O's game blog: Dylan Bundy on mound in K.C. series opener

KANSAS CITY - After facing the major leagues' highest-scoring team the last three games, the Orioles begin a series in Kansas City tonight. The Royals are Major League Baseball's lowest-scoring team.

During a 13-21 start, the Royals have scored just 103 runs for an average of 3.03 runs per game. At the beginning of the three games with Washington, the Nationals were averaging 6.26 runs per game.

Kansas City has been held to one run or none 12 times, going 1-11 in those games, and to two runs or fewer 16 times, going 2-14. The Royals began the year at 2-6, but then picked up a few wins to improve to 7-7. However, a nine-game losing streak followed to end April and they begin tonight with the worst record in the American League. At 22-11, the Orioles have the AL's best record.

Scheduled to start last night, O's right-hander Dylan Bundy (5-1, 2.17 ERA) had his start backed up a day by the rainout at Washington.

Bundy has made seven consecutive quality starts to begin his season, and he is tied for the major league lead with seven quality starts. The team has 17 total, and no other Oriole has more than three, which is Wade Miley's total.

Entering today, Bundy ranks tied for second in the majors in wins (5) and eighth in ERA (2.17). He also ranks seventh in the American League in homers allowed per nine innings (0.59), ninth in innings pitched (45 2/3), and 11th in WHIP (1.05). He has given up two runs or fewer five times and the Orioles are 6-1 in his seven starts.

Bundy has pitched quite well at the outset of his starts. His ERA is 0.96 over the first four innings of his outings, and he has allowed just one run in 14 first and second innings.

Bundy has made one appearance - and it was in relief - in his career versus Kansas City. On April 24, 2016, he pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and one run for an ERA of 6.75.

Left-hander Danny Duffy (2-3, 3.50 ERA) makes his eighth start of the year for the Royals. He has allowed two runs or fewer five times and made five quality starts. The team is 2-5 in his seven outings.

He began the year pitching to an ERA of 1.32 his first four starts. Then he allowed 12 runs over 9 2/3 in his next two starts, both against the White Sox. In his last start he pitched 6 2/3 innings on Sunday versus Cleveland and gave up six hits and one run on 104 pitches.

In seven career games (five starts) against Baltimore, he is 2-2 with a 2.37 ERA and 0.923 WHIP. He has held Orioles batters to a .183 batting average.

Mark Trumbo takes a seven-game hitting streak into tonight. He is batting .379 (11-for-29) with two homers and five RBIs. Jonathan Schoop went 4-for-10 with four doubles versus the Nationals. Schoop has reached base safely in a career-high 25 consecutive games.