Latest adam jones back in action for orioles vs royals

Eddie MatzSep 11, 2015, 07:01 PM ET

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals meet Friday night for the opener of a three-game series. It marks the first time since last year’s ALCS that the Royals have visited Camden Yards. Last month, in the only other meeting this season between the teams, the Royals -- whose 83-56 record is the best in the American League -- took three of four from the O’s.

Here are some key things to know heading into the weekend series:

JONESIN’ FOR JONES

Adam Jones, who missed the last two games against the Yankees with a sore shoulder, is back in the lineup. “He was somewhat available in New York the last couple days,” manager Buck Showalter said. “Wanted to take advantage of the off day, see if we could make it a little more comfortable for him with three days off of it.” After missing just three games in the last three years combined, Jones has now sat out 12 games this season. Surprisingly, the Orioles have gone 8-4 without their All-Star center fielder, including consecutive wins over the Yankees in New York.

DOWN BUT NOT OUT

The Orioles have lost 16 of their last 22 games to fall six games out of the second AL wild-card spot, but don’t tell that to Showalter. “We’re not that team yet,” said the Birds’ boss when asked about how he’ll handle playing time with some of his regulars from here on out. “We’re planning on winning 23 in a row.” At another point, when asked about starter Miguel Gonzalez, who’s on the DL with a sore shoulder and hasn’t pitched since Aug. 30, Showalter said, “Sure would like to get him back for a couple starts before the playoffs.”

CUETO PUSHED TO SUNDAY

Royals manager Ned Yost said that Johnny Cueto, whom the Royals acquired prior to the trade deadline and was slated to start Saturday, will start Sunday instead. Yost said the move has nothing to with the righty’s recent struggles -- over his last four starts, he’s given up 37 hits in 20 innings and pitched to a 9.45 ERA -- and that Cueto simply told him he’d rather pitch at night than during the day. The Royals and Orioles are scheduled to play at 1:05 pm on Saturday afternoon, then at 8 on Sunday night. Wei-Yin Chen will oppose Cueto, with Chris Tillman and Yordano Ventura squaring off Saturday.

Here are the lineups for Friday:

ROYALS

Ben Zobrist, 2B

Alex Gordon, LF

Lorenzo Cain, CF

Eric Hosmer, 1B

Kendrys Morales, DH

Mike Moustakas, 3B

Salvador Perez, C

Alex Rios, RF

Alicdes Escobar, SS

Danny Duffy, LHP