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This has been an ugly series in Baltimore.
Tasked with hitting Ubaldo Jimenez and Dylan Bundy, who entered the series with a combined ERA of 5.73, the Royals have managed just three runs in the series' first two games.
Jimenez went seven innings on Monday, giving up just one run on five hits, while Bundy bested that effort with eight innings of his own last night, giving up no earned runs on just three hits.
Tonight, the Royals will look to salvage the series and at least keep pace with the first place Indians, who have lost the first two games of their three game set against the Red Sox.
They will have to do so against the Orioles newly acquired starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, who also has a paltry ERA of 4.73.
And much like Monday, the Royals will have the advantage on the mound, sending Jason Vargas to the mound, who is coming off of six innings of one-run ball in his Friday win over the Red Sox.
The win gave him 13 on the season to put him into a tie with Chris Sale for the most in the American League and with Sale's no-decision last night, Vargas will have a shot to take sole possession of the AL lead.
We will also be keeping an eye on Vargas' velocity in tonight's matchup.
Vargas is averaging 85 MPH tonight. https://t.co/koVl89eaP8
— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) July 29, 2017
Here are tonight's lineups.
The #Royals close out the Baltimore series in tonight's finale. Jason Vargas will take the mound. #RaisedRoyal pic.twitter.com/MkEuIPpwSy
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 2, 2017
Tonight's lineup vs KC with Jeremy Hellickson (@JHell58) making his #Orioles debut. #Birdland pic.twitter.com/U1WnaT7bZv
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 2, 2017