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Everything you need to know as the O's host the AL Wild Card

UPDATE: Kansas City scores first and the Royals lead 1-0 at the end of the sixth quarter. ORIGINAL STORY: The Baltimore Orioles are back in the postseason in 2024, this time as a Wild Card team, hosting the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday afternoon. They hope to improve on their postseason performance last year, when they were defeated by the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers. They play in a best-of-three series against the Royals for a chance to face the New York Yankees in the divisional round. Thanks to a strong finish that saw them win seven of their last ten games, they secured the No. 1 Wild Card spot. O's fans are excited about the playoffs, so here's everything they need to know before Tuesday's game. When does the game take place and where can I watch it? The first game begins at 4:08 p.m. at Oriole Park at Camden Yards against the Royals. The Orioles will send star Corbin Burnes, while Kansas City will field left-hander Cole Ragans, who will make his postseason debut. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and Sean McDonough will provide play-by-play with Jessica Mendoza, Ben McDonald and Jeff Passan. Locally, fans can listen to Baltimore's flagship radio stations WBAL News Radio 1090 AM and FM 101.5, as well as 98 Rock FM.Video above: Ava recommends ponchos for tonight's Orioles playoff gameWho are the starting players?Burnes was a blessing for the Orioles as he is the only starter who played the entire season for the club. This was particularly important this season as four starters were sidelined due to injuries. He was the only pitcher to start at least 30 games that season. In comparison, the team had three pitchers do that in 2023. Burnes was one of the best pitchers in the American League, but Ragans wasn't far behind. He had a career year in which he posted the best earned run average and innings pitched and finished fifth in the majors with 223 strikeouts that season. The Orioles haven't been great against left-handed starters this season, but they beat Ragans well, scoring seven runs in eight innings pitched. When will the remaining games take place? As the No. 1 wild card team, the Orioles will host all games in the series. Game 2 is Wednesday at 4:38 p.m. with Seth Lugo (16-9, 3.00 ERA) scheduled to pitch for the Royals. The Orioles have not yet announced their starter for Game 2 and who starts may depend on the outcome of Game 1. Game 3, if necessary, will be Thursday at 4:08 p.m. with Michael Wacha (13-8, 3.35 ERA) pitching for the Royals. The Orioles will respond in those games with the combination of pitchers Zach Eflin (10-9, 3.59) and Dean Kremer (8-10, 4.10), but the order has yet to be determined. What happens if they win? The Orioles will face their division rival Yankees next if they win the series over the Royals. The Yankees won the AL East by three games this season after finishing fourth in 2023. The Orioles won the season series 8-5 and it would be the third duel in playoff history for the clubs. The Yankees are 7-3 against the Orioles in the playoffs, with the last series taking place in 2012. Orioles fans couldn't be more excited. Orioles gear at Poor Boys in Dundalk has been flying off the shelves since the Orioles secured a playoff spot. The store has everything in orange and black to decorate yourself or the house. “You can feel it. Every time we're in the playoffs here, even the Ravens, whatever, it brings everyone together, companies get involved, people start.” “I wear orange,” said Mike Tyson, the store's owner. And there's a lot of orange around Camden Yards. Fans braved the rain on Tuesday to watch the O's beat the Royals in the first of three Wild Card games Fan: “I just want to see them get out of the first round. “It would be a real surprise to see them take the step into a deeper playoff position,” said Ben Thamert, a fan. “I'd like to see them.” Do a lot of short game, I'm not worried about the big ones Thugs, so it's important that you do that. “said Mackenzie, a fan. Many longtime Orioles fans have remained loyal to the team even through difficult years and are hoping to make history this season.” “I've had a break and I think it's their year,” Thamert said . “I grew up in South Baltimore and have loved them ever since,” Mackenzie said. “I was there when they built the stadium and hopefully we can beat Kansas City. Kansas City always has our number. So this has to be our year.”

BALTIMORE –

UPDATE: Kansas City scores first, the Royals lead 1-0 until the end of the sixth quarter.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Baltimore Orioles will return to the postseason in 2024, this time as a Wild Card team, hosting the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday afternoon. They hope to improve on their postseason performance last year, when they were defeated by the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers.

They play the Royals in a best-of-three series for a chance to face the New York Yankees in the Divisional Round. Thanks to a strong finish that saw them win seven of their last ten games, they secured the No. 1 Wild Card spot. O's fans are excited for the playoffs, so here's everything they need to know before Tuesday's game.

When does the game take place and where can I watch it?

The first game begins at 4:08 p.m. at Oriole Park at Camden Yards against the Royals. The Orioles will field their superstar Corbin Burnes, while Kansas City will field left guard Cole Ragans, who will make his postseason debut.

The game will be televised on ESPN2 and Sean McDonough will provide play-by-play alongside Jessica Mendoza, Ben McDonald and Jeff Passan. Locally, fans can listen to Baltimore's flagship radio stations WBAL News Radio 1090 AM and FM 101.5, as well as 98 Rock FM.

Video above: Ava recommends ponchos for tonight's Orioles playoff game

Who are the starting pitchers?

Burnes has been a blessing for the Orioles as he is the only starter to pitch the entire season for the club. This was particularly important this season as four starters were sidelined due to injuries. He was the only pitcher to start at least 30 games that season. In comparison, the team had three pitchers accomplish this in 2023.

Burnes was one of the best pitchers in the American League, but Ragans wasn't far behind. He had a career year in which he posted the best earned run average and innings pitched and finished fifth in the majors with 223 strikeouts that season. The Orioles haven't been great against left-handed starters this season, but they beat Ragans well, scoring seven runs in eight innings pitched.

When will the remaining games take place?

As the No. 1 wild card team, the Orioles will host all games in the series. Game 2 is Wednesday at 4:38 p.m. with Seth Lugo (16-9, 3.00 ERA) scheduled to pitch for the Royals. The Orioles have not yet announced their starter for Game 2 and who starts may depend on the outcome of Game 1.

Game 3, if necessary, will be Thursday at 4:08 p.m. with Micheal Wacha (13-8, 3.35 ERA) pitching for the Royals. The Orioles will respond in those games with the combination of pitchers Zach Eflin (10-9, 3.59) and Dean Kremer (8-10, 4.10), but the order has yet to be determined.

What happens if they win?

The Orioles will next face their division rival Yankees if they win the series over the Royals. The Yankees won the AL East by three games this season after finishing fourth in 2023. The Orioles won the season series 8-5 and it would be the third duel in playoff history for the clubs. The Yankees are 7-3 against the Orioles in the playoffs, with the last series taking place in 2012.

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Orioles fans couldn't be more excited

Orioles gear at Poor Boys in Dundalk has been sold out since the Orioles secured a playoff spot. The store has everything in orange and black to decorate yourself or your house.

“You can feel it. Every time we're in the playoffs here, even the Ravens, whatever, it brings everyone together, businesses get involved, people start wearing orange,” said Mike Tyson, the store's owner.

And there's a lot of orange around Camden Yards. Fans braved the rain on Tuesday to watch the O's beat the Royals in the first of three Wild Card games.

“This is the time of do or die. There’s nothing to say other than do or die,” said George Mackenzie, a fan.

“I just want to see them get through the first round. It would be a real surprise to see them move into a deeper playoff position,” said Ben Thamert, a fan.

“I would like to see them play a lot of short plays, just get on base and get the points. I'm not worried about the big bats. I'm worried about getting on base. Getting on base is crucial, so you have to do that,” said Mackenzie, a fan.

Many long-time Orioles fans have remained loyal to the team even through difficult years and hope to make history this season.

“I love the sport. I'm always looking for the underdog, so the O's never really had a break and I think it's their year,” Thamert said.

“I grew up in South Baltimore and have loved them ever since,” Mackenzie said. “I was there when they built the stadium and hopefully we can beat Kansas City. Kansas City always has our number. So this has to be our year.”

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