The Royals will begin the second game of their series with the Nationals in an hour. It will be another important game in the most important five-game stretch of the 2024 season. Kansas City got a huge win in extra innings on Tuesday, beating Washington 1-0. The win snapped a 7-game losing streak that included… Read More “Reporter Jottings”: Three Important Royals Questions for the Next Five Games
The Royals lost the series finale against the Pirates on Sunday, 4-3, in a game in which the Kansas City pitching staff walked six batters. It was a disappointing end to what was an encouraging weekend in Pittsburgh. The Royals won the first two games by a combined score of 13-4. On Sunday, they had… Read More “Reporter Jottings”: Royals Finish Road Trip, Can They Seal Things Against Detroit? (Also, McArthur)
The Royals had a winning homestand this week, going 4-2 against the Guardians and Twins, both division foes. How Kansas City got to that winning homestand was atypical, especially considering they were coming off getting swept in a four-game series last weekend in Houston. The Royals started the homestand poorly, losing the series’ first two… Read More “Reporter Jottings”: Pitching Carries Royals to Sweep; Salvy’s Framing; Shaking the Yankees?
In a big series-opening game on Friday night against the Minnesota Twins, Cole Ragans put on a masterful performance on national TV (Apple TV, to be specific). Ragans was masterful in six innings of shutout ball. He only allowed four hits and one walk while striking out seven on 95 pitches. His performance lowered his… Read More Cole Ragans Hits Royals Strikeout Mark, Continues to Be “Ace-Like”
The Royals avoided the sweep on Wednesday afternoon, beating the Twins 4-1 in the series finale. Cole Ragans was sensational as he went seven innings, struck out eight, and only allowed one walk and one run. Ragans was the Royals’ star performer on the pitching end of things. When it came to hitting, Paul DeJong… Read More Should Paul DeJong Get Everyday At Bats With the Royals?
The Royals lost to the rival Twins for a second-straight night at Target Field, this time by a score of 13-3. This isn’t very reassuring, especially considering the Royals and Twins entered this series neck and neck in the AL Central division. The Royals’ starting pitching has imploded in the first two games in Minneapolis,… Read More Are the Royals’ Starting Pitchers Hitting a Wall?
I haven’t been able to write much on the blog since the start of teacher reporting. I am also starting a new position at a new school, which has left less time for posting on this site (and “Farm to Fountains”). I hope that in a couple of weeks, I’ll be more settled and thus… Read More “Reporter Jottings”: Quick Reflections on the Cardinals Series (And Upcoming One In Minneapolis)
Safe to say, this was one of the roughest weeks of Royals baseball this season. The Royals lost three of four on the road against the Minnesota Twins, including blowing a 4-0 lead in Thursday’s series finale. (On a positive note, I saw their lone win on Wednesday night in my wife and I’s first… Read More Royals End Rough Week on a Positive Note (Will That Help Against Cleveland?)
The Royals lost a rough four-game series on the road to the Twins, highlighted by the Royals blowing a four-run lead on Thursday in a 7-6 loss. The bullpen gave up four runs at the bottom of the 6th, eventually putting the game out of reach. As expected, the Royals bullpen became a target of… Read More The Royals Need Bullpen Help (But Where Does It Come From?)
Going into the 2024 season, there was some hope that MJ Melendez could bounce back and be a vital part of the Royals’ outfield and lineup. According to Fangraphs splits, Melendez hit .273 with 10 home runs in 227 plate appearances in the second half of 2023. He also produced a 124 wRC+, .356 wOBA,… Read More Should the Royals Send Down MJ Melendez? (And Bring Up Drew Waters?)