Opposite dugout: Pitching and defense are again Royals' strengths

Manager: Ned Yost (7th season)

Record: 10-5

Last 10 games: 6-4

Who to watch: 2B Omar Infante (.286), 1B Eric Hosmer (.305), DH Kendrys Morales (2 HR, 7 RBIs), C Salvador Perez (11 RBIs), CF Lorenzo Cain (.222 with 2 HR, 7 RBIs), RHP Kris Medlen (1-0, 2.38 ERA), RHP Yordano Ventura (1-0, 2.81 ERA), RHP Wade Davis (6 saves, 0.00 ERA)

Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (4-3 in 2015)

Pitching probables:

April 22: RHP Yovani Gallardo vs. RHP Chris Young, 8:15 p.m., MASN2
April 23: RHP Tyler Wilson vs. RHP Kris Medlen, 7:15 p.m., MASN
April 24: RHP Mike Wright vs. RHP Yordano Ventura, 2:15 p.m., MASN2

Inside the Royals:

The Orioles haven't been easy pickings for the defending World Series champions in recent seasons, though the Royals have taken the season series between the teams, winning four of seven games in each of the past three seasons. But the Royals have won seven of the last eight at Kauffman Stadium, including games in the 2014 American League Championship Series. Maybe the Royals are making up for lost time - heck, the Orioles did win 24 of the first 25 games ever played between the teams, including 23 straight at once juncture from 1969-70. Kansas City's 3-0 blanking of the Tigers on Thursday was only its second victory in five games following a stretch in which they won six of seven. Sometimes it's hard to figure out the Royals. Despite their World Series crown and two straight trips to the Fall Classic, the preseason PECOTA projections had them winning ony 76 games and bringing up the rear in a weak American League Central. Think the defending champs have a chip on their collective shoulders and something to prove?

At least when the computers crunch the numbers, the Royals get dinged because of what's viewed as suspect starting pitching - though their staff ERA of 2.81 is fifth-best in the majors - and three of the big question marks are going in this weekend series. Righty Chris Young, 36, starts Friday night, and the Princeton product is a 6-foot-10 control specialist sporting a power pitcher's frame who won a combined 23 games over the past two seasons for the Mariners and Royals, earning him a two-year, $11.5 million deal. So far, the investment hasn't panned out - he's 0-3 with a 7.90 ERA and has yet to make it past five innings. Against the Orioles, he's 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA in five games (four starts), but among current roster members, Chris Davis has the lone hit in 25 at-bats, leaving Birds batters with an .040 average. Saturday's starter, right-hander Kris Medlen, is another reclamation project - he's in the second year of a two-year, $8.5 million gamble and hoping to produce enough to entice K.C. to exercise a $10 million option for 2017. Medlen has had two Tommy John surgeries, but has gone 7-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 17 games (10 starts) since July. He's made one career start versus Baltimore, earning a win with a quality start last Aug. 24. At 24, righty Yordano Ventura is in his fourth major league season and still trying to harness his emotions and potential. But he qualifies as a veteran on this staff, having won 27 games over the 2014-15 seasons. He's 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four lifetime starts against the Orioles, logging 33 strikeouts in 26 innings. But for all of the questions surrounding Royals pitchers, they've still produced a 3.12 staff ERA good for third-best in the American League.

The Royals, however, can make do with five- and six-inning starts because they've got one of the best bullpens in the business, with other big league clubs trying to copy thier relief template. Closer Wade Davis is 6-for-6 in save opportunities, has yet to allow a run and has yielded only a single hit in 6 2/3 innings of work (though the five walks he's allowed represent a quarter of his season total over 67 1/3 innings last year). But he's hardly the only weapon. Righty Kelvin Hererra sports a 0.00 ERA and fans 12.96 hitters every nine innings and righty Luke Hochever gets 12.15 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents get aggressive in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, figuring they have a better chance before Davis enters the game. It'll be interesting to see how the Orioles' new-found penchant for taking a walk plays against the Royals' power arms in the back end.

First baseman Eric Hosmer is the team's hottest hitter - he brings an 11-game hitting streak into the series during which he's gone 15-for-45. Catcher Salvador Perez paces the team with 11 RBIs and third baseman Mike Moustakas is the home run leader with five, though he's driven in only six runs on the season. The Royals are waiting for some of their reliable table-setters - center fielder Lorenzo Cain (.222) and shortstop Alcides Escobar (.254) - to get the bats going, and could use some more power from designated hitter Kendrys Morales (two homers, seven RBIs) and left fielder Alex Gordon (one homer, four RBIs). Yes, the Royals still possess significant speed - right fielder Jarrod Dyson just came off the disabled list after battling an oblique strain - but wheels are only helpful if you're reaching base consistently.

Much like the Orioles, the Royals pride themselves on sparking defense. In manager Ned Yost's eyes, competent fielders are just as valuable as guys who make highlight-reel plays on a nightly basis. In 15 games, the Royals have committed only six errors. The only player with more than one is Escobar, who picked up his third on Thursday. Two of the miscues belong to pitchers, so it's unlikely the Orioles will be able to force the Royals into errors. With Gold Glove winners Hosmer, Escobar and Perez, that won't be an easy task.