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Orioles-Royals Preview

Jul 29, 2010 - 4:00 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Baltimore (31-69) at Kansas City (42-58), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Both the Kansas City Royals and the Baltimore Orioles have been scoring fewer runs than usual since the All-Star break. Yet, there's a strong possibility both teams are about to experience a drastic jump in production.

Facing the other club's dreadful pitching staff could lead to an offensive outburst for either team in this four-game set at Kauffman Stadium, which begins Thursday night with the Royals mired in a four-game skid and the Orioles having dropped five straight.

Kansas City (4.29) and Baltimore (3.57) are among the majors' 10 lowest-scoring clubs, and both have been even less productive since the break. The Royals (42-59) have averaged 3.69 runs while going 3-10 to begin the second half, while the Orioles (31-70) have been held to 2.85 per game while losing 11 of 13.

Both struggling offenses have a chance to break out in this series. Kansas City (8.06) and Baltimore (6.33) also own the two worst ERAs in the majors since the break.

The Royals gave up 53 hits - 21 for extra-bases - while being swept in three games by Minnesota this week, culminating with Wednesday's 6-4 loss.

"You can't allow this atmosphere to become a losing atmosphere again," right fielder Willie Bloomquist told the Royals' official website. "It's been that way for too long. We've worked too hard to get it going in the right direction to throw up our hands now."

Kansas City's chances of staying out of the AL Central basement looked bleaker a few hours later. Outfielder Scott Podsednik, who was batting .379 during a 15-game hitting streak, was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a pair of prospects.

"We felt it was the right time to move Scottie," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said.

The trade leaves the Royals, already missing the injured David DeJesus, even thinner in the outfield.

Kansas City's remaining bats could find Thursday's matchup just what they need to get going. Baltimore's Brian Matusz (3-11, 5.22 ERA) has won once since April 18, and fell to 0-2 with a 12.10 ERA in his last three starts after surrendering three runs over five innings of a 7-2 loss to Minnesota on Saturday.

After giving up 10 runs in his previous two outings, however, Matusz was encouraged.

"I'm really happy how I came through that outing," said the rookie left-hander, who didn't pitch when Baltimore and Kansas City split two games in May at Camden Yards. "The confidence I have and the momentum I have coming into my next outing, I feel like I made a big stride today."

All three of Matusz's wins have come on the road, but his team couldn't find a way to win once this week at Rogers Centre. A 5-0 loss Wednesday was the Orioles' fifth straight, and they've given up 11 homers while being outscored 39-13 during their skid.

The Royals should feel confident Thursday with Kyle Davies (5-6, 5.52) on the hill, considering they've won each of the right-hander's four July starts. They've dropped 14 of their other 18 games.

Davies' latest was his worst of the month, but he earned his first decision of July. He gave up four runs - three homers - over 5 1-3 innings Saturday in a 7-4 victory at Yankee Stadium.

Davies yielded two runs in six innings of a 4-3 win over Baltimore on May 17, improving to 2-1 with a 6.65 ERA in four starts against the Orioles.