Forty games in, approximately one-fourth of the way through the season, and the Royals are 20-20 after suffering a weekend sweep in Oakland. Let’s get this out of the way: It was a brutal weekend. Three one-run losses after holding early leads in each game. The quarter point in the season is when teams traditionally step back and take a hard look at themselves. And if Bob Dutton’s latest Q&A is any indication, fans are doing that, too.
Roughly forty games into Kansas City’s season, it’s time to make some assessments of this team’s advantages and its shortcomings.
James Shields continues to pitch like the No. 1 guy the Royals expected when they acquired him in that big off-season deal from Tampa Bay. And the Royals continue to waste his efforts. Shields gave up two runs Friday night in eight innings but only found more disappointment when the Royals’ attack again went quiet in a 2-1 loss to the Oakland A’s at the O.co Coliseum.
Outfielder Jarrod Dyson is expected to miss two-to-four weeks after being diagnosed Friday in Kansas City with what trainer Nick Kenney termed “a mild high ankle sprain.” Dyson, 28, suffered the injury in the eighth inning Wednesday when he scaled the center-field wall at Angel Stadium in pursuit of a Mike Trout homer against Kelvin Herrera.
Outfielder David Lough feels far more at ease in this, his second trip to the big leagues. He joined the Royals prior to Friday’s series opener against the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum.
The Royals' outfield could be getting a new look as soon as Friday night. All signs point to the Royals putting outfielder Jarrod Dyson on the disabled list because of an ankle injury he suffered Wednesday at Anaheim when he climbed the wall attempting to catch a Mike Trout home run.
Billy Butler raised his average 40 points, from .228 to .268, by going eight for 13 in three games against the Angels. His output included three doubles, a home run and nine RBIs.
A seven-run third inning and an eight-run lead and, still, it seemed like the Royals had to hang on all night Wednesday before securing a 9-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Outfielder Bubba Starling left his Low-A team in Lexington on Wednesday and traveled to Kansas City, where he may have Lasik surgery. Starling said he has had trouble seeing the ball at night.
Everybody loves the big pitching matchups — your ace faces their ace — but those games are toss-ups, and either team could win. Then there are the games you should win and can’t afford to lose; not if you’re going to put together a winning record. This was a game the Royals should have won and did. Beating up on bad teams is what good teams do.
Fred White, who teamed with Denny Matthews as the Royals’ primary broadcast team from 1973 to 1998, died Wednesday of complications from melanoma. His death came one day after he officially retired from the Royals following a 40-year association with the club. He was 76.
Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera has hit three home runs in a game for the second time in his career.
R.A. Dickey won his second straight start, Edwin Encarnacion hit a tiebreaking, bases-loaded double in the seventh inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-5 Monday.
Yan Gomes hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and the Cleveland Indians, twice revived by Seattle's fielding errors, beat the Mariners 10-8 on Monday to complete a four-game sweep of the Mariners.
Yan Gomes hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and the Cleveland Indians, twice revived by Seattle's fielding errors, beat the Mariners 10-8 on Monday to complete a four-game sweep.
Playing at home did no favors for the Minnesota Twins, so they'll try to find their way back to the win column on the road when they open a nine-game journey Monday against the Atlanta Braves.
A couple of struggling teams meet up at AT&T Park on Monday, as the San Francisco Giants host the Washington Nationals for the opener of a three-game set.
MILWAUKEE - Don't look now, but the Milwaukee Brewers are suddenly within a game of .500.
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Justin Masterson has been named the American League Player of the week.
After ending their recent struggles in Oakland, the Texas Rangers try to secure their MLB-leading 30th victory of the season on Monday night when they host a rematch with the A's.
The Colorado Rockies take aim at the National League West Division lead on Monday when they meet up with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field.
