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KANSAS CITY ( VOLQUEZ )
CHI WHITE SOX ( DANKS ) |
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| 921 | KANSAS CITY | -1.5,+120 | -1.5,+125 | | 922 | CHI WHITE SOX | +1.5,-140 | +1.5,-145 |
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| All Games | 12-4 | +7.8 | 8-7 | 5.2 | 0.301 | 0.349 | 0.447 | 0.796 | 3.2 | 0.223 | 0.273 | 0.342 | 0.615 | | Road Games | 5-2 | +3.4 | 4-3 | 5.7 | 0.299 | 0.340 | 0.429 | 0.769 | 3.4 | 0.215 | 0.259 | 0.346 | 0.605 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 7-1 | +6.5 | 4-4 | 5.2 | 0.295 | 0.340 | 0.455 | 0.795 | 3.4 | 0.231 | 0.280 | 0.339 | 0.620 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +2.8 | 2-4 | 3.7 | 0.280 | 0.331 | 0.385 | 0.716 | 3.1 | 0.224 | 0.290 | 0.313 | 0.603 | | Grass Games | 12-4 | +7.8 | 8-7 | 5.2 | 0.301 | 0.349 | 0.447 | 0.796 | 3.2 | 0.223 | 0.273 | 0.342 | 0.615 | | Day Games | 5-1 | +3.9 | 4-2 | 7.3 | 0.311 | 0.365 | 0.509 | 0.875 | 2.8 | 0.225 | 0.282 | 0.353 | 0.635 | | Division | 7-3 | +3.6 | 5-4 | 5.5 | 0.296 | 0.352 | 0.447 | 0.799 | 3.2 | 0.229 | 0.272 | 0.330 | 0.603 |
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| All Games | 5.2 | 0.301 | 0.349 | 16 | 562 | 169 | 31 | 6 | 13 | 0.447 | 79 | 42 | 76 | 15 | 126 | 20 | 6 | 17 | 4 | | Road Games | 5.7 | 0.299 | 0.340 | 7 | 268 | 80 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 0.429 | 38 | 17 | 43 | 2 | 59 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 0 | | Lefty Starters | 5.2 | 0.295 | 0.340 | 8 | 292 | 86 | 17 | 3 | 8 | 0.455 | 42 | 20 | 38 | 9 | 68 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
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| All Games | 0.52 | 0.726 | 52.3 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 1 | 11 | 46 | 5-0 | 8 | 1 | 88.9% | | Road Games | 1.21 | 0.717 | 22.3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 1-0 | 3 | 0 | 100% |
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| All Games | 6-9 | -3.4 | 6-9 | 3.5 | 0.246 | 0.292 | 0.378 | 0.670 | 4.3 | 0.260 | 0.318 | 0.413 | 0.731 | | Home Games | 4-3 | +0.5 | 2-5 | 3.6 | 0.261 | 0.295 | 0.394 | 0.689 | 3.4 | 0.236 | 0.308 | 0.348 | 0.656 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 6-6 | -0.2 | 5-7 | 3.8 | 0.260 | 0.308 | 0.394 | 0.702 | 4.1 | 0.244 | 0.301 | 0.396 | 0.697 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -1.4 | 2-5 | 4.0 | 0.262 | 0.316 | 0.393 | 0.709 | 3.7 | 0.254 | 0.305 | 0.419 | 0.724 | | Grass Games | 6-9 | -3.4 | 6-9 | 3.5 | 0.246 | 0.292 | 0.378 | 0.670 | 4.3 | 0.260 | 0.318 | 0.413 | 0.731 | | Day Games | 4-6 | -2 | 5-5 | 3.5 | 0.252 | 0.301 | 0.399 | 0.700 | 4.4 | 0.270 | 0.328 | 0.430 | 0.758 | | Division | 6-9 | -3.4 | 6-9 | 3.5 | 0.246 | 0.292 | 0.378 | 0.670 | 4.3 | 0.260 | 0.318 | 0.413 | 0.731 |
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| All Games | 3.5 | 0.246 | 0.292 | 15 | 508 | 125 | 29 | 1 | 12 | 0.378 | 50 | 33 | 126 | 4 | 90 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 12 | | Home Games | 3.6 | 0.261 | 0.295 | 7 | 249 | 65 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 0.394 | 23 | 12 | 67 | 2 | 48 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 | | Righty Starters | 3.8 | 0.260 | 0.308 | 12 | 416 | 108 | 24 | 1 | 10 | 0.394 | 44 | 29 | 100 | 4 | 80 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 9 |
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| All Games | 3.15 | 1.292 | 45.7 | 17 | 16 | 39 | 3 | 20 | 45 | 2-3 | 2 | 0 | 100% | | Home Games | 2.55 | 1.217 | 24.7 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 1 | 13 | 22 | 2-1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
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| 4/12/2015 | VENTURA(R) | @ LA ANGELS | WILSON(L) | 9-2 | W | 105 | 7 un | O | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | | 4/13/2015 | DUFFY(L) | @ MINNESOTA | MAY(R) | 12-3 | W | -130 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | | 4/15/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | @ MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | 1-3 | L | -125 | 8 un | U | 9 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 4/16/2015 | VARGAS(L) | @ MINNESOTA | MILONE(L) | 5-8 | L | -115 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 10 | 1 | 14 | 8 | 2 | | 4/17/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | OAKLAND | GRAY(R) | 6-4 | W | +105 | 7.5 un | O | 15 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0 | | 4/18/2015 | VENTURA(R) | OAKLAND | HAHN(R) | 0-5 | L | -125 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | | 4/19/2015 | DUFFY(L) | OAKLAND | KAZMIR(L) | 4-2 | W | +100 | 7 un | U | 8 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 0 | | 4/20/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | 7-1 | W | -135 | 8 un | P | 8 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | | 4/21/2015 | VARGAS(L) | MINNESOTA | MILONE(L) | 6-5 | W | -145 | 8 un | O | 10 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 | | 4/22/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | MINNESOTA | PELFREY(R) | 0-3 | L | -145 | 8.5 un | U | 6 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 0 | | 4/23/2015 | VENTURA(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | 3-2 | W | 140 | 7 un | U | 13 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 0 | | 4/26/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | | | 4/27/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | | | 4/28/2015 | VENTURA(R) | @ CLEVELAND | HOUSE(L) | | | 4/29/2015 | DUFFY(L) | @ CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | | | 4/30/2015 | | DETROIT | | | | 5/1/2015 | | DETROIT | | | | 5/2/2015 | | DETROIT | | | | 5/3/2015 | | DETROIT | | |
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| 4/12/2015 | SALE(L) | MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | 6-2 | W | -165 | 7.5 ev | O | 12 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 2 | | 4/14/2015 | QUINTANA(L) | @ CLEVELAND | CARRASCO(R) | 4-1 | W | 115 | 7 un | U | 8 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | | 4/15/2015 | DANKS(L) | @ CLEVELAND | BAUER(R) | 2-4 | L | 120 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 4/17/2015 | SAMARDZIJA(R) | @ DETROIT | PRICE(L) | 1-2 | L | 150 | 8 un | U | 4 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 4/18/2015 | SALE(L) | @ DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | 12-3 | W | 100 | 7.5 ov | O | 17 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 4/19/2015 | QUINTANA(L) | @ DETROIT | GREENE(R) | 1-9 | L | 135 | 8 ov | O | 6 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 0 | | 4/20/2015 | DANKS(L) | CLEVELAND | BAUER(R) | 4-3 | W | -110 | 9 ev | U | 10 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 4/21/2015 | NOESI(R) | CLEVELAND | CARRASCO(R) | 2-6 | L | +115 | 8.5 un | U | 8 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 1 | | 4/22/2015 | SAMARDZIJA(R) | CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | 6-0 | W | +110 | 7.5 un | U | 14 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 0 | | 4/23/2015 | SALE(L) | KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 2-3 | L | -150 | 7 un | U | 7 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 8 | 1 | | 4/26/2015 | DANKS(L) | KANSAS CITY | VOLQUEZ(R) | | | 4/27/2015 | SAMARDZIJA(R) | @ BALTIMORE | JIMENEZ(R) | | | 4/28/2015 | SALE(L) | @ BALTIMORE | TILLMAN(R) | | | 4/29/2015 | QUINTANA(L) | @ BALTIMORE | GONZALEZ(R) | | | 4/30/2015 | | @ MINNESOTA | | | | 5/1/2015 | | @ MINNESOTA | | | | 5/2/2015 | | @ MINNESOTA | | | | 5/3/2015 | | @ MINNESOTA | | |
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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? | | CHI WHITE SOX: CHICAGO (AP) - A decade removed from their most recent championship, the Chicago White Sox once again are eyeing a big season.
Their sights are set on an AL Central title after consecutive losing records, maybe even more. The White Sox added to their offense, boosted their rotation, overhauled their bullpen and sent expectations soaring.
''Obviously postseason first, and World Series,'' new closer David Robertson said. ''I mean that's what I look forward to every year. That's where I want to be.''
The addition of Robertson to the bullpen is among the reasons the White Sox believe they are armed and ready after going 73-89. But it's not the only one.
They added All-Star Jeff Samardzija to a rotation that already included ace Chris Sale. They added free agent Adam LaRoche to their lineup, giving AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu more protection, and brought in Melky Cabrera to solidify the No. 2 spot in the order behind Adam Eaton.
Is that enough to compete with Cleveland, Kansas City and Detroit in the division and make a run in the playoffs? The White Sox believe it is. Their fans are pumped, too.
With that in mind, here are some things to look for this season:
LINED UP: It would be hard for Abreu to match, let alone exceed, what he did last season. He batted .317 with 36 homers and 107 RBIs, one year after defecting from Cuba. While the White Sox tied for fourth in the AL in homers, they were just eighth in runs, ninth in batting average and 12th in on-base percentage.
LaRoche, who signed a $25 million, two-year contract, should give them power from the left side. He hit 26 homers and drove in 92 runs for Washington last season. Cabrera, a .301 hitter with Toronto, helps the top of the order.
''I think we're jelling together as a team. Hopefully that translates to wins in April,'' Eaton said.
SALE-ING ALONG: With Sale, Samardzija and Jose Quintana, the White Sox appear strong at the top of the rotation.
Sale made the AL All-Star team for the third time last season while going 12-4 with a 2.17 ERA with 208 strikeouts and 39 walks. Samardzija, acquired from Oakland, moves into the No. 2 spot. With Sale recovering from a broken foot, Samardzija - who grew up a White Sox fan - could wind up starting the opener at Kansas City after pitching the previous two for the Cubs.
CLOSING TIME: Chicago tied for seventh in the majors with 21 blown saves and had the fourth-lowest save percentage (63.2) last season. Robertson, who took over as closer after Mariano Rivera retired, saved 39 games for the New York Yankees last season. Chicago also brought in Zach Duke.
RODON WATCH: Whether he starts the season in the rotation or gets sent down to the minors, expect to see top prospect Carlos Rodon in a White Sox uniform at some point this season. The No. 3 pick in last year's amateur draft, he is on a fast track to the majors after three standout seasons at North Carolina State. Rodon, who made nine minor league appearances in 2014, could start the year in the rotation. If Rodon starts in the minors, veteran Brad Penny could make some early starts. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (KANSAS CITY-CHI WHITE SOX) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Royals-White Sox Preview* ==========================
Kansas City (12-4) at Chicago (6-9), 3:10 p.m. EDT
Insisting they're not a dirty team, the Kansas City Royals are eager to move on from their latest benches-clearing incident but won't change the way they play the game.
After the teams had an extra day to cool off, the visiting Royals don't expect any further confrontation with the White Sox as they resume Friday's suspended contest before playing their scheduled meeting Sunday.
Rain forced the postponement of Saturday's game, which has yet to be rescheduled, after the clubs played without incident Friday before the 2-2 game was suspended after eight innings due to rain.
In the series opener Thursday, a brawl erupted that resulted in the ejection of five players. Six players were suspended Saturday as a result of the incident, including Kansas City's Edinson Volquez, who will start this matchup as he appeals a five-game ban.
Fellow Royals starter Yordano Ventura was suspended seven games after his heated exchange with Chicago outfielder Adam Eaton sparked the melee.
Kansas City outfielder Lorenzo Cain and reliever Kelvin Herrera were each given two-game bans, while White Sox pitchers Chris Sale and Jeff Samardzija got five games apiece. Herrera is already awaiting an appeal on a five-game suspension handed down after he threw a pitch behind Oakland third baseman Brett Lawrie last weekend.
All the players who were suspended are appealing.
"We understand that Major League Baseball has to do what they think is fair in situations like this," Royals manager Ned Yost said in a team statement. "Now, we just have to wait for the appeals process to play out."
Kansas City coaches and players feel they are not totally to blame for dust-ups with Oakland, the Los Angeles Angels and the brawl with Chicago (6-9).
White Sox manager Robin Ventura, though, feels differently.
"This game's emotional and it seems to follow them around. It's happened often enough," he said. "Everybody gets emotional and reacts to things and that's what happened."
The Royals (12-4), paced by the same hard-nosed, gritty style that helped them win the AL pennant in 2014, believe they've become a target for opponents but won't back down from anyone.
"We're a team that plays hard, plays with emotion," said Cain, one of the players ejected from Thursday's 3-2, 13-inning victory. "Maybe we do need to tone that down a little bit. But at the same time, we're gonna play hard for each other because that's just how we play. That's how we do things."
One-time White Sox prospect Paulo Orlando had three hits for the Royals, who led 2-1 when the rain started in the sixth before Chicago tied it on Melky Cabrera's sacrifice fly in the seventh. David Robertson was warming up and had been announced to pitch for the White Sox in the suspended game, and Chris Young was pitching for the Royals.
Kansas City has won five straight and 15 of 18 against the White Sox. It's also held Chicago to an average of 2.1 runs while taking 16 of the last 19 at U.S. Cellular Field.
After going 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA last year for Pittsburgh, Volquez (2-1, 1.99 ERA) is off to a strong start with Kansas City. That tenure began April 9 when he gave up a run and four hits in eight innings of a 4-1 victory over Chicago.
"It feels good because the way I'm pitching, I'm carrying over everything," said the right-hander, who allowed a run in seven innings of a 7-1 victory over Minnesota on Monday. "Just trying to do what I did last year."
John Danks (0-2, 6.06) opposed Volquez earlier this month and yielded four runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. He went 7-0 with a 2.43 ERA in his first 16 starts against the Royals.
The left-hander, who last dropped his first three decisions in 2011, is coming off perhaps the best of his three outings Monday when he allowed three runs in six innings of a 4-3 victory over Cleveland.
Eric Hosmer is batting .364 against Danks.
Despite being shaken up after falling during a rundown Friday, Chicago's Jose Abreu was 2 for 4 when play was halted. He entered that contest 11 for 25 with 11 RBIs in the previous six games.
Abreu went 1 for 3 with a double against Volquez earlier this month.
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| | Last Updated: 5/17/2024 6:42:05 PM EST. |
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