Kansas City Royals (38-56, fifth in the AL Central) vs. Baltimore Orioles (43-51, fifth in the AL East)

Baltimore; Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Luinder Avila (4-3, 5.05 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 47 strikeouts); Orioles: Brandon Young (7-2, 3.38 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 62 strikeouts)

LINE: Orioles -156, Royals +127; over/under is 9 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Baltimore Orioles start a three-game series at home against the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

Baltimore has a 43-51 record overall and a 25-25 record at home. The Orioles have the fourth-ranked team on-base percentage in the AL at .320.

Kansas City is 38-56 overall and 17-30 in road games. The Royals have gone 17-11 in games when they hit at least two home runs.

Friday's game is the fourth time these teams meet this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Pete Alonso leads the Orioles with 20 home runs while slugging .467. Blaze Alexander is 10 for 34 with a triple and three RBIs over the last 10 games.

Jac Caglianone has 15 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 34 RBIs for the Royals. Bobby Witt Jr. is 11 for 41 with three home runs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Orioles: 4-6, .218 batting average, 4.55 ERA, outscored by eight runs

Royals: 4-6, .276 batting average, 5.32 ERA, outscored by four runs

INJURIES: Orioles: Zach Eflin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Yaramil Hiraldo: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Chris Bassitt: 15-Day IL (back), Ryan Mountcastle: 60-Day IL (foot), Ryan Helsley: 15-Day IL (elbow), Keegan Akin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Felix Bautista: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Colin Selby: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jordan Westburg: 60-Day IL (ucl)

Royals: Carlos Estevez: 60-Day IL (foot), Nick Mears: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Maikel Garcia: 10-Day IL (hand), Kyle Isbel: 10-Day IL (foot), Cole Ragans: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kris Bubic: 60-Day IL (elbow), Connor Seabold: 15-Day IL (lat), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow), Vinnie Pasquantino: 10-Day IL (hand), Jonathan India: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder)