KANSAS CITY -- When Brett Tomko gets out of sorts, as he did recently, he views videotapes from last September when he was with the Padres. That was a successful month, after he had a terrible time pitching for the Dodgers.
This time he got pitching coach Bob McClure watching with him. They made some adjustments that worked well in his last outing. Tomko pitched seven shutout innings against the Angels and, although he wasn't rewarded with a win, he seemed back on track.

For one thing, Tomko stayed over the rubber longer before launching his pitch. That slowed his motion a bit and improved his control and pitch angle. He also kept the height of his glove higher during his delivery.

"He's got such a good arm -- he's got a 25-year-old arm, he really does -- so we're just hoping through this first six weeks, two months that he can really get consistency," McClure said. "If he can repeat his delivery, I think he can have that consistency."

McClure also reinforced the need for Tomko to use the slow curveball he added to his repertoire in Spring Training.

"My point to him was, 'Now that you have that curveball, make sure you put it in there because it's a good pitch,'" McClure said. "If it's an average Major League curveball, why not throw it? Why have everything coming in hard and straight?"

That 25-year-old arm on the 35-year-old Tomko is quite capable of throwing hard stuff. The slower curve helps keep hitters from sitting on his other pitches.

That figures to be his approach against the Orioles.

Pitching matchup
KC: RHP Brett Tomko (1-3, 4.98 ERA)
If Tomko consistently pitches like he did on Monday night, the Royals made one heck of a free-agent signing. Tomko threw seven strikeouts in seven scoreless innings in a 4-0 loss to the Angels. That outing came after he had given up five or more runs in his past three starts. Tomko credited his improvement to being more aggressive with his offspeed pitches and slowing down his windup.

BAL: LHP Garrett Olson (1-0, 2.08 ERA)
Olson pitched impeccably in his second start of the season, working shutout ball through the sixth inning and leaving with a one-run deficit in the seventh. The southpaw only walked one batter, setting a new low for his brief career. Olson has 13 strikeouts and six walks through his first two starts and will look to keep things going in Kansas City.

Crown Points
On Saturday night, the first 15,000 fans 21 or older will receive a golf umbrella. ... Eight-year-old Jacob Shafer, who celebrated his last birthday by throwing a party and donating all the gifts to the Ronald McDonald House, sat in the Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat. ... Kila Kaaihue hit his Texas League-leading 10th home run as Double-A Northwest Arkansas beat Springfield, 6-2. ... Broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre will hold his annual Gloves for Kids charity event from 6 to 8 p.m. CT on Monday at Dick's Sporting Goods in the Town Center Plaza, Leawood, Kan. Players scheduled to appear include Brian Bannister, John Buck, Billy Butler, David DeJesus, Jimmy Gobble, Alex Gordon, Tony Pena and Mark Teahen.

Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• None

On radio
• KCSP 610

Up next
• Sunday: Royals (Brian Bannister, 3-4, 4.46) vs. Orioles (Brian Burres, 3-3, 3.19), 1:10 p.m. CT
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Royals (Zack Greinke, 4-1, 1.80) vs. Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 2-1, 3.07), 7:10 p.m. CT