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CINCINNATI ( CUETO )
KANSAS CITY ( VENTURA ) |
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| 979 | CINCINNATI | -1.5,+140 | +1.5,-180 | | 980 | KANSAS CITY | +1.5,-160 | -1.5,+160 |
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| All Games | 18-20 | -2.2 | 17-17 | 4.0 | 0.240 | 0.311 | 0.399 | 0.710 | 4.5 | 0.249 | 0.314 | 0.410 | 0.724 | | Road Games | 9-11 | -1.3 | 8-11 | 4.1 | 0.250 | 0.316 | 0.395 | 0.711 | 4.0 | 0.243 | 0.313 | 0.397 | 0.711 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 14-14 | -0.4 | 11-14 | 4.0 | 0.234 | 0.309 | 0.392 | 0.702 | 4.4 | 0.247 | 0.307 | 0.405 | 0.712 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -1.7 | 3-3 | 3.7 | 0.243 | 0.316 | 0.416 | 0.732 | 5.6 | 0.290 | 0.351 | 0.463 | 0.814 | | Grass Games | 18-20 | -2.2 | 17-17 | 4.0 | 0.240 | 0.311 | 0.399 | 0.710 | 4.5 | 0.249 | 0.314 | 0.410 | 0.724 | | Night Games | 15-11 | +4.6 | 13-11 | 4.2 | 0.244 | 0.314 | 0.409 | 0.723 | 4.3 | 0.239 | 0.308 | 0.386 | 0.694 | | Interleague | 1-2 | -1 | 2-1 | 5.0 | 0.293 | 0.407 | 0.374 | 0.781 | 5.3 | 0.307 | 0.375 | 0.505 | 0.880 |
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| All Games | 4.0 | 0.240 | 0.311 | 38 | 1271 | 305 | 38 | 10 | 48 | 0.399 | 145 | 131 | 289 | 43 | 258 | 37 | 17 | 29 | 22 | | Road Games | 4.1 | 0.250 | 0.316 | 20 | 679 | 170 | 18 | 7 | 22 | 0.395 | 80 | 65 | 142 | 21 | 132 | 24 | 11 | 17 | 11 | | Righty Starters | 4.0 | 0.234 | 0.309 | 28 | 930 | 218 | 26 | 5 | 37 | 0.392 | 106 | 101 | 213 | 34 | 197 | 26 | 13 | 25 | 16 |
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| All Games | 5.17 | 1.432 | 102.7 | 61 | 59 | 100 | 9 | 47 | 104 | 6-6 | 7 | 5 | 58.3% | | Road Games | 5.32 | 1.512 | 42.3 | 27 | 25 | 37 | 4 | 27 | 38 | 0-3 | 3 | 1 | 75% |
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| All Games | 24-14 | +9.5 | 20-15 | 5.1 | 0.287 | 0.328 | 0.435 | 0.763 | 3.6 | 0.230 | 0.296 | 0.355 | 0.651 | | Home Games | 13-6 | +5.8 | 10-8 | 5.0 | 0.281 | 0.328 | 0.430 | 0.758 | 3.2 | 0.221 | 0.283 | 0.340 | 0.623 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 14-8 | +5.4 | 15-6 | 5.5 | 0.292 | 0.337 | 0.447 | 0.783 | 3.9 | 0.233 | 0.300 | 0.388 | 0.688 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.2 | 3-3 | 5.1 | 0.273 | 0.313 | 0.437 | 0.749 | 4.0 | 0.261 | 0.329 | 0.423 | 0.753 | | Grass Games | 24-14 | +9.5 | 20-15 | 5.1 | 0.287 | 0.328 | 0.435 | 0.763 | 3.6 | 0.230 | 0.296 | 0.355 | 0.651 | | Night Games | 15-11 | +3.3 | 14-11 | 4.5 | 0.281 | 0.318 | 0.416 | 0.735 | 3.8 | 0.234 | 0.303 | 0.367 | 0.670 |
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| All Games | 5.1 | 0.287 | 0.328 | 38 | 1330 | 382 | 82 | 14 | 29 | 0.435 | 183 | 81 | 213 | 24 | 264 | 34 | 23 | 33 | 15 | | Home Games | 5.0 | 0.281 | 0.328 | 19 | 630 | 177 | 37 | 9 | 13 | 0.430 | 91 | 44 | 95 | 19 | 127 | 13 | 6 | 18 | 7 | | Righty Starters | 5.5 | 0.292 | 0.337 | 22 | 768 | 224 | 49 | 11 | 16 | 0.447 | 114 | 52 | 128 | 13 | 149 | 21 | 10 | 22 | 10 |
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| All Games | 1.60 | 0.946 | 129 | 25 | 23 | 82 | 9 | 40 | 106 | 9-2 | 13 | 4 | 76.5% | | Home Games | 1.32 | 0.849 | 68.3 | 10 | 10 | 43 | 4 | 15 | 54 | 5-0 | 8 | 1 | 88.9% |
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| 5/5/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | 7-1 | W | 130 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0 | | 5/6/2015 | LEAKE(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | 3-0 | W | 155 | 7 un | U | 10 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 0 | | 5/7/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | 2-7 | L | 115 | 7.5 un | O | 9 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 0 | | 5/9/2015 | CUETO(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | NOESI(R) | 10-4 | W | -110 | 7.5 un | O | 13 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | | 5/9/2015 | MARQUIS(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | RODON(L) | 2-8 | L | 125 | 8.5 ev | O | 6 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 0 | | 5/10/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | 3-4 | L | -105 | 8.5 ov | U | 10 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 13 | 0 | | 5/11/2015 | LEAKE(R) | ATLANTA | MILLER(R) | 1-2 | L | -135 | 7.5 un | U | 4 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 1 | | 5/12/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | ATLANTA | FOLTYNEWICZ(R) | 4-3 | W | -135 | 8 ov | U | 8 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 1 | | 5/13/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | ATLANTA | STULTS(L) | 5-1 | W | -130 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | | 5/14/2015 | CUETO(R) | SAN FRANCISCO | LINCECUM(R) | 4-3 | W | -165 | 7 un | P | 7 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | | 5/15/2015 | MARQUIS(R) | SAN FRANCISCO | BUMGARNER(L) | 2-10 | L | +120 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 0 | | 5/16/2015 | LEAKE(R) | SAN FRANCISCO | VOGELSONG(R) | 2-11 | L | -135 | 8 ov | O | 7 | 11 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 0 | | 5/17/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | SAN FRANCISCO | HESTON(R) | 8-9 | L | +100 | 8 ev | O | 12 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 12 | 2 | | 5/19/2015 | CUETO(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | | | 5/20/2015 | MARQUIS(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | | | 5/22/2015 | LEAKE(R) | @ CLEVELAND | CARRASCO(R) | | | 5/23/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | | | 5/24/2015 | | @ CLEVELAND | | | | 5/25/2015 | | COLORADO | | | | 5/26/2015 | | COLORADO | | |
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| 5/5/2015 | VARGAS(L) | CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | 5-3 | W | -120 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | | 5/6/2015 | DUFFY(L) | CLEVELAND | CARRASCO(R) | 3-10 | L | -135 | 7 ov | O | 5 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 1 | | 5/7/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | 7-4 | W | +105 | 8 un | O | 12 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 2 | | 5/8/2015 | VENTURA(R) | @ DETROIT | PRICE(L) | 5-6 | L | 140 | 7.5 ov | O | 14 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 1 | | 5/9/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | 6-2 | W | 140 | 8.5 un | U | 13 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 1 | | 5/10/2015 | YOUNG(R) | @ DETROIT | GREENE(R) | 2-1 | W | -110 | 8 ov | U | 5 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 0 | | 5/11/2015 | DUFFY(L) | @ TEXAS | LEWIS(R) | 2-8 | L | -135 | 7.5 ov | O | 5 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 0 | | 5/12/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | @ TEXAS | MARTINEZ(R) | 7-6 | W | -130 | 9 un | O | 12 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 1 | | 5/13/2015 | VENTURA(R) | @ TEXAS | GALLARDO(R) | 2-5 | L | -125 | 8 ev | U | 6 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 0 | | 5/14/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ TEXAS | DETWILER(L) | 6-3 | W | -105 | 9 un | P | 14 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 1 | | 5/15/2015 | YOUNG(R) | NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | 12-1 | W | +105 | 7 un | O | 17 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 1 | | 5/16/2015 | DUFFY(L) | NY YANKEES | SABATHIA(L) | 1-5 | L | -125 | 8 un | U | 6 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 1 | | 5/17/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | NY YANKEES | CAPUANO(L) | 6-0 | W | -115 | 8 un | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 2 | | 5/19/2015 | VENTURA(R) | CINCINNATI | CUETO(R) | | | 5/20/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | CINCINNATI | MARQUIS(R) | | | 5/22/2015 | YOUNG(R) | ST LOUIS | LYNN(R) | | | 5/23/2015 | DUFFY(L) | ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | | | 5/24/2015 | | ST LOUIS | | | | 5/25/2015 | | @ NY YANKEES | | | | 5/26/2015 | | @ NY YANKEES | | |
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| |  | CINCINNATI: CINCINNATI (AP) - The rotation was Cincinnati's strength in an otherwise disappointing season last year. It's the Reds' biggest question as they try to move forward.
They're not sure what they're getting beyond 20-game-winner Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, the only two holdovers who are healthy enough to pitch as the season begins. They've got some veteran retreads and unproven young starters trying to hold it together.
The rotation could be a work in progress well into the season.
''I know what the regular lineup looks like,'' second-year manager Bryan Price said. ''The biggest challenge is the bullpen and deciding roles and finalizing the last two starting pitchers.''
The Reds created two openings by trading Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon in the offseason. Homer Bailey hasn't fully recovered from surgery on his forearm and won't be ready until at least mid-April.
Cincinnati is counting on Anthony DeSclafani, who was acquired from Miami in the trade for Latos, to fill one of the spots. The rest of the rotation was under construction late in spring training, a sign of how much things had changed from a year ago.
''We feel we have a competitive team,'' Price said. ''This isn't a rebuilt situation. So we have to feel as confident as we can one-through-five in our rotation.''
The Reds lost 86 games last season in large part because of a subpar offense and a bullpen that finished as one of the NL's worst. They've tried to fix those two problems in the offseason through trades and free agency.
Now, a lot of it is on the starters to make it hold together during a special season in Cincinnati, which will host the All-Star Game. Some things to watch:
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CUETO'S CONTRACT
Cueto is entering the final year on his deal. The Reds have talked to him about an extension, but nothing was imminent as spring training wound down. If Cueto doesn't have an extension by midseason, the Reds would be in the position of considering a trade offer rather than letting him leave as a free agent after the season.
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VOTTO'S LEG
First baseman Joey Votto didn't play after July 5 because of strained muscles above his left knee. The 2010 National League MVP felt good in spring training. The Reds struggled to score runs last season despite playing in hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. If Votto is back to form, the offense will get a huge boost. The question is whether he can make it through the season without getting hurt again.
''I think that I've proven when healthy that I'm a helpful part of the team,'' Votto said.
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NEEDING RELIEF
The bullpen was one of the biggest problems in the second half of the season, contributing to the Reds' collapse. They were only 1 1/2 games out in the NL Central at the All-Star break, but went 25-42 the rest of the way. The bullpen was 1-17 after the break. Closer Aroldis Chapman was dependable, but the middle of the bullpen was a huge problem. The Reds added Burke Badenhop and Kevin Gregg to try to help, and moved left-hander Tony Cingrani into a relief role during spring training.
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OUT IN LEFT FIELD
Ryan Ludwick struggled in his return from a significant shoulder injury, and nobody else excelled in left field, either, making it the biggest weakness in the lineup. The Reds got Marlon Byrd in a trade with the Phillies, hoping to finally stabilize the position. The 14-year veteran knows there's a lot at stake in how he performs.
''Yes, there is pressure and there should be,'' Byrd said. ''This is a team that wanted me. I've got to come in to fill that veteran role, the left field spot, and bring some pop to the lineup. I have to do what I've done the last two years. To do any less is just a failure on my part.''
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RUN BILLY RUN
Center fielder Billy Hamilton had an exceptional rookie season, stealing a club-record 56 bases. He wore down as the season went along, batting only .200 with 18 steals in the second half. The 6-foot, 160-pound leadoff hitter lifted weights in the offseason, trying to get stronger so he doesn't fade again.
''I'm not a power hitter, but I want to be stronger than last year,'' Hamilton said. | | 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? |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (CINCINNATI-KANSAS CITY) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Reds-Royals Preview* =====================
By JEFF BARTL STATS Senior Writer
Cincinnati (18-20) at Kansas City (24-14), 8:10 p.m. EDT
Johnny Cueto had a wild side, too, when he was Yordano Ventura's age, earning a seven-game suspension for his role in a benches-clearing brawl nearly five years ago.
Since then, Cueto has become one of the game's top pitchers and the anchor of the Cincinnati Reds' staff who will command top dollar when he reaches free agency after the season.
Ventura, who turns 24 on June 3 and has made more headlines for his antics than for his pitching, opposes Cueto when the Kansas City Royals host the Reds on Tuesday night.
Cueto (3-3, 2.93 ERA) posted a 3.64 ERA as a 24-year-old in 2010, when he threw punches during a scuffle with St. Louis. He's posted a 2.52 ERA since that season while continuing to mature as a pitcher.
The right-hander gave up two runs and struck out nine in seven innings of the Reds' 4-3 win over San Francisco on Thursday, and he's pitched at least seven innings in seven of his eight starts.
Opponents are hitting .203 off Cueto as he looks to help the Reds (18-20) snap a three-game losing streak. He'll go up against Ventura, whose potential is being overshadowed by his temper and so-so performances.
Ventura (2-3, 5.36) was ejected for hitting Oakland's Brett Lawrie with a pitch April 18, and in his next start instigated a benches-clearing brawl with the Chicago White Sox that resulted in a seven-game suspension.
The right-hander is 0-2 with a 6.87 ERA in his last three outings after allowing five runs and 10 hits in seven innings of Wednesday's 5-2 loss to Texas. Ventura also has been dealing with a blister on his thumb.
"I see games like (Wednesday's), and you can see Ventura is on the brink from getting over the hump," manager Ned Yost said.
Ventura is part of a starting rotation that ranks in the bottom third of the majors with a 4.46 ERA, but former Red Edinson Volquez pitched seven solid innings in Sunday's 6-0 victory over the New York Yankees.
The Royals (24-14) have outscored opponents 25-9 while winning three of four. Salvador Perez homered Sunday and brings in a five-game hitting streak to face Cueto, with whom most of the Kansas City lineup is unfamiliar.
Only Omar Infante (3 for 11) and Alcides Escobar (2 for 6) have faced Cueto more than five times.
The Reds especially could use another solid effort from Cueto with starters posting a 17.18 ERA during the skid that began after Cueto's last start.
Cincinnati was better at the plate Sunday after manager Bryan Price shuffled his lineup, dropping Billy Hamilton from the leadoff spot to eighth and batting Jay Bruce seventh rather than fifth.
Bruce was hitting .162 before going 5 for 9 while homering in each of the last two against San Francisco.
"Honestly, I haven't felt bad all year. I felt super normal," Bruce said. "I've felt healthy. I've felt strong. It's just missing. I'm going to keep working and keep doing everything I've been doing all year and continue to try and get everything I can get."
These clubs haven't faced each other since the Royals took two of three in 2010, when Cueto earned Cincinnati's lone victory in the last six meetings in the series.
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| | Last Updated: 10/6/2024 7:30:27 AM EST. |
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