atrocious. This is a pitcher who is both not elite and struggled mightily, lately. In other words the most beatable starter the Royals have faced, this series. In his career he's gone 1-0 while allowing 5 runs in 11 innings across two starts against the Royals. Both of those were for Oakland in 2013, though. Alex Gordon has never been retired by Griffin, accumulating a walk and going 5/5 with a HR against him; so perhaps this is the day Alex finally breaks out.
Edinson Volquez will do his best to help the thus-far feeble Royals offense stand up by stopping the Rangers. Since his disastrous performance against Houston, Volquez has sandwiched 2 mediocre starts between a very good one and a pretty good one. Most of the Rangers have seen Volquez at one point or another, Mitch Moreland and Ian Desmond both have home runs off of him, previously. In his career Volquez has gone 0-2 against the Rangers in 3 starts while allowing 14 earned runs in 15.1 innings.
The Lineups
#Royals lineup vs. Griffin:
— David Lesky (@DBLesky) July 24, 2016
Escobar SS
Cuthbert 3B
Hosmer DH
Morales 1B
Gordon LF
Orlando RF
Merrifield 2B
Butera C
Dyson CF
Volquez P
7/24 @Rangers lineup at KC
— MLB Lineups (@mlblineups) July 24, 2016
Profar 3B
Mazara RF
Desmond CF
Beltre DH
Odor 2B
Andrus SS
Moreland 1B
Chirinos C
DeShields LF
Griffin P
We are now 8 days from the trade deadline, if the Royals don't want to be split apart they probably should just go ahead and win them all. starting today.