Kansas City, MS – The All-Star break could not have come quick enough for the Kansas City Royals(39-56). Following a 15-12 record in June and hope of a run after the return of James Shields from injury, the Royals opening the first half of July with a 2-10 record to effectively end any chance they may have had at making a postseason run. Despite the painstakingly inconsistent play this season, there have been a few performances that have not gone unrecognized.

Closer Greg Holland, 1B Eric Hosmer, and 3B Mike Moustakas were all selected to appear in the 2014 All-Star game.

Holland has appeared in 37 games, tossing 38.2 innings and recording 15 saves with a 1.86 ERA and 42 K’s. Hosmer, who led the league in hits and batting average last year, has picked up right where he left off, posting a .321 average with 13 HR and 50 RBI. Moustakas has been the team’s offensive MVP in the first half, breaking out to the tune of 17 HR and 56 RBI with a slash line of .328/.382/.556.

While Moustakas has been the offensive MVP of the first half, an unheralded reliever has been the best pitcher, maybe even the best player on the team over the first half of the season has been Aaron Crow. Crow has appeared in 50 games, throwing 76 innings, already 13 more than last season, with a 2.13 ERA and striking out 92 batters. Due to the team’s weak starting pitching, Crow has been relegated to mop-up duty and damage control throughout most of the season, often being brought in to keep the game from getting out of control. Crow has inherited a whopping 41 runners-on-base, but only allowed 17% of those runners to score, placing him near the top of the league in both categories.

With the Royals now out of contention, plenty of roster moves are expected to be made as the team has multiple expiring contracts and prospects ready to earn some playing time. Pitchers James Shields, Ervin Santana, Jason Vargas, and Wade Davis as well as Billy Butler, Alcides Escobar and others may all be on the move in the next couple weeks leading up to the trade deadline, so stay tuned!

 

 

 

Kansas City, MS – The Kansas City Royals (36-46) will look to close out the month of June on a good note, sitting at 14-12 on the month, it has been their best stretch of games of the whole season. A big reason for the recent run of good fortune has been the All-Star play of third-baseman Mike Moustakas (.340, 14 HR, 49 RBI). The 25 year-old is 2nd in the AL in batting average and 3rd in total hits.

       Recent acquisition Paul Goldschmidt started off slowly but has started to turn the corner and find his rhythm, with 2 HR, 7 RBI and 10 hits in his last 10 games.

       A season-ending back injury abruptly cut short Jarrod Dyson’s 2014 campaign. At the time of his injury on June 10th, Dyson (.271, .361, 20 SB) led the league in stolen bases and was a threat at the top of the lineup.  

      Pitcher Ervin Santana has had trouble staying on the field this year, following a 10-game suspension for a fight with Blue Jays first-baseman Edwin Encarnacion, Santana hit the DL with a sore shoulder on June 11th. He made his first start since returning from the DL yesterday against the league-leading Angels and struck out 12 batters over 8 innings, allowing 2 runs off 6 hits.

     Another Royals pitcher making news recently is James Shields. Shields was injured with a torn UCL last August, and after 4 up-and-down rehab starts in AAA, he will make his 2014 season debut tonight against the Minnesota Twins. The Kansas City media have hinted at the fact that Shields has no plans to sign an extension and is looking forward to testing the free agency market. GM Luke Cuthrell has all but admitted he is openly accepting all offers from teams inquiring about the 32-year olds services. Each of his starts between now and the trade deadline will likely be highly scrutinized as he is pitching for a chance to get traded to a contender and/or a new contract. 

On the Farm –

AAA SP Kyle Zimmer continues to be the jewel of the Royals’ deep minor league system. Through 18 starts and 111 IP, Zimmer is 6-7 with a 3.80 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. Team officials are still optimistic about a mid-August, early September call-up for the 22-year old right-hander. 

AA CF Desmond Henry took over the role of Kansas City’s center-fielder of the future following the trade of Bubba Starling earlier this month and he has not disappointed. So far this season, Henry is hitting .322/.382/.479 and has slugged 5 HR’s with 31 RBI and 18 doubles to go along with plus-plus defense in CF. Henry was recently named a starter in the Texas League All-Star Game. A 2014 debut for the 20-year old isn’t likely, but he may see the Majors at some point in 2015 if his development at the plate continues. 

 

 

Houston, TX – Luke Hochevar certainly lived up to his comments that each starting pitcher would strive to out-pitch the guy who pitched the previous day. One day after Wade Davis went 6.2 innings, allowing 1 run and 6 hits, Hochevar pitched 5.2 innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits and striking out 5 in a 6-1 win over the Houston Astros. “It’s exciting,” says Royals slugger Billy Butler, “You know what each of these guys can bring to the table, to see the confidence and fire in their eyes, it gives us the motivation to go out there and put runs on the board to back these guys up. When our rotation is firing, we’re going to be a hard team to beat.” 

             The Royals have been a hard team to beat as of late, winning 5 of their last 6 games, and will be looking to complete a 3-game sweep of the Astros tonight.

             Hochevar’s performance last night led to a 6-1 victory over Houston, buoyed by a 6-run 6th inning from the Royal offense. Astros’ starter Delin Betances gave up a double to Eric Hosmer to lead off the inning, and it went downhill from there for Betances. 3 walks and 4 hits later the Royals owned a 6-1 lead over Houston, highlighted by Landon Powell’s 2-run single to put Kansas City in the lead for good. 

             Shane Loux replaced Hochevar in the 6th and pitched 3.1 clean innings to earn his first save of the season, in doing so he also gave the rest of the bullpen the night off to rest some arms. Hosmer and Mike Moustakas both went 2-4 on Wednesday, raising their team-leading batting averages to .345 and .327, respectively. The Royals’ 10 hits were spread around, with only LF David Lough not getting a hit on Wednesday. 

           Kansas City will look to Clayton Richard(1-0, 4.22 ERA) to help complete the 3-game sweep of the Astros on Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 CST. Masahiro Tanaka(1-1, 5.94 ERA) will take the mound for Houston. 

Houston, TX – The Royals pitching staff continued its recent strong run in Kansas City’s 6-3 win over Houston on Tuesday, with Wade Davis turning in the latest solid performance. “We know we have a solid staff,” says Royals veteran Luke Hochevar, ” Detroit roughed us up to start the year and I think shook our confidence, but Dave(Eiland, pitching coach) stayed after us, now we’re seeing what we’re really made of. Each of us can’t wait to get on that mound and try to pitch better than the guy the previous day, we’re really starting to gel as a unit.” That “unit” will get even better sometime this week, as rehabbing pitcher Jason Vargas is expected to return to the big league rotation. Manager Ned Yost has yet to say if Vargas will immediately jump into the rotation or who he might replace. 

              On Tuesday, Davis(1-1, 8.27 ERA) held the Astros to 1 run off 6 hits in 6.2 innings pitched. A Robbie Grossman single in the bottom of the 4th gave Houston it’s only run off of Davis, giving them a 1-0 lead. Kansas City responded with a 5-run 6th inning, highlighted by a Eric Hosmer home run and a Adrian Cardenas 3-run home run to give the Royals a 5-1 lead. David Lough hit his 3rd home run of the season in the 8th to put the Royals up 6-1. 

              Kansas City reliever Aaron Crow gave up 2 runs in the 8th, decreasing the Royals lead to 6-3 before Donnie Joseph was brought on and struck out Jason Castro to end the threat and the inning. Greg Holland pitched the 9th for his 4th save of the season. 

             The Royals continue the series against Houston on Wednesday, with Luke Hochevar slated to pitch. The Astros will send out Delin Betances. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 CST. 

 

Minneapolis, MN – The Royals(4-8) entered Sunday trying to finish a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins(6-6) and win their 4th straight game. Twins pitcher Dan Haren had other plans. Haren pitched 8 shutout innings, allowing only 6 hits and striking out 6 Royal batters. Royals starter Ervin Santana nearly matched Haren pitch for pitch, also going 8 innings, allowing only 4 hits and striking out 10, but giving up 1 run, an RBI double to Justin Morneau in the 3rd inning. The 1 run would prove to be enough, as the Royals batters could not mount a comeback off of Twins closer Glen Perkins, losing 1-0. 

       It was an encouraging effort from Santana, who, like the rest of the Kansas City pitching staff, had a rough start to the season. The staff’s troubles contributed mightily to the team’s 0-6 start to the season, but the improvement of the rotation has been the main catalyst in the team winning 4 of their last 6 games, taking 2 of 3 games from both the Rays and Twins. 

       Kansas City never mounted too much of a threat against Haren, only 4 times having a runner in scoring position, each time failing to advance the baserunner. Santana was just as dominant, but effectively wild. Striking out 10, he walked 4, and threw only 63 strikes in 115 pitches. 

       Eric Hosmer led the way for the Royals, pounding 2 hits to raise his season average to .320. 

       Kansas City will stay on the road, after a travel day Monday they begin a 3-game series against Houston(3-10) on Tuesday. The Twins also have an off day, but they will stay at home as they welcome the Blue Jays to Target Field for a 3-game series. 

 

 

Minneapolis, MN – After starting the season 0-6, the Kansas City Royals(4-7) have now won 4 of their last 5 and are going for the 3-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins(5-6) today. “We have had a ton of injuries, and some guys have gotten off to slow starts,” says manager Ned Yost, “But no one here held their head, no one got discouraged, we know what kind of ball club we have here, and we’re going to keep plugging away.”

             Plugging away is exactly what the Royals did on Saturday, slowly coming back from a 4-0 deficit to win 5-4. Down 4-0 in the top of the 6th, Mike Moustakas hit his 4th home run of the season, this one a 2-run shot, to cut the Twins lead in half. A Billy Butler 2-run double in the 8th tied the game, and a David Lough solo home run in the top of the 9th gave the Royals a 5-4 lead. Closer Greg Holland pitched a clean 9th for his 3rd save of the season. 

            Kansas City starter Jeremy Guthrie(0-2, 7.71 ERA) submitted his best outing of the year, going 7 innings, allowing 7 hits and 4 runs, striking out 3, but earning a no-decision. Reliever Louis Coleman picked up the win, getting the Royals out of a jam in the 8th. 

           The final game of the series is Sunday, first pitch is scheduled for 1:10 CST. Ervin Santana(1-0, 6.17 ERA) will get the start for the Royals, while the Twins will look to Dan Haren(1-0, 3.60 ERA) to stop their skid. 

 

 

 

Minneapolis, MN- The Kansas City Royals(3-7) entered Friday’s game against the Twins(5-5) optimistic after taking 2 of 3 games from the Tampa Bay Rays since starting the season 0-6. The Royal offense again performed well and was able to scatter 12 hits and constantly seemed to be in a position to add more runs. Starting pitcher Clayton Richard held the Twins batters in check, going 6.2 innings, allowing 4 runs off 7 hits to pick up his first win of the season.

              Gordon Beckham continued swinging a hot bat, getting the scoring started with a 2-run double in the top of the 3rd off Minnesota starter Andrew Albers. Beckham leads the team with 8 RBI in the young season. Minnesota got a run back in the bottom of the inning and took the lead after scoring 2 in the bottom of the 4th, taking a 3-2 lead. After a Landon Powell double in the 5th, an Albers wild pitch moved Powell to 3rd base. Lorenzo Cain hit a sacrifice fly to score Powell and tie the game at 3. The Twins again answered quickly, leading off the bottom of the inning off with 2 singles and a sac fly to give them a 4-3 lead. 

             3 straight RBI singles from Adrian Cardenas, Geulin Beltre, and Johnny Giavotella gave KC a 6-4 lead in the 6th, one they would not relinquish. Richard and the Royals bullpen shut down until closer Greg Holland was brought on to finish off the game. He would give up a 1-out double to Chris Herrmann, followed by a wild pitch and a passed ball, scoring Herrmann to cut the lead to 1. Holland then got Gaby Sanchez to strike out to earn the save and give Kansas City their 3rd win in 4 games. 

             The second game of the series is Saturday, with Jeremy Guthrie pitching for KC. Minnesota is expected to send out Liam Hendricks. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 CST. 

 

Kansas City, MS – After starting pitcher Luke Hochevar had to leave the game early due to injury in the second inning Wednesday, it looked like the Royals were on their way to another loss. But the Kansas City bullpen, led by Aaron Crow, held the Rays to 1 run off 5 hits, as the Royals(2-7) beat the Tampa Bay(3-7) 5-1 to take the three-game series. 

            Hochevar exited the game after planting awkwardly while throwing to Kendrys Morales, turning his ankle during the pitch. Team trainers report that his exit was purely precautionary, and that he is not expected to miss his next start. Eric Hosmer got the Royals on the scoreboard in the 1st, with his groundout scoring Jarrod Dyson. The Rays got the run back in the top of the 4th thanks to a solo home run from slugger Evan Longoria. 

           The Kansas City offense struck in the 6th inning, with 4 players hitting RBI base hits scoring 4 runs, giving the Royals a 5-1 lead. That lead would be all the Royals bullpen would need, with 4 pitchers combining for 9 strikeouts and only 5 hits allowed. 

           After taking 2 of 3 from Tampa, the Royals look to continue their solid play tonight, as they head to Minnesota for a three-game series. The Rays will travel to Cincinnati to take on the Reds in a three-game set. Clayton Richard is slated to start for KC while Kevin Correia is penciled in to start for the Twins. 

 

Notables :

• 2B Gordon Beckham(.324 AVG) continues his hot start, hitting safely in 8 of 9 games this season and having 3 multi-hit games in his last 5.
• Alcides Escobar(knee) spoke to reporters today, revealing he is on track to return sometime next week.
• Rehabbing pitcher Jason Vargas(1-1, 2.45 ERA) had his 2nd straight productive start for AAA Omaha and may be making his next start for the Royals. 

 

 

 

Kansas City, MS – The relief from getting the first win of the season did not last too long, as the Royals(1-7) followed up their first win with their biggest loss of the season, losing 12-4 to the Tampa Bay Rays(3-6). Starter Wade Davis lasted longer than his first outing(4 IP, 7R), going 5.2 innings, but the result was very much the same. Davis allowed 9 hits leading to 8 runs while struggling to find the strike zone all evening. 

              The Royals opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd, with Eric Hosmer smacking an RBI double, followed by a Billy Butler 2-run home run to give Kansas City a promising 3-0 lead. That lead was short-lived, however, with Tampa answering in the top of the 4th, led by a 3-run home run from Matt Joyce to put the Rays up 4-3.

              Roberto Hernandez(5.2 IP, 3 R, 6 H) would settle in, throwing 2.3 one-hit innings before being relieved in the 6th. Matt McBride hit a 3-run home run in a 5-run 6th innings for Tampa, padding the Rays’ lead. 3 more runs in the 7th brought the Tampa lead to 12-3.

              Gordon Beckham added an RBI double in the 8th for the Royals, but they would hardly threaten, with the final scoring being 12-4. 

              The third and final game of the series is tonight, Wednesday, at 1:10 CST. Luke Hochevar will be throwing for the Royals while the Rays are expected to trot out Jeff Niemann. 

 

Notables :

• Top OF prospect Bubba Starling(AA Omaha), suffered a strained hamstring late last week and is expected to miss close to 7 weeks.