The late 1970’s are back, baby! Let’s see some George Brett and Rick Dempsey close-ups!

To be fair, the Orioles have been back for a year, but they weren’t really ready for the postseason in 2023. At 2.6 runs per game in the team’s final eight games of the year, the orange birds were not on a heater entering the Wild Card. This year, though, they finished the campaign averaging six runs per game. Chalk one up for the orange and black.

Strangely, the bottom of the lineup may be crucial in this series. For Kansas City, Maikel Garcia needs to gives leadoff hitter, Bobby Witt, Jr. plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. Garcia doesn’t get on a lot (.234 average) but when he does, he can turn singles or walks into doubles with his speed (37 of 39 attempts). The Royals as a team have been incredible with runners in scoring position, hitting .282. Bobby Witt Junior has a lot to do with that considering he’s hitting .388 with RISP, which is best in baseball. It’s a staggering number, really. He led the league in hits this year. How many more would he have had if he had had the same approach with no runners on? Advantage royal blue.

That’s not to say Baltimore shortstop Gunnar Henderson is a slouch. He mashed 37 home runs this year while hitting .281. Outfielder Cedric Mullins ended last year hurt and went 0–12 in the postseason. He started off this year trying to find his swing and was simply terrible through May. But then he started to put together better at-bats and his season started to turn around. in June and September, he hit .286.

Corbin Burns, and the other Orioles pitchers should expect to see the ball put in play. The Royals are third-best in Major League Baseball in that category. Corbin Burns was pitcher of the month in September for Baltimore, but Cole Ragans gave up only three runs in 25 innings of work. That’s a heck of a battle brewing for Game 2.

Baltimore should be better than last year, but they kind of limped home again this year after being in first at the halfway point. Will a trial by fire give them the experience needed to take out an inexperienced Royals club? Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez is the last holdover from the 2015 team that won it all. His starters are simply better than Baltimore’s. That looks like the difference.

Forecast: Royals in 3.