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KANSAS CITY ( VOLQUEZ )
TORONTO ( DICKEY ) |
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| 913 | KANSAS CITY | +125 | Ov 9,-110 | +120 | Ov 8.5,-115 | | 914 | TORONTO | -135 | Un 9,-110 | -130 | Un 8.5,-105 |
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| All Games | 62-41 | +20 | 44-48 | 4.3 | 0.270 | 0.312 | 0.407 | 0.719 | 3.7 | 0.247 | 0.307 | 0.390 | 0.697 | | Road Games | 28-23 | +7.8 | 23-22 | 4.2 | 0.261 | 0.301 | 0.398 | 0.699 | 4.0 | 0.248 | 0.314 | 0.401 | 0.715 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 43-24 | +17.6 | 32-28 | 4.6 | 0.272 | 0.318 | 0.416 | 0.733 | 3.6 | 0.245 | 0.306 | 0.395 | 0.701 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +1.2 | 4-3 | 4.6 | 0.236 | 0.255 | 0.380 | 0.635 | 5.1 | 0.289 | 0.349 | 0.484 | 0.833 | | Turf Games | 1-2 | -0.8 | 2-1 | 5.0 | 0.229 | 0.236 | 0.333 | 0.569 | 6.0 | 0.283 | 0.356 | 0.491 | 0.846 | | Day Games | 22-12 | +11.2 | 16-14 | 4.9 | 0.275 | 0.320 | 0.432 | 0.752 | 4.4 | 0.254 | 0.315 | 0.422 | 0.737 |
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| All Games | 4.3 | 0.270 | 0.312 | 103 | 3514 | 949 | 180 | 27 | 82 | 0.407 | 426 | 214 | 595 | 62 | 668 | 104 | 59 | 88 | 52 | | Road Games | 4.2 | 0.261 | 0.301 | 51 | 1817 | 475 | 89 | 12 | 45 | 0.398 | 202 | 103 | 327 | 18 | 334 | 58 | 34 | 39 | 23 | | Righty Starters | 4.6 | 0.272 | 0.318 | 67 | 2250 | 613 | 114 | 23 | 54 | 0.416 | 289 | 149 | 385 | 40 | 415 | 69 | 27 | 59 | 34 |
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| All Games | 2.22 | 1.083 | 345.3 | 93 | 85 | 261 | 23 | 113 | 311 | 21-6 | 35 | 10 | 77.8% | | Road Games | 2.52 | 1.125 | 168 | 50 | 47 | 119 | 16 | 70 | 154 | 8-5 | 18 | 6 | 75% |
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| All Games | 53-52 | -5.5 | 50-47 | 5.3 | 0.263 | 0.329 | 0.443 | 0.772 | 4.3 | 0.254 | 0.308 | 0.408 | 0.715 | | Home Games | 31-21 | +2.5 | 21-29 | 5.6 | 0.278 | 0.349 | 0.483 | 0.832 | 3.8 | 0.234 | 0.286 | 0.380 | 0.666 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 37-39 | -4.2 | 36-32 | 5.2 | 0.260 | 0.326 | 0.437 | 0.763 | 4.3 | 0.250 | 0.306 | 0.400 | 0.706 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | -1.1 | 5-2 | 5.9 | 0.286 | 0.363 | 0.481 | 0.844 | 4.6 | 0.242 | 0.269 | 0.365 | 0.634 | | Turf Games | 31-21 | +2.5 | 21-29 | 5.6 | 0.278 | 0.349 | 0.483 | 0.832 | 3.8 | 0.234 | 0.286 | 0.380 | 0.666 | | Day Games | 21-19 | -0.5 | 19-17 | 5.5 | 0.274 | 0.341 | 0.456 | 0.796 | 4.4 | 0.259 | 0.305 | 0.423 | 0.729 |
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| All Games | 5.3 | 0.263 | 0.329 | 105 | 3554 | 936 | 204 | 10 | 138 | 0.443 | 532 | 348 | 732 | 56 | 646 | 109 | 65 | 93 | 48 | | Home Games | 5.6 | 0.278 | 0.349 | 52 | 1711 | 476 | 111 | 3 | 78 | 0.483 | 281 | 185 | 306 | 25 | 328 | 54 | 27 | 41 | 27 | | Righty Starters | 5.2 | 0.260 | 0.326 | 76 | 2582 | 672 | 142 | 7 | 100 | 0.437 | 377 | 251 | 540 | 41 | 474 | 72 | 51 | 67 | 39 |
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| All Games | 3.39 | 1.111 | 313.3 | 130 | 118 | 259 | 34 | 89 | 312 | 13-20 | 17 | 16 | 51.5% | | Home Games | 3.06 | 1.065 | 158.7 | 60 | 54 | 136 | 15 | 33 | 160 | 6-7 | 6 | 7 | 46.2% |
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| 7/19/2015 | DUFFY(L) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | 4-1 | W | 165 | 7 ev | U | 13 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | 7/20/2015 | VENTURA(R) | PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | 7-10 | L | -135 | 7 ev | O | 14 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 8 | 0 | | 7/21/2015 | VARGAS(L) | PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | 3-1 | W | +105 | 7 ov | U | 6 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 2 | | 7/22/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | 5-1 | W | -125 | 7.5 ev | U | 9 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 7/23/2015 | YOUNG(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | 3-4 | L | 130 | 7 un | P | 10 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 7/24/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | HOUSTON | KAZMIR(L) | 0-4 | L | +100 | 8 un | U | 4 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 0 | | 7/25/2015 | DUFFY(L) | HOUSTON | FELDMAN(R) | 2-1 | W | -140 | 8 un | U | 7 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | | 7/26/2015 | VENTURA(R) | HOUSTON | KEUCHEL(L) | 5-1 | W | +105 | 7 un | U | 11 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 7/27/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | @ CLEVELAND | ANDERSON(R) | 9-4 | W | -110 | 7.5 ov | O | 11 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 1 | | 7/28/2015 | YOUNG(R) | @ CLEVELAND | BAUER(R) | 2-1 | W | 105 | 7.5 ov | U | 5 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1 | | 7/29/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | 1-12 | L | 160 | 7.5 un | O | 5 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 11 | 0 | | 7/30/2015 | DUFFY(L) | @ TORONTO | ESTRADA(R) | 2-5 | L | 115 | 9 ev | U | 5 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 7/31/2015 | CUETO(R) | @ TORONTO | HUTCHISON(R) | 6-7 | L | 100 | 7.5 ov | O | 10 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 1 | | 8/1/2015 | VENTURA(R) | @ TORONTO | BUEHRLE(L) | 7-6 | W | 115 | 8 un | O | 9 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | | 8/2/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | @ TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | | | 8/4/2015 | DUFFY(L) | @ DETROIT | VERLANDER(R) | | | 8/5/2015 | CUETO(R) | @ DETROIT | FARMER(R) | | | 8/6/2015 | VENTURA(R) | @ DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | | | 8/7/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | | | 8/8/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | SAMARDZIJA(R) | | | 8/9/2015 | | CHI WHITE SOX | | |
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| 7/19/2015 | ESTRADA(R) | TAMPA BAY | ARCHER(R) | 4-0 | W | +100 | 8 un | U | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | | 7/21/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | @ OAKLAND | GRAVEMAN(R) | 7-1 | W | -110 | 7.5 ev | O | 10 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 7/22/2015 | DOUBRONT(L) | @ OAKLAND | GRAY(R) | 3-4 | L | 130 | 7 ev | P | 12 | 11 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 0 | | 7/23/2015 | DICKEY(R) | @ OAKLAND | POMERANZ(L) | 5-2 | W | -120 | 8.5 ov | U | 8 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | | 7/24/2015 | ESTRADA(R) | @ SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | 2-5 | L | 150 | 6.5 ov | O | 7 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 1 | | 7/25/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | @ SEATTLE | HAPP(L) | 8-6 | W | -130 | 8 un | O | 8 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 1 | | 7/26/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | @ SEATTLE | WALKER(R) | 5-6 | L | -120 | 7.5 un | O | 9 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 1 | | 7/28/2015 | DOUBRONT(L) | PHILADELPHIA | MORGAN(L) | 2-3 | L | -265 | 9.5 un | U | 6 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | | 7/29/2015 | DICKEY(R) | PHILADELPHIA | WILLIAMS(R) | 8-2 | W | -275 | 9 ov | O | 16 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 2 | | 7/30/2015 | ESTRADA(R) | KANSAS CITY | DUFFY(L) | 5-2 | W | -125 | 9 ev | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | | 7/31/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | KANSAS CITY | CUETO(R) | 7-6 | W | -110 | 7.5 ov | O | 15 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 1 | | 8/1/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 6-7 | L | -125 | 8 un | O | 8 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 0 | | 8/2/2015 | DICKEY(R) | KANSAS CITY | VOLQUEZ(R) | | | 8/3/2015 | PRICE(L) | MINNESOTA | SANTANA(R) | | | 8/4/2015 | ESTRADA(R) | MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | | | 8/5/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | MINNESOTA | MILONE(L) | | | 8/6/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | | | 8/7/2015 | DICKEY(R) | @ NY YANKEES | EOVALDI(R) | | | 8/8/2015 | PRICE(L) | @ NY YANKEES | NOVA(R) | | | 8/9/2015 | | @ NY YANKEES | | |
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| |  | KANSAS CITY: KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Every once in a while, Ned Yost will spin a story about his days on Bobby Cox's bench with the Atlanta Braves, back when the organization was winning NL pennants by the fistful.
Inevitably, Yost would start drawing comparisons to his Kansas City Royals - that they were building through the farm system in the same manner as the Braves, and Kansas City would embrace the franchise in the same way Atlanta did if it ever became a winner.
Last year, that narrative finally made sense.
After squeaking into the playoffs as a wild card, the Royals swept all the way to the World Series. If not for a virtuoso performance by Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giants, the Royals might very well have been celebrating their second championship.
The postseason run led Yost to draw one more comparison when he arrived in Arizona for the start of a new season, and his players filed into the clubhouse for the first time.
''It definitely reminded me of that feeling in Atlanta,'' he said, ''when you came to spring training every year with the feeling that you have an opportunity to go to the World Series - instead of hoping, you know? And it's a different feeling.''
There is good reason for that feeling, too.
The Royals return most of the pieces from the club that ended a 29-year playoff drought, including one of the best bullpens in baseball history. And the pieces they did lose to free agency have been replaced with what could turn out to be upgrades.
Designated hitter Billy Butler is gone, Kendrys Morales signed in his place. Alex Rios is taking over for Nori Aoki in right field. Edinson Volquez was signed to fill the rotation spot of staff ace James Shields, who chased bigger money all the way to San Diego.
Even though a few faces have changed, the tenants that the Royals believe in have not: They will continue to rely on speed, defense and pitching to chase another playoff berth.
''Any time you're fortunate enough to keep those key pieces, you feel good,'' said Greg Holland, the Royals' All-Star closer. ''Yeah, we lost Billy and Shields and Nori, but for the most part, we're right where we need to be.''
Besides, the back end of the bullpen is still intact.
Kelvin Herrera harnessed his electrifying fastball to become a shutdown seventh-inning reliever last season. Former starter Wade Davis had a historically dominant year as the setup man. Holland further cemented his status as the AL's best closer.
''The way you tilt the field in your favor, in my opinion, is having quality pitching and really good defense,'' Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. ''Those are things that hopefully can show up every single day and perform for you.''
As the Royals approach opening day against the Chicago White Sox on April 6 at Kauffman Stadium, here are a few other story lines to watch this season:
THE ROTATION: Shields was the anchor in 2014, but he struggled mightily in the playoffs. So when the Royals signed Volquez to replace him, it was mostly met with a collective shrug.
Besides, the success of the rotation will more likely be determined by the success of young flamethrowers Danny Duffy and Yordano Ventura, both of whom have ace ability.
INJURY BUGS: The Royals stayed remarkably healthy last season. Will karma even out?
Second baseman Omar Infante already missed long stretches of spring training with a bone spur in his elbow that could require surgery next offseason. Left fielder Alex Gordon also got a slow start to the spring after undergoing wrist surgery this past offseason.
SLOW STARTS: The last couple of seasons, the Royals have gotten off to slow starts. They unsuccessfully dug out of a big hole two years ago, but pulled it off last season.
Considering every other team in the AL Central appeared to get better over the winter, the Royals can ill afford to let Detroit, Cleveland and Minnesota and the White Sox bury them.
RESTING SALVY: All-Star catcher Salvador Perez faded in the playoffs in part due to his heavy work load in the regular season, where he appeared in 150 games. Yost intends to give him more days off this year, though it's hard to take his bat out of the lineup.
BASEBALL TOWN: Did the World Series run turn Kansas City into a baseball town again? The club has been overshadowed for decades by the Chiefs, who play just across the parking lot in Arrowhead stadium. How will fans respond to having the reigning AL champions? | | TORONTO: TORONTO (AP) - The upcoming season for the Toronto Blue Jays seems destined to be defined by the one young pitcher who'll miss it and the two even younger guys who'll try to replace him.
Toronto's plans for ending baseball's longest active playoff drought took a serious hit when Marcus Stroman suffered a season-ending knee injury in spring training.
The second-year right-hander tore a ligament when his knee buckled as he backed off a bunt during a pregame fielding drill. He's out for the year after undergoing surgery.
''It's tough,'' Stroman said. ''I just feel like I let my team down. I've worked harder than I ever had this offseason.''
The injury changed Toronto's thinking about 22-year-old right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who might have been closing games rather than starting them if Stroman was still healthy, and 21-year-old lefty Daniel Norris, the van-dwelling surfer dude.
The two pitchers now look likely to get their shot in Toronto's rotation, slotting in behind 200-inning workhorses R.A Dickey and Mark Buehrle, and 24-year-old right-hander Drew Hutchison.
How successful they are could well determine what happens to the Blue Jays, out of the postseason since winning their second straight World Series in 1993 and the only team that hasn't reached the playoffs this century.
''We may have to rely on a young guy who may not be proven,'' manager John Gibbons said. ''Stro was a baby, too, but a special guy.''
Sanchez has already shown signs that he could also be special. He excelled out of the bullpen in 24 games last season, posting three saves and a 1.09 ERA in 33 innings, striking out 27 while walking nine and holding opponents to a .128 average.
With the increased demands of a starting role lying ahead, the hard-throwing Sanchez has spent this spring refining his slider.
''With the way he throws, it could turn into a big strikeout pitch for him,'' Gibbons said.
The Blue Jays are also high on Norris, currently better known for spending his winters searching for prime surfing spots while living out of a 1978 Volkswagen camper van nicknamed ''Shaggy.''
''He's a different bird,'' Gibbons said. ''Anytime you live in a van, I wouldn't say that's normal.''
Norris had an abnormal 2014 season, rising from Class A to the majors after going 12-2 with a 2.53 ERA at three minor league stops. He underwent elbow surgery last October to remove bone spurs, and expects to be better this year than the pitcher who made five appearances for the Blue Jays in September.
''He's a student of the game,'' Gibbons said. ''He's a very smart kid and he's grounded. He's got the most important thing: He's got a great arm.''
After Jose Reyes and the Blue Jays went 83-79, here's what else to watch as they try to move up:
MIGHTY MIGUEL: Sanchez and Norris aren't the only impressive young arms expected to break camp with the Blue Jays. Right-hander Miguel Castro, 20, didn't allow a run in his first five spring appearances, striking out eight and walking none while allowing three hits over nine innings. A hard thrower who stands an imposing 6-foot-5, Castro has put himself in position to jump from Class A, where he went 8-3 with a 2.68 ERA last season, all the way to the majors. ''He looks like a seasoned vet out there, under control, very relaxed,'' Gibbons said.
NEW GUYS, NEW FOCUS: Toronto strengthened its lineup over the winter by signing free agent catcher Russell Martin to a five-year, $82 million contract and acquiring All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson from Oakland. Slugger Jose Bautista has praised the newcomers for making a difference in the clubhouse with their winning pedigree and intense focus. ''We need something along those lines here every now and then,'' Bautista said. ''It's good to have guys to whom winning matters.''
BLOCKING THE PLATE: Adding Martin gave the Blue Jays a logjam at catcher, where incumbent Dioner Navarro is signed through 2015 and Josh Thole is Dickey's knuckleball specialist. Martin has worked hard this spring to prove he can handle Dickey's floater, which could mean Thole is ticketed for Triple-A. Or, Toronto may yet trade the switch-hitting Navarro to open room at DH for Edwin Encarnacion, who has been slowed this spring by a balky back and may not be able to handle regular duty at first base. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (KANSAS CITY-TORONTO) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Royals-Blue Jays Preview* ==========================
By JOHN KOSIK STATS Editor
Kansas City (61-41) at Toronto (53-51), 1:07 p.m. EDT
With a whole new look and a lot more swagger, the Toronto Blue Jays have been playing very well against the top club in the American League.
After coming out on the losing end of an exciting slugfest with Kansas City, the Blue Jays look to take three of four from the Royals in Sunday's series finale.
Ben Zobrist homered from both sides of the plate and Eric Hosmer singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth Saturday to help Kansas City (62-41) snap a three-game skid. Facing new Blue Jays reliever Mark Lowe, Zobrist tied it at 5 with a drive in the eighth.
"We had to have this one today," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "We had to."
Toronto (53-52) got a pair of solo homers from Jose Bautista and a two-run shot from Josh Donaldson before threatening in the bottom of the ninth to no avail.
Now the club looks for its first win in a series of at least four games against the Royals since a road sweep April 20-23, 2012, behind their only starter with a losing mark after acquiring All-Star left-hander David Price, who starts Monday against Minnesota.
R.A. Dickey (5-10, 4.27 ERA), however, takes the hill in this finale looking to win three straight starts for the first time since Sept. 2-13. After a four-start losing streak where the Blue Jays gave him just four total runs of support, the right-hander has gone 2-1 with a 1.53 ERA in his last four outings.
He's made it through at least eight in his last two, going 8 1-3 innings in a 5-2 win at Oakland on July 23 before holding Philadelphia to two unearned runs in an 8-2 victory Wednesday.
"I've been able to consistently execute a mechanic that produces a good knuckleball, that's what it always comes down to," he told MLB's official website.
With Toronto's recent moves signaling its playoff intentions, Dickey sustaining his surge could provide just as big of a boost. He's 2-0 with a 3.72 ERA in three starts against Kansas City since joining the Blue Jays, but was roughed up for five runs and 10 hits in five innings in an 8-6 loss May 29, 2014, the last time he faced them.
Zobrist is 6 for 37 (.162) with nine strikeouts lifetime against Dickey, though Omar Infante is 17 for 34.
Opposing Dickey will be right-hander Edinson Volquez (10-5, 3.21), who is also riding a two-start win streak as he tries to help earn a series split. The Royals seem to have a good chance since Volquez has lost only once in his last 10 starts.
After tossing 7 2-3 innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts to beat Pittsburgh on July 22, he went six innings at Cleveland on Monday and gave up three runs in a 9-4 victory that gave him at least 10 in two straight seasons.
"I won 13 last year and I want to go over 13 this year," he said. "And everybody here keeps talking about how James Shields got 13 wins last year, so I want to go past him and get 15 or 16."
To continue marching toward those numbers, Volquez will have to turn the tide on his career struggles against the Blue Jays. He is 0-3 with a 7.30 ERA over five starts against Toronto, which is the only team he's faced that many times without a win.
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| | Last Updated: 4/24/2024 2:51:55 PM EST. |
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