Orioles Seek Redemption Against Royals in Season Opening Series

Kansas City, Mo. — The Baltimore Orioles head to Kauffman Stadium this weekend to face the Kansas City Royals, seeking redemption after being eliminated by the Royals in last year’s playoffs. The clubs will meet for a three-game series starting Friday, marking the season opener for both teams.

Last fall, the Royals swept the Orioles in the AL Wild Card round, shutting out Baltimore over 18 innings and limiting them to just one run. With the 2025 MLB season now underway, both teams come into the matchup looking to improve early season records. The Orioles managed to win two of four games in Toronto but struggled in their home opener, dropping two of three against the New York Yankees.

“We know we need to perform better,” said Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer, who is set to make his season debut on Friday. Kremer experienced a tough outing in his first game of the year, giving up five runs over 5.1 innings against Toronto but showed improvement as the game progressed.

In contrast, the Royals experienced a rough start to their season, losing four of their first six games against Cleveland and Milwaukee. Despite this, the team retains a strong pitching rotation, featuring Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans, who both finished last season in the top five of the AL Cy Young voting.

The Royals will face Kremer in the opening game and will send Lugo to the mound, who posted a robust 3.00 ERA with 181 strikeouts across 206.2 innings last season. His number may have dipped in his first outing this year, allowing three runs, but he remains a significant test for the Orioles’ offense.

“Every game is a chance to prove ourselves,” said Lugo. “The Orioles will be a challenge, but I’m ready for it.”

Game two on Saturday will see Tomoyuki Sugano of the Orioles face Royals veteran Michael Wacha. Sugano’s previous outing was marked by command issues, as he struggled initially before leaving due to hand cramps. Meanwhile, Wacha showcased solid performance last season with a 3.35 ERA but is hoping to regain consistency this weekend after transitioning through various teams throughout his career.

Sunday’s matchup will feature Baltimore’s Cade Povich, who impressed during spring training and seeks to build on a successful debut against Boston. He’ll face off against Kris Bubic, who pitched a stellar six-inning shutout in his season opener.

As the Orioles aim to improve after their tumultuous postseason experience against the Royals, fans will closely watch how both teams adjust early in the season. Baltimore hopes to benefit from the anticipated return of shortstop Gunnar Henderson from an intercostal muscle injury, which should bolster their lineup as they look to turn the tide against a formidable Royals pitching staff.

With a storied rivalry and plenty on the line for both franchises, this weekend’s series is expected to be competitive, adding more intensity to an already heated matchup.