MLB Picks 5/3 – Baltimore Orioles @ Kansas City Royals. 

MLB Picks 5/3 – Baltimore Orioles @ Kansas City Royals

by Thomas Quaynor – analyst for Wannamakeabet.com

The Baltimore Orioles (20-9) are on the road facing the Kansas City Royals (7-23) in the second of a three-game series. Baltimore won the first game 11-7 last night as first baseman Ryan Mountcastle hit two home runs and drove in five. Kansas City has lost 10 straight home games. Tonight’s starting pitchers are Kyle Gibson (4-0, 3.93 ERA) for Baltimore and Zack Greinke (0-4, 6.10 ERA) for Kansas City. 

Tonight’s game will feature the top two picks of the 2019 Major League draft, Baltimore selected catcher Adley Rutschman with the first pick and Kansas City selected shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. second. 

GAME ODDS

Moneyline: Baltimore -154, Kansas City + 130

Run Line:     Baltimore -1.5 (+104), Kansas City +1.5 (-125)

Run Total:    over 9 (-105), under 9 (-115)

GAME STORYLINES

In 2022, the Baltimore Orioles had one of the biggest turnarounds in baseball history as they went from 52 wins in 2021 to 83 wins last season, a 31-game improvement. The excellent play has carried over into this season as they now have the second-best record in baseball at 20-9.

Baltimore possesses a potent lineup led by first baseman Ryan Mountcastle who leads the team with 8 homers and 26 RBI, while batting .256. Catcher Adley Rutschman, the 2022 runner-up for AL Rookie of the year and number one overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft, is batting .315 with 4 homers and 18 RBI. Center fielder Cedric Mullins (.257, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 11 SB) and shortstop Jorge Mateo (.338 6 HR, 18 RBI, 10 SB) are also having tremendous seasons at the plate. 

Veteran starting pitcher Kyle Gibson has been one of the biggest surprises of the season as he’ll look to become the first Baltimore pitcher to start 5-0 since Jimmy Key in 1997. Baltimore signed the 6-foot-6, 35-year-old Gibson to a one-year contract in December and he’s become their ace. Gibson entered the 2023 season with a career record of 89-91 in his 10 seasons in the big leagues.

The Kansas City Royals have not had a winning season since they won the World Series in 2015, and they’re off to a dreadful start this season at 7-23. They’ve lost 10 straight games at home and can match the franchise-record of 11 with a loss tonight. Kansas City’s lone home win came against Toronto one month ago to the day on April 3. 

Franchise stalwart and 2015 World Series MVP Salvador Perez leads Kansas City in batting, home runs and rbi (.279/5/16) and hit two home runs in last night’s loss to Baltimore.  The 32-year-old catcher has spent his entire 13-year career with Kansas City. He’s questionable for tonight’s game after injuring his middle finger last night. 22-year-old shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. also has five home runs on the season, he’s the son of former 16-year MLB pitcher Bobby Witt Sr. and was the number two overall pick in the 2019 draft.  

Thirty-nine old veteran Zack Greinke takes the hill tonight for Kansas City, despite the 0-4 start, he’s had an outstanding 20-year career which started with Kansas City in 2004. Greinke is a 6-time all-star, won the 2009 AL Cy Young Award and played for 6 teams.

THE PICK

Baltimore is one of the better teams in baseball and Kansas City is going nowhere fast..take Baltimore on the moneyline here!