Scouting report: Orioles vs. Royals

At Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

Day Time TV Starters

Tonight 8:05 CSN RHP Jason Johnson (9-6, 3.18) vs. LHP Chris George (0-2, 9.00)

Tomorrow 8:05 CSN RHP Calvin Maduro (0-3, 3.29) vs. RHP Jeff Suppan (5-9, 4.50)

Wednesda 8:05 CSN RHP Jose Mercedes (5-13, 6.01) vs. RHP Chad Durbin (7-9, 4.72)

Thursday 8:05 CSN RHP Sidney Ponson (5-7, 4.24) vs. RHP Kris Wilson (5-2, 4.03)

Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM)

Royals update

Kansas City is the last opponent the Orioles haven't seen this season. The Royals dropped a season-worst 24 games under .500 on Saturday. They were 9-18 in July and had lost three of their first four games in August before yesterday. George, 21, is making his third major-league start. He was 11-3 with a 3.53 ERA at Triple-A Omaha. Before yesterday, Kansas City starters had compiled a 4.03 ERA in 23 games since the All-Star break, allowing 65 earned runs in 145 1/3 innings. The Royals had only six homers in their past 17 games before yesterday. They were 20-63 when scoring fewer than six runs, including 1-33 when scoring fewer than three. They have a new shortstop in Neifi Perez, who came in a three-team trade with Colorado and Oakland that cost them outfielder Jermaine Dye. Before yesterday, Perez was hitting .190 (8-for-42) with the Royals. Kansas City went 7-3 against the Orioles last season, including its first three-game sweep against them at Kauffman Stadium since 1988. All three wins were in sudden death.