Mateo in center field to close out Orioles' series in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY – Cedric Mullins is out of the lineup today for the first time this season, with Jorge Mateo playing center field in a right-handed heavy Orioles lineup.

Jordan Westburg is at second base, Ramón Laureano is in left field, Gary Sánchez is the designated hitter and Ramón Urías is playing third base.

Left-hander Cade Povich started the home opener against Boston and allowed three runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

The Orioles can get back to .500 with a win. They fly to Arizona after the game.

The Orioles improved yesterday to a major league-leading 102-66 (.607) in 168 games on the road since the start of the 2023 season.

The bullpen still hasn’t recorded a save, its longest streak to begin a season since 2002 (12 games).

The Royals are starting left-hander Kris Bubic, the 40^th-overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Stanford. He tossed six scoreless innings with three hits and eight strikeouts in Milwaukee in his first start.

Bubic has allowed seven runs and 14 hits in 15 2/3 career innings against the Orioles. Mullins is 4-for-9 with three doubles and a home run.

Left-handers are hitting .305/.388/.513 against Bubic in his career. Right-handers hit .262/.335/.420.

For the Orioles

Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman C
Jordan Westburg 2B
Tyler O’Neill RF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Ramón Laureano LF
Gary Sánchez DH
Ramón Urías 3B
Jorge Mateo CF

Cade Povich LHP

For the Royals

Jonathan India 3B
Bobby Witt Jr. SS
Vinnie Pasquantino DH
Salvador Perez 1B
Mark Canha LF
Michael Massey 2B
Hunter Renfroe RF
Maikel Garcia CF
Freddy Fermin C

Kris Bubic LHP

Pitching coach Drew French said Grayson Rodriguez will throw a regular bullpen session on Monday, with fastballs and changeups. He also said that Kyle Gibson is close to joining Triple-A Norfolk.