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KANSAS CITY ( BLANTON )
HOUSTON ( MCCULLERS ) |
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| 911 | KANSAS CITY | +120 | Ov 7.5,-120 | +120 | Ov 7.5,-105 | | 912 | HOUSTON | -130 | Un 7.5,+100 | -130 | Un 7.5,-115 |
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| All Games | 44-28 | +15.2 | 32-33 | 4.4 | 0.273 | 0.315 | 0.407 | 0.723 | 3.6 | 0.238 | 0.299 | 0.371 | 0.670 | | Road Games | 22-15 | +9 | 17-16 | 4.4 | 0.270 | 0.308 | 0.403 | 0.711 | 3.8 | 0.237 | 0.302 | 0.376 | 0.678 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 32-15 | +16.5 | 24-19 | 4.8 | 0.282 | 0.327 | 0.422 | 0.749 | 3.4 | 0.232 | 0.291 | 0.373 | 0.664 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +4.1 | 3-2 | 3.9 | 0.259 | 0.302 | 0.358 | 0.660 | 4.3 | 0.236 | 0.285 | 0.409 | 0.694 | | Grass Games | 44-28 | +15.2 | 32-33 | 4.4 | 0.273 | 0.315 | 0.407 | 0.723 | 3.6 | 0.238 | 0.299 | 0.371 | 0.670 | | Night Games | 31-18 | +12 | 22-23 | 4.3 | 0.277 | 0.316 | 0.406 | 0.722 | 3.3 | 0.233 | 0.295 | 0.355 | 0.649 |
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| All Games | 4.4 | 0.273 | 0.315 | 72 | 2462 | 672 | 130 | 18 | 55 | 0.407 | 299 | 152 | 420 | 42 | 482 | 66 | 39 | 59 | 31 | | Road Games | 4.4 | 0.270 | 0.308 | 37 | 1331 | 359 | 66 | 6 | 33 | 0.403 | 153 | 74 | 244 | 13 | 254 | 39 | 27 | 26 | 13 | | Righty Starters | 4.8 | 0.282 | 0.327 | 47 | 1587 | 447 | 83 | 14 | 37 | 0.422 | 209 | 107 | 271 | 26 | 303 | 47 | 19 | 38 | 20 |
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| All Games | 2.07 | 1.046 | 239 | 58 | 55 | 167 | 15 | 83 | 213 | 12-4 | 25 | 6 | 80.6% | | Road Games | 2.39 | 1.080 | 120.3 | 35 | 32 | 78 | 11 | 52 | 114 | 6-3 | 12 | 4 | 75% |
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| All Games | 44-34 | +7.2 | 37-38 | 4.4 | 0.240 | 0.304 | 0.426 | 0.730 | 3.8 | 0.235 | 0.292 | 0.374 | 0.665 | | Home Games | 25-16 | +4.7 | 17-23 | 4.1 | 0.234 | 0.306 | 0.434 | 0.740 | 3.6 | 0.228 | 0.283 | 0.374 | 0.656 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 28-17 | +11.9 | 26-17 | 4.9 | 0.248 | 0.311 | 0.453 | 0.764 | 4.0 | 0.235 | 0.292 | 0.377 | 0.668 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -1.2 | 2-5 | 4.6 | 0.237 | 0.292 | 0.411 | 0.703 | 3.1 | 0.220 | 0.292 | 0.321 | 0.613 | | Grass Games | 44-31 | +10.3 | 35-37 | 4.5 | 0.241 | 0.306 | 0.429 | 0.735 | 3.7 | 0.232 | 0.288 | 0.367 | 0.656 | | Night Games | 27-22 | +2.7 | 21-25 | 4.2 | 0.234 | 0.297 | 0.420 | 0.718 | 3.7 | 0.237 | 0.292 | 0.376 | 0.668 |
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| All Games | 4.4 | 0.240 | 0.304 | 78 | 2613 | 628 | 140 | 7 | 110 | 0.426 | 326 | 241 | 728 | 61 | 482 | 55 | 43 | 71 | 45 | | Home Games | 4.1 | 0.234 | 0.306 | 41 | 1283 | 300 | 65 | 3 | 62 | 0.434 | 162 | 134 | 371 | 26 | 232 | 32 | 22 | 41 | 20 | | Righty Starters | 4.9 | 0.248 | 0.311 | 45 | 1503 | 372 | 85 | 4 | 72 | 0.453 | 208 | 138 | 419 | 38 | 270 | 29 | 25 | 37 | 28 |
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| All Games | 2.48 | 0.969 | 232.3 | 70 | 64 | 160 | 24 | 65 | 240 | 15-13 | 24 | 8 | 75% | | Home Games | 1.99 | 0.860 | 131.3 | 31 | 29 | 82 | 14 | 31 | 143 | 7-7 | 14 | 3 | 82.4% |
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| 6/15/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | 8-5 | W | -110 | 7.5 un | O | 13 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 0 | | 6/16/2015 | YOUNG(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | GARZA(R) | 7-2 | W | -115 | 7.5 un | O | 17 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0 | | 6/17/2015 | BLANTON(R) | MILWAUKEE | FIERS(R) | 10-2 | W | -140 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | 6/18/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | 3-2 | W | -140 | 7.5 ov | U | 13 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | | 6/19/2015 | PINO(R) | BOSTON | RODRIGUEZ(L) | 3-7 | L | -105 | 8 un | O | 10 | 9 | 1 | 16 | 7 | 0 | | 6/20/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | BOSTON | PORCELLO(R) | 7-4 | W | -120 | 8 un | O | 11 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 1 | | 6/21/2015 | YOUNG(R) | BOSTON | MILEY(L) | 2-13 | L | -105 | 8.5 un | O | 9 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 6 | 0 | | 6/22/2015 | BLANTON(R) | @ SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | 4-1 | W | 140 | 6.5 un | U | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | | 6/23/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ SEATTLE | MONTGOMERY(L) | 0-7 | L | 105 | 7 ov | P | 4 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 2 | | 6/24/2015 | DUFFY(L) | @ SEATTLE | ELIAS(L) | 8-2 | W | -110 | 7 un | O | 13 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 6/26/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | @ OAKLAND | HAHN(R) | 5-2 | W | 115 | 7 ev | P | 11 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | | 6/27/2015 | YOUNG(R) | @ OAKLAND | KAZMIR(L) | 3-2 | W | 135 | 7 un | U | 8 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 6/28/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ OAKLAND | CHAVEZ(R) | 5-3 | W | 130 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 2 | | 6/29/2015 | BLANTON(R) | @ HOUSTON | MCCULLERS(R) | | | 6/30/2015 | DUFFY(L) | @ HOUSTON | KEUCHEL(L) | | | 7/1/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | @ HOUSTON | VELASQUEZ(R) | | | 7/2/2015 | YOUNG(R) | MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | | | 7/3/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | MINNESOTA | MILONE(L) | | | 7/4/2015 | BLANTON(R) | MINNESOTA | PELFREY(R) | | | 7/5/2015 | DUFFY(L) | MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | | | 7/6/2015 | | TAMPA BAY | | |
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| 6/15/2015 | KEUCHEL(L) | COLORADO | BETTIS(R) | 6-3 | W | -180 | 7.5 un | O | 9 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | | 6/16/2015 | VELASQUEZ(R) | COLORADO | RUSIN(L) | 8-5 | W | -170 | 8.5 un | O | 11 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 1 | | 6/17/2015 | OBERHOLTZER(L) | @ COLORADO | KENDRICK(R) | 8-4 | W | -125 | 11 ev | O | 13 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 1 | | 6/18/2015 | MCHUGH(R) | @ COLORADO | HALE(R) | 8-4 | W | -110 | 10.5 ov | O | 13 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 0 | | 6/19/2015 | MCCULLERS(R) | @ SEATTLE | ELIAS(L) | 2-5 | L | -135 | 7 un | P | 4 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 6/20/2015 | KEUCHEL(L) | @ SEATTLE | WALKER(R) | 3-6 | L | -115 | 6.5 ov | O | 8 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 6/21/2015 | VELASQUEZ(R) | @ SEATTLE | HAPP(L) | 6-2 | W | 105 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 1 | | 6/22/2015 | OBERHOLTZER(L) | @ LA ANGELS | SANTIAGO(L) | 3-4 | L | 115 | 7.5 ov | U | 5 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 0 | | 6/23/2015 | MCHUGH(R) | @ LA ANGELS | WILSON(L) | 13-3 | W | 105 | 7.5 ov | O | 16 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 2 | | 6/24/2015 | MCCULLERS(R) | @ LA ANGELS | HEANEY(L) | 1-2 | L | -105 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 14 | 1 | | 6/25/2015 | KEUCHEL(L) | NY YANKEES | WARREN(R) | 4-0 | W | -150 | 7.5 ev | U | 7 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 3 | | 6/26/2015 | VELASQUEZ(R) | NY YANKEES | EOVALDI(R) | 2-3 | L | -125 | 8.5 un | U | 5 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 0 | | 6/27/2015 | OBERHOLTZER(L) | NY YANKEES | TANAKA(R) | 6-9 | L | +120 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 0 | | 6/28/2015 | MCHUGH(R) | NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | 3-1 | W | +100 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | | 6/29/2015 | MCCULLERS(R) | KANSAS CITY | BLANTON(R) | | | 6/30/2015 | KEUCHEL(L) | KANSAS CITY | DUFFY(L) | | | 7/1/2015 | VELASQUEZ(R) | KANSAS CITY | VOLQUEZ(R) | | | 7/3/2015 | | @ BOSTON | MASTERSON(R) | | | 7/4/2015 | MCHUGH(R) | @ BOSTON | BUCHHOLZ(R) | | | 7/5/2015 | MCCULLERS(R) | @ BOSTON | RODRIGUEZ(L) | | | 7/6/2015 | | @ CLEVELAND | | |
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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? | | HOUSTON: HOUSTON (AP) - The Houston Astros moved out of the major league basement last season.
Now the question is whether Jose Altuve and his teammates are ready to contend this year or if they still need a couple of seasons to complete their rebuild and get back to the postseason.
Owner Jim Crane is confident the time is now.
''This is our year,'' he said, adding that their goal is to make the playoffs.
The Astros made a 19-game improvement in 2014 to win 70 games and snap a streak of three straight 100-loss seasons. They beefed up a bullpen that struggled last year and added more pop to a lineup that was fourth in the majors with 163 homers in 2014 in an attempt to take another step in 2015.
''These guys are all professional baseball players and they all want to win,'' general manager Jeff Luhnow said. ''We're not going to set any limitations on them. It's up to them at this point. We've done our work for the offseason.''
The Astros blew 25 saves last season, a statistic that troubled Crane more than any other number associated with his team. His first order of business this offseason was to bring in players to get that number down this year.
To that end, Houston added relievers Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek. Gregerson appeared in 72 games for the Athletics last season and posted a 2.12 ERA and Neshek saw action in 71 games for St. Louis in 2014 with a 1.87 ERA.
A lineup that already had power aplenty with Chris Carter, whose 37 homers tied for second in the majors last season, and George Springer, who hit 20 in just 78 games, now has more sluggers with the addition of Evan Gattis and Colby Rasmus. Gattis has hit 43 homers combined in his first two major league seasons and Rasmus has hit at least 22 home runs in two of the last three years.
That power is what excites first-year manager A.J. Hinch most about his team.
''We have a chance to be a dangerous lineup,'' Hinch said with a smile.
Some things to know about the 2015 Astros:
EXPECTATIONS FOR ALTUVE: Altuve became the first Astros player to win a batting title by hitting .341 last season. He set a team record with 225 hits, was third in the majors with 47 doubles, had 59 RBIs and tied for second in the league with 56 stolen bases.
So what does Luhnow expect the 24-year-old second baseman to do for an encore?
''He's going to be a .300 career hitter, which are few and far between,'' Luhnow said. ''So there's going to be years like with most of these great hitters where they hit .340 and years that they hit .305. In my mind Altuve is an elite major league hitter and we're going to see it year in and year out.''
SPRINGER'S SECOND YEAR: Springer, the 11th overall pick in the 2011 draft, hit .231 with 20 homers and 51 RBIs in 78 games as a rookie. He injured his left quadriceps on July 20 and he didn't play again. The Astros are eager to see what the right fielder can do in a full season.
''He's got a ton of potential,'' Hinch said. ''He's a dynamic player. He can do a lot of different things in a lot of different ways. Everybody sort of sits up in their seats when he comes up to bat. I think there's a chance for him to have impact in all (areas) of the game, which is hard to come by.''
CAN ROTATION BE CONSISTENT?: Dallas Keuchel (12-9, 2.93 ERA) and Collin McHugh (11-9, 2.73) had breakout seasons in 2014, but can they perform at that level in a second year to lead the rotation? Keuchel posted ERAs of over 5.00 in both of his first two seasons before being chosen this year's opening day starter with his work last year, and McHugh had ERAs of 7.59 and 10.04 in his first two years before his success in 2014.
ANOTHER NEW SKIPPER: Counting interim managers, Hinch is the seventh manager the Astros have had since 2009. He was hired just after last season following the firing of Bo Porter, who was let go near the end of his second season.
This is the second time the 40-year-old Hinch has led a team after he managed Arizona from May 2009 until July 2010, when he was fired after 31-48 start. He was the vice president of professional scouting for San Diego from 2010 until August. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (KANSAS CITY-HOUSTON) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Royals-Astros Preview* =======================
Kansas City (43-28) at Houston (43-34), 8:10 p.m. EDT
The Kansas City Royals' contact-hitting approach is one reason they are developing into a mainstay as an AL contender.
The Houston Astros are using an all-or-nothing approach at the plate to muscle their way into contention.
These division leaders with contrasting hitting styles meet for the first time Monday night in Houston to start a three-game series.
Kansas City (44-28) ended its 29-year postseason drought last year, and the AL Central leaders are now out to win their first division title in 30 years. The contact-hitting Royals are second in the majors with a .273 average, have struck out the fewest times (420) and drawn the fewest walks (152).
"We know what we're up against, we know that they're a good team, they've got a good record, they've got good talent, they got a million guys going to the All-Star Game as of right now," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "So we'll show up prepared, ready to play and they're going to be a tough team to match up against."
Houston (44-34) leads the West and is poised to end a six-year stretch of losing seasons and qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. The Astros lead the majors with 110 homers and 728 strikeouts, and also are among baseball's leaders with 241 walks.
The Royals have won four straight after a three-game sweep at Oakland in which their pitchers did not allow a homer and their starters posted a 1.89 ERA. Kansas City has allowed the AL's fewest homers with 56.
Kansas City will get its first look at sensational Houston shortstop Carlos Correa, who is 5 for 8 with a homer and three doubles in his last two games. Correa has a .930 OPS since being recalled June 8 from the minors.
Lorenzo Cain figures to return to the lineup after he did not start Sunday's 5-3 win after tweaking his hamstring stealing a base Saturday. Eric Hosmer is day to day after he left early Sunday due to a sprained left ring finger suffered Saturday. Alcides Escobar is expected to start Monday despite having a split nail on his right index finger.
Kendrys Morales is batting .357 in an 11-game hitting streak.
The Royals will start Joe Blanton (2-0, 1.73 ERA), who improved to 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA in two starts after giving up one run in six-plus innings in last Monday's 4-1 victory at Seattle. It's been a remarkable turnaround since coming out of retirement.
"Being able to get back was kind of almost the pinnacle and now I'm just riding it out and enjoying it," he said.
The right-hander is 3-2 with a 2.77 ERA in seven career starts against the Astros. Jose Altuve is 5 for 14 against him and Chris Carter is 3 for 8 with three homers.
Blanton will be opposed by rookie Lance McCullers (3-2, 2.33), who is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in four home starts. The right-hander surrendered one run in six innings in Wednesday's 2-1, 13-inning defeat to the Los Angeles Angels.
McCullers is averaging 10.10 strikeouts per nine innings while limiting hitters to a .189 average.
The visiting team went 6-0 in this series last year.
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| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 5:21:28 AM EST. |
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