KC Royals on pace to shatter team pitching record after 10-1 win over White Sox
Royals general manager J.J. Picollo met with the media Thursday, and made a not so bold prediction while talking about the rotation.
“I don’t think we can expect a 1.45 ERA throughout the season, but if we are, we’ll be playing in October,” Picollo said with a slight laugh. “But it’s hard not to get excited. It’s a good thing. It’s hard not to have the feeling of healthy competition going on every single night from one start to the next and that’s exciting.”
Seth Lugo continued the rotation’s sensational April by allowing just one run in 6 2/3 innings of the Royals’ 10-1 win over the White Sox. That lowered the ERA for Royals starting pitchers to 1.43 while the Royals improved to 3-4.
A year ago, the Royals rotation had a 5.12 ERA, which was 27th in Major League Baseball. The best ERA for a season by Royals starting pitching was 3.22 in 1972. Sure, it’s early, but this year’s rotation is on pace to shatter that mark.
“I feel like we each have our different strengths and we kind of pitch differently,” Lugo said. “But I think we all realize that the deeper we pitch into a game, the better chance we are going to have to win.”
Nelson Velázquez was an offensive spark for the Royals. He had an RBI single that scored MJ Melendez in the second inning and a 429-foot home run into the fountains in left-center two innings later.
The Royals blew the game open in the seventh inning by scoring eight times. Velázquez opened the frame with a walk, one of three in the inning. A two-out error by White Sox shortstop Braden Shewmake on a grounder by Salvador Perez allowed three runs to score.
Melendez followed with a 421-foot homer to right center to cap the outburst.
“It’s super fun, especially late in the game,” Melendez said when asked about putting up the eight-spot. “Just kind of like to seal the deal right there. Obviously anything can happen in baseball, but to get a big lead like that at the end of the game feels pretty good.”
Hunter Renfroe saves a run
The White Sox scored a run in the sixth inning and had runners on the corners with one out. Shewmake lifted a fly into right field that Hunter Renfroe caught and then quickly fired home to catch Gavin Sheets trying to score. That kept the Royals’ lead intact.
It was the second straight game with an outfield assist for Renfroe.
Lugo had a question for Renfroe when they were back in the dugout.
“I know he’s got a cannon,” Lugo said of Renfroe. “I said, ‘What was he (Sheets) thinking?’”
MLB.com’s Sarah Lang noted that Renfroe’s 66 outfield assists since the start of the 2017 season are the most in the majors, eight more than anyone else.
Double-play delight
That double play was one of four twin killings for the Royals.
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. made a dazzling play in the third inning to start a double play.
Injury report
Second baseman Michael Massey will begin a rehabilitation assignment Friday at Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Massey has been out because of a lower-back strain.
Triple-A Omaha is playing this week in Columbus, Ohio, where rain has been and continues to be in the forecast.
“He’s going to Northwest Arkansas more because of the weather,” Picollo said. “Get him through the weekend, reevaluate on Sunday after the game and there’s an open Monday for both teams.
“Once you get past Monday it’s more of a baseball decision than medical.”
What’s next: The Royals will face the White Sox three more times. Brady Singer will be on the mound Friday, facing Erick Fedde. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m.
This story was originally published April 4, 2024 at 9:15 PM.
