The Tribe finish this homestand with a four game visit from the Royals. They are the only division rival we have yet to face this year.
- Monday's game is at 7:05 PM (Guthrie vs. McAllister)
- Tuesday's game is at 7:05 PM (Shields vs. Salazar)
- Wednesday's game is at 7:05 PM (Vargas vs. Masterson)
- Thursday's is at 12:05 PM (Chen vs. Kluber)
Without a day off, they head back to the west coast for visits to the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels.
Division Watch: White Sox at Tigers, Twins at Rays.
Team in a Box
Kansas City Royals |
Offense |
AL Rank |
Pitching |
AL Rank |
|||
2014 Record |
9-8 |
Runs/Game |
3.6 |
14th |
Runs/Game |
3.6 |
2nd |
AL Central |
2nd |
OBP |
311 |
11th |
H/9 |
7.2 |
1st |
Last 10 |
6-4 |
SLG |
347 |
14th |
BB/9 |
3.1 |
7th |
Last 30 |
- |
Steals |
6 |
12th |
SO/9 |
8.3 |
8th |
*all stats through Saturday's games except overall record
After getting swept in Minnesota two weekends ago, the Royals got healthy by sweeping the Astros and taking two of three from the Twins last weekend. The offense is really struggling, so the pitching staff is what has been keeping them afloat. Similar to the Tribe, the Royals only employ a three man bench and an eight man pen. The biggest difference between the teams would be on the defensive side, where they likely have better defenders at most positions, at least reputation wise.
Projected Roster
Pos |
Player |
Bats |
PA |
BA |
OPS |
C |
Salvador Perez |
R |
66 |
259 |
728 |
1B |
Eric Hosmer |
L |
67 |
279 |
688 |
2B |
Omar Infante |
R |
60 |
291 |
732 |
3B |
Mike Moustakas |
L |
59 |
135 |
509 |
SS |
Alcides Escobar |
R |
57 |
278 |
655 |
LF |
Alex Gordon |
L |
65 |
300 |
788 |
CF |
Jerrod Dyson |
L |
8 |
125 |
250 |
RF |
Nori Aoki |
L |
64 |
276 |
730 |
DH |
Billy Butler |
R |
66 |
193 |
483 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
IF |
Danny Valencia |
R |
11 |
273 |
818 |
OF |
Justin Maxwell |
R |
15 |
077 |
277 |
C |
Brett Hayes |
R |
1 |
000 |
000 |
Dyson is supposed to be returning from a bereavement leave for Monday's game. If he does not arrive, Maxwell will likely start in center with minor leaguer Jimmy Paredes on the bench. Perez has rested for just 4.2 innings all season so far while Hosmer and Escobar have played every inning.
Perennial breakout stars Moustakas and Hosmer are really struggling out of the gate, just like Swisher and Santana for the Tribe. It also is a bad sign when stick-bat Escobar is outhitting both. Old friend Infante was signed this off season and another shrewd pickup was Aoki in the outfield.
Projected Staff
Player |
Throws |
ERA |
IP |
WHIP |
K/9 |
James Shields |
R |
2.00 |
29.0 |
0.963 |
8.7 |
Jason Vargas |
L |
1.24 |
27.0 |
0.931 |
5.0 |
Bruce Chen |
L |
6.60 |
15.0 |
1.867 |
9.6 |
Yordano Ventura |
R |
0.69 |
13.0 |
0.692 |
9.0 |
Jeremy Guthrie |
R |
4.34 |
18.2 |
1.286 |
5.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greg Holland |
R |
2.57 |
7.0 |
1.143 |
15.4 |
Aaron Crow |
R |
0.00 |
6.0 |
0.833 |
6.0 |
Wade Davis |
R |
2.89 |
9.1 |
0.964 |
14.5 |
Kelvin Herrera |
R |
3.38 |
5.1 |
1.313 |
11.8 |
Louis Coleman |
R |
3.86 |
2.1 |
1.286 |
3.9 |
Michael Mariot |
R |
9.00 |
2.0 |
2.000 |
9.0 |
Danny Duffy |
L |
0.00 |
6.1 |
0.789 |
12.8 |
Justin Marks |
L |
13.50 |
2.0 |
3.500 |
9.0 |
We miss the flamethrower Ventura, who is definitely outshining Salazar so far this year. But that also means we will get both lefties, Chen and Vargas, and this year we have not hit lefties well at all, 218/292/333. It also llikely means one of our hottest hitteres, Chisenhall will sit twice.
But overall the pitching staff has been nothing short of fantastic so far this young season. But I doubt a lot of those low WHIPs will be sustainable to that awesome of a degree. Hopefully they will regress during this series.
On the Shelf
- CF Lorenzo Cain [15 day DL], possible May return
- RP Tim Collins [15 day DL] , possible late April return
- RP Francisley Bueno [15 day DL] , possible late April return
- RP Luke Hochevar [15 day DL], out for season
Almanac
W |
L |
Pct |
RS |
RA |
Pythag |
|
2014 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2013 |
10 |
9 |
526 |
81 |
83 |
489 |
Last 5* |
50 |
41 |
549 |
484 |
422 |
562 |
Last 10* |
105 |
78 |
574 |
985 |
821 |
583 |
All-Time |
313 |
297 |
513 |
2856 |
2648 |
535 |
*Does not include 2014 stats