The Kansas City Royals have made the playoffs for the first time since 2015 and will face the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday afternoon.
Surprisingly, first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, who has been recovering from a broken thumb, will be available to play after an unexpectedly quick recovery.
According to Rotowire, Pasquantino was initially expected to be out for 6-to-8 weeks following surgery on his fractured right thumb in early September. However, he has returned much sooner and will be included on the Royals’ wild-card series roster. He will likely start as the designated hitter, allowing Yuli Gurriel and/or Salvador Perez to get at-bats at first base.
Pasquantino, 26, has been a key contributor during the Royals’ impressive 2024 season, posting a .262 average with 19 home runs and 97 RBIs before his late-August injury. His return is crucial for the Royals’ lineup, joining Perez and Bobby Witt Jr. in the heart of the order.
The first pitch of the series is scheduled for 4:08 p.m. ET. Cole Ragans, who went 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA this season, will start for Kansas City, while Corbin Burnes (15-9, 2.92 ERA) will take the mound for Baltimore. Burnes has a 2.84 ERA in two previous playoff starts with the Milwaukee Brewers.
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