DETROIT | Zack Greinke heads down the stretch this afternoon in his Cy Young quest by making his fifth start of the season against the Detroit Tigers when the Royals conclude their three-game series at Comerica Park. Is familiarity a benefit or an obstacle? “I don’t really know,” Greinke said. “Sometimes, I feel like I have an advantage. It should be more of an advantage for the pitcher. But it’s a matter of constant adjustments. “I’ll give you an example: I had gotten (Cleveland DH Travis) Hafner out a bunch by pitching a certain way. But he changed (his approach) and got two hits in the last game. So I’ll have to change again.” Hafner’s two-out RBI single in the eighth inning last Friday forced Greinke to settle for a no-decision despite allowing just that one run in eight innings. He also got a no-decision in his previous start when he allowed only one unearned run in eight innings against the Angels. Those are just two of Greinke’s six starts this season when he allowed one or no runs and failed to get a victory. Another came in his last start against the Tigers: seven shutout innings on Aug. 14 at Comerica in a no-decision. A lack of victories — he is 13-8 — is the only blemish on his Cy Young credentials. “He looks like he’s been pitching for 15 years now all of a sudden,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said earlier this season. “He’s the total package right now.” It’s easy to understand Leyland’s praise. The Tigers have just five runs and 19 hits in 31 innings against Greinke, who also has 34 strikeouts and seven walks in his four starts along with a 0.839 WHIP (walks and hits per inning).Blister concerns Right-hander Robinson Tejeda, after three encouraging starts, will be watched closely in his next outing to see whether he continues to have blister-type problems with his middle finger. “He was babying the changeup a little bit (Tuesday) from the third inning on,” manager Trey Hillman said. “We’d never seen him back off on arm speed. It is a concern, but it’s only a concern if it lingers into the next start.” Tejeda limited the Tigers to one run and two hits in five innings in an 11-1 victory. He is 2-0 while allowing just the lone run in 16 innings through three starts since replacing sore-shouldered Gil Meche in the rotation. Tejeda’s next scheduled start is Sunday, when the Royals conclude a three-game weekend series in Chicago.Still chasing Macfarlane Miguel Olivo leads the Royals with a career-high 20 homers, but he remains two shy of Mike Macfarlane’s franchise-record of 20 by a catcher. Two of Olivo’s homers, including Tuesday’s three-run shot, occurred as the designated hitter. Macfarlane hit all 20 of his homers in 1993 as a catcher. Darrell Porter hit 20 homers in 1979 but, like Olivo, two came as a designated hitter.Injury updates•Outfielder Mark Teahen remains slowed by aftereffects from muscle spasms in his lower back, which surfaced prior to last Saturday’s game in Cleveland. He was available Wednesday on an emergency-only basis and is unlikely to play in today’s series finale.•Reliever Juan Cruz, who hasn’t pitched since Aug. 5, tested his strained shoulder with another bullpen workout. The next step in his recovery will be determined after he is evaluated today.

Posted on Wed, Sep. 16, 2009 11:25 PM

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Royals notebook: Greinke continues Cy Young quest

By BOB DUTTON

The Kansas City Star

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Is familiarity a benefit or an obstacle?

“I don’t really know,” Greinke said. “Sometimes, I feel like I have an advantage. It should be more of an advantage for the pitcher. But it’s a matter of constant adjustments.

“I’ll give you an example: I had gotten (Cleveland DH Travis) Hafner out a bunch by pitching a certain way. But he changed (his approach) and got two hits in the last game. So I’ll have to change again.”

Hafner’s two-out RBI single in the eighth inning last Friday forced Greinke to settle for a no-decision despite allowing just that one run in eight innings. He also got a no-decision in his previous start when he allowed only one unearned run in eight innings against the Angels.

Those are just two of Greinke’s six starts this season when he allowed one or no runs and failed to get a victory. Another came in his last start against the Tigers: seven shutout innings on Aug. 14 at Comerica in a no-decision.

A lack of victories — he is 13-8 — is the only blemish on his Cy Young credentials.

“He looks like he’s been pitching for 15 years now all of a sudden,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said earlier this season. “He’s the total package right now.”

It’s easy to understand Leyland’s praise. The Tigers have just five runs and 19 hits in 31 innings against Greinke, who also has 34 strikeouts and seven walks in his four starts along with a 0.839 WHIP (walks and hits per inning).

Blister concerns

Right-hander Robinson Tejeda, after three encouraging starts, will be watched closely in his next outing to see whether he continues to have blister-type problems with his middle finger.

“He was babying the changeup a little bit (Tuesday) from the third inning on,” manager Trey Hillman said. “We’d never seen him back off on arm speed. It is a concern, but it’s only a concern if it lingers into the next start.”

Tejeda limited the Tigers to one run and two hits in five innings in an 11-1 victory. He is 2-0 while allowing just the lone run in 16 innings through three starts since replacing sore-shouldered Gil Meche in the rotation.

Tejeda’s next scheduled start is Sunday, when the Royals conclude a three-game weekend series in Chicago.

Still chasing Macfarlane

Miguel Olivo leads the Royals with a career-high 20 homers, but he remains two shy of Mike Macfarlane’s franchise-record of 20 by a catcher.

Two of Olivo’s homers, including Tuesday’s three-run shot, occurred as the designated hitter. Macfarlane hit all 20 of his homers in 1993 as a catcher.

Darrell Porter hit 20 homers in 1979 but, like Olivo, two came as a designated hitter.

Injury updates

•Outfielder Mark Teahen remains slowed by aftereffects from muscle spasms in his lower back, which surfaced prior to last Saturday’s game in Cleveland. He was available Wednesday on an emergency-only basis and is unlikely to play in today’s series finale.

•Reliever Juan Cruz, who hasn’t pitched since Aug. 5, tested his strained shoulder with another bullpen workout. The next step in his recovery will be determined after he is evaluated today.

Posted on Wed, Sep. 16, 2009 11:25 PM

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