Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 2nd 2024

Stadium: Oriole Park at Camden Yards Baltimore
Logo Kansas City Royals
VS
Logo Baltimore Orioles
7.5
OPENER
-140
7.5o -112
CURRENT
-1.5 +145
+124
MONEYLINE
-134
2
SCORE
1

Preview and Prediction

BALTIMORE Zach Eflin began his season pitching in front of sparse crowds in St. Petersburg, Fla., for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The atmosphere will be much more intense as he continues his campaign with the Orioles, who acquired him in July.

Eflin will take the mound on Wednesday at a lively Camden Yards as Baltimore fights to avoid elimination against the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 of the American League wild-card series.

Gavin Stone, Right-Handed Pitcher for Dodgers, Anticipated to Sit Out Entire 2025 Season See also: Gavin Stone, Right-Handed Pitcher for Dodgers, Anticipated to Sit Out Entire 2025 Season Alex Cobb Selected as Starting Pitcher for Game 1 of ALCS by Guardians See also: Alex Cobb Selected as Starting Pitcher for Game 1 of ALCS by Guardians

"It's a really special place here in October," Eflin said of the Orioles' home ballpark, "so we are looking forward to continuing that."

If necessary, a decisive Game 3 will be played in Baltimore on Thursday, but only if the Orioles can break their current streak of playoff futility.

Baltimore has lost their last nine postseason games, including a 1-0 defeat in Game 1 on Tuesday.

A loss on Wednesday would mean another abrupt exit from October for the Orioles. Last year, they were swept 3-0 by the eventual World Series champions, the Texas Rangers, in the division series after securing the AL's top seed.

"Everyone understands the position we're in," said Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. "I don't think it's a team-meeting rally cry."

Hyde will turn to postseason veteran Eflin, who has appeared in 11 playoff games (one start) over the past two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies (2022) and the Rays (2023).

During that time, Eflin has a record of 0-1 with a 5.17 ERA over 15 2/3 innings, but the nine-year veteran is not intimidated by the high-pressure nature of October baseball.

Mets include 2B/OF Jeff McNeil (wrist) on NLCS lineup See also: Mets include 2B/OF Jeff McNeil (wrist) on NLCS lineup New York Chooses Carlos Rodon for ALCS Opener, Gerrit Cole for Second Game See also: New York Chooses Carlos Rodon for ALCS Opener, Gerrit Cole for Second Game

"At the end of the day, you treat it like any other game," Eflin said. "Obviously, you know the circumstances behind the game, but you've got to be free and easy and play this game like that."

Eflin (10-9, 3.59 ERA in the regular season) will face a Kansas City team that is one win away from a matchup with the top-seeded New York Yankees in the AL Division Series. The Royals would host their first playoff game since their 2015 World Series run if they defeat Baltimore.

"(It) gives me chills just thinking about it," said Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. "Hearing the crowd in Baltimore, I can't even imagine it in Kansas City.

"Bringing October baseball back to Kansas City was definitely a goal for us last offseason."

Witt, who was only 15 years old when the Royals last hosted a playoff game, had a crucial hit in his playoff debut on Tuesday, driving in the game's only run with a two-out single in the sixth inning.

Like Eflin, the 24-year-old Witt is not afraid of the pressure that comes with the postseason.

"It's just one of those things where it's the same game you've always played," Witt said. "The pitcher is 60 feet, 6 inches away. First base is 90 feet away. Second base is another 90 feet away."

Witt will be playing behind right-hander Seth Lugo on Wednesday, who pitched two scoreless innings over three relief appearances for the New York Mets during the 2022 National League wild-card series.

Lugo, in his ninth season in the majors, has excelled in his first year with the Royals. The 34-year-old went 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA in the regular season, setting career highs in wins, starts (33), and innings (206 2/3) while earning his first All-Star Game selection.

He has a record of 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in three career appearances (one start) against Baltimore.

In four career starts against Kansas City, Eflin has a record of 3-1 with a 5.09 ERA.

Tanner Malinowski,

PREDICTION
Kansas City Royals
3
4
Baltimore Orioles

Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles Recap OCT 2TH 2024

BALTIMORE -- Cole Ragans used to watch Cole Hamels carve up opposing lineups during the Philadelphia Phillies' deep postseason runs more than a decade ago.

Ragans models his mechanics after the former Phillies left-hander, bringing both hands over his head during his wind-up before slinging the ball toward home plate.

The resemblance was spot-on Tuesday.

Ragans struck out eight over six scoreless innings in his playoff debut, Bobby Witt Jr. drove in the go-ahead run and the visiting Kansas City Royals blanked the Orioles 1-0 in their American League wild-card series opener.

Kansas City, which played its first playoff game since winning the 2015 World Series, can clinch the best-of-three series with a win Wednesday. Game 3, if necessary, would be Thursday in Baltimore.

Ragans (1-0) scattered four hits and did not walk a batter while throwing 60 of his 80 pitches for strikes. He exited after the sixth inning with cramping in his left calf.

Witt, also in his first postseason appearance, drove in Maikel Garcia with a two-out single against Corbin Burnes (0-1) to break a scoreless tie in the sixth inning.

Sam Long pitched a perfect seventh and Lucas Erceg escaped a jam in the eighth and worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to secure a four-out save.

The Orioles lost their ninth straight postseason game dating to 2014.

Burnes shined in his Baltimore postseason debut, scattering five hits over eight-plus innings while striking out three. His only walk came with one out in the sixth to Garcia, who stole second and advanced on a groundout before Witt singled him home through the left side.

Baltimore squandered a chance to break through in the third after Cedric Mullins doubled off the right field wall to start the inning. James McCann struck out and Gunnar Henderson grounded out before MJ Melendez caught Jordan Westburg's drive deep in left to keep the game scoreless.

Ragans escaped trouble again in the fifth, fanning McCann and Henderson after the Orioles put runners on first and third with one out.

Baltimore wasted another scoring chance in the eighth after Henderson and Westburg reached with two outs against Kris Bubic. Erceg entered with runners on first and second and retired Anthony Santander on a grounder to Witt at shortstop.

Burnes, in his first season in Baltimore after being acquired from Milwaukee in February, exited to a rousing ovation after Garica singled to lead off the ninth.

--Tanner Malinowski,