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KANSAS CITY ( VENTURA )
HOUSTON ( HARRELL ) |
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8.5un
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Final
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| 975 | KANSAS CITY | -140 | Ov 8.5,-120 | -155 | Ov 8.5,-105 | | 976 | HOUSTON | +130 | Un 8.5,+100 | +145 | Un 8.5,-115 |
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| All Games | 4-7 | -4 | 4-6 | 2.9 | 0.239 | 0.303 | 4.2 | 0.221 | 0.286 | | Road Games | 0-5 | -5.9 | 2-2 | 1.8 | 0.189 | 0.244 | 5.4 | 0.225 | 0.319 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 2-6 | -4.8 | 4-3 | 2.9 | 0.237 | 0.298 | 4.5 | 0.220 | 0.296 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -4 | 3-4 | 2.4 | 0.232 | 0.283 | 4.6 | 0.211 | 0.277 | | Grass Games | 4-7 | -4 | 4-6 | 2.9 | 0.239 | 0.303 | 4.2 | 0.221 | 0.286 | | Night Games | 1-2 | -1.2 | 1-2 | 1.7 | 0.232 | 0.311 | 4.3 | 0.208 | 0.273 |
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| All Games | 2.9 | 0.239 | 0.303 | 11 | 356 | 85 | 22 | 1 | 0.00 | 30 | 33 | 58 | 7 | 75 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 5 | | Road Games | 1.8 | 0.189 | 0.244 | 5 | 164 | 31 | 12 | 0 | 0.00 | 8 | 12 | 23 | 2 | 31 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | | Righty Starters | 2.9 | 0.237 | 0.298 | 8 | 266 | 63 | 17 | 1 | 0.00 | 21 | 23 | 40 | 6 | 57 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
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| All Games | 5.13 | 1.519 | 26.3 | 19 | 15 | 23 | 0 | 17 | 29 | 1-4 | 3 | 3 | 50% | | Road Games | 3.65 | 1.622 | 12.3 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 14 | 0-3 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
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| All Games | 5-8 | -0.4 | 6-7 | 2.9 | 0.189 | 0.256 | 4.5 | 0.246 | 0.324 | | Home Games | 3-4 | +0.2 | 3-4 | 3.0 | 0.191 | 0.256 | 5.1 | 0.261 | 0.326 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 4-4 | +2.3 | 5-3 | 3.5 | 0.181 | 0.259 | 4.6 | 0.254 | 0.335 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -1.6 | 4-3 | 2.6 | 0.180 | 0.243 | 4.6 | 0.226 | 0.323 | | Grass Games | 4-6 | -0.3 | 4-6 | 2.7 | 0.176 | 0.243 | 4.3 | 0.246 | 0.320 | | Night Games | 4-6 | +0.2 | 4-6 | 3.0 | 0.190 | 0.265 | 4.5 | 0.254 | 0.338 |
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| All Games | 2.9 | 0.189 | 0.256 | 13 | 413 | 78 | 34 | 15 | 0.04 | 37 | 37 | 112 | 8 | 66 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 11 | | Home Games | 3.0 | 0.191 | 0.256 | 7 | 215 | 41 | 20 | 10 | 0.05 | 20 | 19 | 60 | 5 | 36 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 4 | | Righty Starters | 3.5 | 0.181 | 0.259 | 8 | 259 | 47 | 23 | 12 | 0.05 | 28 | 27 | 75 | 4 | 43 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 10 |
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| All Games | 5.83 | 1.776 | 41.7 | 28 | 27 | 50 | 5 | 24 | 43 | 1-1 | 4 | 1 | 80% | | Home Games | 6.57 | 1.744 | 24.7 | 18 | 18 | 33 | 2 | 10 | 25 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 100% |
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| 4/2/2014 | VARGAS(L) | @ DETROIT | SCHERZER(R) | 1-2 | L | 170 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 4/4/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | JOHNSON(R) | 7-5 | W | -150 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 12 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | | 4/5/2014 | CHEN(L) | CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | 4-3 | W | -145 | 8 un | U | 7 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 1 | | 4/6/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | 1-5 | L | -115 | 7 un | U | 7 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | | 4/7/2014 | VARGAS(L) | TAMPA BAY | MOORE(L) | 4-2 | W | -115 | 8 un | U | 8 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 4/8/2014 | VENTURA(R) | TAMPA BAY | ARCHER(R) | 0-1 | L | +100 | 7.5 ev | U | 9 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 1 | | 4/9/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | TAMPA BAY | ODORIZZI(R) | 7-3 | W | +105 | 8.5 ov | O | 10 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1 | | 4/11/2014 | CHEN(L) | @ MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | 1-10 | L | -125 | 8 un | O | 5 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 0 | | 4/12/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | @ MINNESOTA | NOLASCO(R) | 1-7 | L | -140 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | 4/13/2014 | VARGAS(L) | @ MINNESOTA | CORREIA(R) | 3-4 | L | -125 | 8 un | U | 7 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | | 4/15/2014 | VENTURA(R) | @ HOUSTON | HARRELL(R) | | | 4/16/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ HOUSTON | KEUCHEL(L) | | | 4/17/2014 | CHEN(L) | @ HOUSTON | FELDMAN(R) | | | 4/18/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | MINNESOTA | NOLASCO(R) | | | 4/19/2014 | VARGAS(L) | MINNESOTA | CORREIA(R) | | | 4/20/2014 | VENTURA(R) | MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | | | 4/21/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | | | 4/22/2014 | | @ CLEVELAND | | |
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| 4/1/2014 | FELDMAN(R) | NY YANKEES | SABATHIA(L) | 6-2 | W | +130 | 8.5 ev | U | 9 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 | | 4/2/2014 | COSART(R) | NY YANKEES | KURODA(R) | 3-1 | W | +150 | 8.5 un | U | 4 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 1 | | 4/3/2014 | OBERHOLTZER(L) | NY YANKEES | NOVA(R) | 2-4 | L | +135 | 8 ov | U | 6 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 4/4/2014 | HARRELL(R) | LA ANGELS | RICHARDS(R) | 1-11 | L | +160 | 9 ev | O | 7 | 12 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 0 | | 4/5/2014 | KEUCHEL(L) | LA ANGELS | SKAGGS(L) | 1-5 | L | +135 | 9 ev | U | 4 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 12 | 2 | | 4/6/2014 | FELDMAN(R) | LA ANGELS | WEAVER(R) | 7-4 | W | +140 | 8 ov | O | 7 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1 | | 4/7/2014 | COSART(R) | LA ANGELS | WILSON(L) | 1-9 | L | +145 | 8.5 ov | O | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 4/8/2014 | OBERHOLTZER(L) | @ TORONTO | BUEHRLE(L) | 2-5 | L | 190 | 9.5 un | U | 9 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | | 4/9/2014 | HARRELL(R) | @ TORONTO | MORROW(R) | 3-7 | L | 187 | 9 ov | O | 6 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 4/10/2014 | KEUCHEL(L) | @ TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | 6-4 | W | 185 | 9 un | O | 8 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 4/11/2014 | FELDMAN(R) | @ TEXAS | DARVISH(R) | 0-1 | L | 205 | 8 ov | U | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 16 | 0 | | 4/12/2014 | COSART(R) | @ TEXAS | SCHEPPERS(R) | 6-5 | W | 155 | 9.5 un | O | 7 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 4/13/2014 | OBERHOLTZER(L) | @ TEXAS | PEREZ(L) | 0-1 | L | 150 | 9 ev | U | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | | 4/15/2014 | HARRELL(R) | KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | | | 4/16/2014 | KEUCHEL(L) | KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | | | 4/17/2014 | FELDMAN(R) | KANSAS CITY | CHEN(L) | | | 4/18/2014 | COSART(R) | @ OAKLAND | GRAY(R) | | | 4/19/2014 | OBERHOLTZER(L) | @ OAKLAND | KAZMIR(L) | | | 4/20/2014 | HARRELL(R) | @ OAKLAND | CHAVEZ(R) | | | 4/21/2014 | KEUCHEL(L) | @ SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | | | 4/22/2014 | | @ SEATTLE | | |
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| |  | KANSAS CITY: KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - James Shields thinks back to last year, thoughtfully piecing together what was missing from the Kansas City Royals as they made a late push for the postseason.
The pitching was strong. The offense was coming around. The defense was sublime.
He finally settled on experience.
''These guys that didn't realize or have never been to September, when you're fighting for a playoff spot, now you have that experience,'' Shields said. ''And I think that was one of the things we were lacking last season, the experience. You tend to put too much on your shoulders. And I think the second half we definitely relaxed and put all that aside and had fun and played the game the way we know how to play, and it showed.
''I think with the experience factor now,'' Shields concluded, ''we're ready to go.''
After finishing 86-76 a year ago, and contending into September for the first time in a decade, the Royals have their sets sight squarely on their first playoff appearance since 1985 this year.
Anything less would be a disappointment. Anything less would be a failure.
''Last year was a blast. When the end of the season came in Chicago, nobody wanted to leave,'' first baseman Eric Hosmer said. ''They knew how close we were. We were right there. And it left a good taste in everyone's mouth going into the offseason, knowing how good everyone can be.''
Indeed, the Royals return most of their key players from a year ago, signing left-hander Jason Vargas to replace their only significant loss, starting pitcher Ervin Santana. They also upgraded at their weakest spots, trading for Norichika Aoki to play right field and bat leadoff and signing Omar Infante to settle a second base position that has been a black hole for years.
All of which left the notoriously frugal franchise with a record-setting payroll.
Royals manager Ned Yost hopes all those moves will pay off for a rotation that was among the league's best last year, and an offense that was among the league's worst.
''It's going to be a lineup that has offensive sequence from one to nine. You're not going to have any dead spots,'' Yost said. ''You're not going to get something going and then bam, run into a wall and have to get going again. At least, I hope not. I don't think so.''
So with more experience and an upgraded lineup, Kansas City enters its season opener Sunday at Detroit with boundless enthusiasm. | | HOUSTON: HOUSTON (AP) - Coming off three straight 100-loss seasons, the Houston Astros are confident they'll be better this year.
How much? They aren't putting a number on that. But after setting a franchise record with a whopping 111 defeats, they have a simple target.
''It's our goal to be the most improved team in major league baseball (and) I believe ... we have the group together and we can actually accomplish that,'' second-year manager Bo Porter said.
There are several reasons why the Astros are certain they can improve. They brought in several established players this offseason to pair with the many young players who got their first significant playing time last season. They also could get some reinforcements soon from top prospects who are inching closer to being major league ready.
General manager Jeff Luhnow's rebuilding plan has already boosted Houston's minor league system from the worst in baseball to one of the best. He expects that work to start paying dividends this season in the majors.
''We have a young team. We're still going to make some mistakes,'' he said. ''Our young players have improved but still need some development. We brought in some veterans to help stabilize the team this year. We're going to see a big improvement as a result of those two dynamics.''
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| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (KANSAS CITY-HOUSTON) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Royals-Astros Preview* =======================
By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer
Kansas City (4-7) at Houston (5-8), 8:10 p.m. EDT
Yordano Ventura had an impressive season debut for the Kansas City Royals but didn't get enough support to earn his first major league victory. He might not need too much help in his next attempt at that milestone.
The rookie right-hander will try to help the Royals snap an 0-5 start on the road when they begin a three-game series against the offensively challenged Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
Ventura (0-0, 0.00 ERA) gave up two hits, walked none and struck out six over six innings last Tuesday against Tampa Bay but did not get a decision in a 1-0 defeat.
"He's good and he knows it. Not in a cocky way, but he's got a lot of confidence in his abilities and what he can do," manager Ned Yost told the team's website. "He's not afraid to compete. He feels like he belongs here."
Ventura is slated to make his fifth major league start against an Astros team that's batting just .189 with a slugging percentage of .354. Houston was blanked for the second time in three games Sunday, 1-0 by Texas.
"We've got to get (the offense) going. If you don't score, you've got zero chance of winning," manager Bo Porter said.
The Astros (5-8) have lost eight of 11 and four of five at home since opening the season with back-to-back wins over the New York Yankees.
The Royals are off to their worst start on the road since going a franchise-worst 0-12 in 2006. They had a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning Sunday in Minnesota but the Twins scored two runs after Wade Davis' throwing error on a comebacker in the bottom of the frame.
"That's baseball, stuff like that happens," first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "We've just got to put a stop to it. Better early than late."
Kansas City (4-7) has plated nine runs on the road while batting .189. They're hitting .239 overall with 32 runs and have a major league-worst one home run, giving them one of baseball's worst slugging percentages at .312.
Hosmer is 4 for 19 on the road while Billy Butler is 1 for 18 away from Kansas City.
The Royals may have a chance to get their offense on track against a struggling Lucas Harrell (0-2, 11.05). The right-hander has given up five runs, seven hits and three walks in each of his first two starts while failing to pitch more than 4 1-3 innings.
Harrell allowed two runs in the opening frame Wednesday in Toronto and gave up another three before being pulled with one out in the fifth.
He gave up two hits over seven scoreless innings in his only start against Kansas City last season but did not get a decision in a 2-0 loss June 9.
Harrell might not be too thrilled to see Omar Infante on this year's Kansas City squad. The second baseman is 5 for 6 all-time against him.
Ventura has never faced the Astros or any of their current hitters.
Kansas City has won 11 of 16 over Houston. The Royals went 4-2 versus the Astros in 2013 but dropped two of three at Minute Maid Park from May 20-22.
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| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 4:51:43 AM EST. |
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