| | | |
KANSAS CITY ( VENTURA )
TEXAS ( LEWIS ) |
|
|
9un
| 6
Final
3 |
|
|
| | |
|
|
|  | |
|
| 923 | KANSAS CITY | -1.5,+105 | -1.5,+105 | | 924 | TEXAS | +1.5,-125 | +1.5,-125 |
|
|
|  |
|
| | | | | |
|
|
| All Games | 70-56 | +7.2 | 58-63 | 4.1 | 0.265 | 0.311 | 3.9 | 0.252 | 0.308 | | Road Games | 37-28 | +10.7 | 29-32 | 4.5 | 0.274 | 0.319 | 3.6 | 0.239 | 0.297 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 50-38 | +5.4 | 43-41 | 4.3 | 0.264 | 0.310 | 3.7 | 0.251 | 0.309 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +2.8 | 5-2 | 5.9 | 0.298 | 0.343 | 4.4 | 0.243 | 0.291 | | Grass Games | 66-53 | +5.7 | 55-60 | 4.1 | 0.263 | 0.310 | 3.9 | 0.251 | 0.307 | | Night Games | 47-35 | +7.5 | 37-41 | 4.2 | 0.265 | 0.310 | 3.8 | 0.250 | 0.307 |
|
| |
|
|
| All Games | 4.1 | 0.265 | 0.311 | 126 | 4323 | 1144 | 325 | 78 | 0.02 | 484 | 291 | 748 | 110 | 828 | 128 | 72 | 94 | 47 | | Road Games | 4.5 | 0.274 | 0.319 | 65 | 2338 | 640 | 181 | 45 | 0.02 | 268 | 157 | 405 | 52 | 467 | 76 | 41 | 45 | 15 | | Righty Starters | 4.3 | 0.264 | 0.310 | 88 | 3029 | 801 | 230 | 53 | 0.02 | 343 | 198 | 512 | 83 | 575 | 81 | 42 | 67 | 33 |
|
| |
|
| All Games | 3.36 | 1.278 | 348.3 | 142 | 130 | 309 | 27 | 136 | 338 | 22-12 | 41 | 9 | 82% | | Road Games | 2.49 | 1.159 | 170 | 57 | 47 | 133 | 12 | 64 | 158 | 8-8 | 17 | 5 | 77.3% |
|
|
| |
|
|
| All Games | 49-77 | -28.4 | 57-61 | 4.0 | 0.256 | 0.311 | 5.1 | 0.279 | 0.340 | | Home Games | 23-38 | -19.7 | 26-32 | 3.9 | 0.250 | 0.306 | 5.6 | 0.276 | 0.333 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 34-54 | -20.8 | 34-48 | 3.5 | 0.248 | 0.302 | 4.6 | 0.269 | 0.330 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -2.3 | 2-4 | 3.3 | 0.233 | 0.279 | 5.1 | 0.269 | 0.330 | | Grass Games | 47-73 | -26.4 | 54-58 | 4.0 | 0.257 | 0.313 | 5.1 | 0.279 | 0.339 | | Night Games | 31-60 | -31.9 | 42-43 | 3.7 | 0.254 | 0.308 | 5.3 | 0.282 | 0.342 |
|
| |
|
|
| All Games | 4.0 | 0.256 | 0.311 | 126 | 4264 | 1092 | 322 | 91 | 0.02 | 471 | 338 | 926 | 76 | 841 | 126 | 87 | 116 | 61 | | Home Games | 3.9 | 0.250 | 0.306 | 61 | 2020 | 506 | 138 | 39 | 0.02 | 222 | 162 | 437 | 39 | 393 | 62 | 47 | 56 | 30 | | Righty Starters | 3.5 | 0.248 | 0.302 | 88 | 2957 | 734 | 215 | 55 | 0.02 | 291 | 226 | 662 | 57 | 587 | 85 | 63 | 75 | 34 |
|
| |
|
| All Games | 4.16 | 1.343 | 405 | 200 | 187 | 398 | 40 | 146 | 361 | 16-21 | 23 | 13 | 63.9% | | Home Games | 3.83 | 1.234 | 216.4 | 101 | 92 | 195 | 19 | 72 | 175 | 9-6 | 9 | 2 | 81.8% |
|
| | |
|
|
| 8/8/2014 | VARGAS(L) | SAN FRANCISCO | BUMGARNER(L) | 4-2 | W | -115 | 7 ev | U | 7 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 3 | | 8/9/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | SAN FRANCISCO | HUDSON(R) | 5-0 | W | -145 | 7 ov | U | 9 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | | 8/10/2014 | DUFFY(L) | SAN FRANCISCO | LINCECUM(R) | 7-4 | W | -155 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0 | | 8/11/2014 | VENTURA(R) | OAKLAND | GRAY(R) | 3-2 | W | -110 | 7 ev | U | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | | 8/12/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | OAKLAND | LESTER(L) | 3-11 | L | +130 | 7.5 un | O | 7 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 7 | 1 | | 8/13/2014 | VARGAS(L) | OAKLAND | KAZMIR(L) | 3-0 | W | -105 | 7 ev | U | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | | 8/14/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | OAKLAND | SAMARDZIJA(R) | 7-3 | W | -105 | 7 un | O | 12 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 1 | | 8/15/2014 | DUFFY(L) | @ MINNESOTA | NOLASCO(R) | 6-5 | W | -140 | 8 ev | O | 12 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 0 | | 8/16/2014 | VENTURA(R) | @ MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | 1-4 | L | -115 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 1 | | 8/17/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ MINNESOTA | MILONE(L) | 12-6 | W | -115 | 8 ev | O | 13 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | | 8/18/2014 | VARGAS(L) | @ MINNESOTA | MAY(R) | 6-4 | W | -155 | 8 ev | O | 13 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | | 8/19/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | @ COLORADO | MATZEK(L) | 7-4 | W | -140 | 9.5 ov | O | 11 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 0 | | 8/20/2014 | DUFFY(L) | @ COLORADO | DE LA ROSA(L) | 2-5 | L | -110 | 9.5 un | U | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | | 8/22/2014 | VENTURA(R) | @ TEXAS | LEWIS(R) | | | 8/23/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ TEXAS | TEPESCH(R) | | | 8/24/2014 | VARGAS(L) | @ TEXAS | MIKOLAS(R) | | | 8/25/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | | | 8/26/2014 | DUFFY(L) | MINNESOTA | NOLASCO(R) | | | 8/27/2014 | VENTURA(R) | MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | | | 8/28/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | MINNESOTA | MILONE(L) | | | 8/29/2014 | | CLEVELAND | | |
|
|
| |
|
|
| 8/8/2014 | MIKOLAS(R) | @ HOUSTON | OBERHOLTZER(L) | 3-4 | L | 105 | 8.5 un | U | 9 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 1 | | 8/9/2014 | DARVISH(R) | @ HOUSTON | FELDMAN(R) | 3-8 | L | -175 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 0 | | 8/10/2014 | MARTINEZ(R) | @ HOUSTON | KEUCHEL(L) | 6-2 | W | 135 | 8.5 un | U | 8 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1 | | 8/11/2014 | LEWIS(R) | TAMPA BAY | SMYLY(L) | 0-7 | L | +115 | 9 un | U | 3 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 1 | | 8/12/2014 | TEPESCH(R) | TAMPA BAY | HELLICKSON(R) | 3-2 | W | +105 | 9 un | U | 14 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | | 8/13/2014 | MIKOLAS(R) | TAMPA BAY | ARCHER(R) | 1-10 | L | +125 | 9 un | O | 4 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 0 | | 8/14/2014 | ROSS(L) | TAMPA BAY | ODORIZZI(R) | 3-6 | L | +120 | 9 un | P | 5 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 8/15/2014 | MARTINEZ(R) | LA ANGELS | RICHARDS(R) | 4-5 | L | +180 | 9.5 ev | U | 10 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 1 | | 8/16/2014 | LEWIS(R) | LA ANGELS | SHOEMAKER(R) | 4-5 | L | +140 | 9.5 ov | U | 7 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 8/17/2014 | TEPESCH(R) | LA ANGELS | SANTIAGO(L) | 3-2 | W | +120 | 9.5 un | U | 8 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 1 | | 8/19/2014 | MIKOLAS(R) | @ MIAMI | COSART(R) | 3-4 | L | 130 | 8 un | U | 10 | 12 | 3 | 11 | 15 | 3 | | 8/20/2014 | MARTINEZ(R) | @ MIAMI | EOVALDI(R) | 5-4 | W | 145 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 2 | | 8/22/2014 | LEWIS(R) | KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | | | 8/23/2014 | TEPESCH(R) | KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | | | 8/24/2014 | MIKOLAS(R) | KANSAS CITY | VARGAS(L) | | | 8/25/2014 | MARTINEZ(R) | @ SEATTLE | ELIAS(L) | | | 8/26/2014 | MARTINEZ(R) | @ SEATTLE | PAXTON(L) | | | 8/27/2014 | LEWIS(R) | @ SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | | | 8/28/2014 | TEPESCH(R) | @ HOUSTON | MCHUGH(R) | | | 8/29/2014 | | @ HOUSTON | | |
|
| |  | 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. | | TEXAS: ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - The Texas Rangers are already hurting significantly even before the start of a new season.
In a span of three days the week before opening day, the Rangers scratched ace Yu Darvish from that scheduled start because of neck stiffness, and found out they would be without second baseman Jurickson Profar and catcher Geovany Soto for 10 to 12 weeks each because of injuries.
Sure, the Rangers know there are going to be injuries during the season.
''We just didn't expect it to be all at this point,'' general manager Jon Daniels said.
The Rangers, after missing the playoffs last year for the first time in four seasons, already knew they would be missing lefty starters Matt Harrison and Derek Holland to start the season.
At least Harrison, who had a mild setback early in camp after his back issues last season, should return within the first month. Holland could miss at least half the season because of left knee surgery after being tripped by his dog on stairs in his home in January.
The only three position players remaining from the Rangers' last World Series in 2011 also missed games this spring with lesser nagging issues. But shortstop Elvis Andrus, third baseman Adrian Beltre and designated hitter Mitch Moreland should all be in the lineup Monday against Philadelphia.
After missing the playoffs for the first time in four years and scoring their fewest runs (730) in a full season since 1992, the Rangers' two most significant offseason moves were to improve their offense.
They got durable slugger Prince Fielder from Detroit by trading Ian Kinsler, a move that cleared the way Profar to be an everyday player. Free agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo was signed to a seven-year deal - the same time left on Fielder's contract - to take over the leadoff spot.
Only Mike Trout (564) and two-time AL MVP Miguel Cabrera (562) reached base more the past two season than Choo (556) and Fielder (542), who has the longest active streak in the majors playing in 505 consecutive regular-season games - and 809 of 810 the past five years.
''I just want Prince to be Prince,'' said manager Ron Washington, starting his eighth season in Texas. ''I just want him to do what he does, and let everyone else does what they do, and everything will work out.''
|
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (KANSAS CITY-TEXAS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Royals-Rangers Preview* ========================
By JEFF BARTL STATS Writer
Kansas City (70-56) at Texas (49-77), 8:05 p.m. EDT
Kansas City leads the AL Central this late in a season for the first time in 11 years, playing its best baseball over the last month to capture first place.
The Royals haven't lost much during that span, so they're not about to fret over a single defeat as they head to Arlington for a three-game series with the Texas Rangers on Friday night.
"We're not going to dwell on this," said Danny Duffy, who took the loss in Wednesday's 5-2 defeat at Colorado. "We're going to go back out there Friday and take care of business in Texas. That's what teams that succeed do."
Kansas City (70-56) has won 22 of 28 since being two games under .500 on July 21 to take a 1 1/2-game lead on Detroit in the division. It hasn't led the Central this late since Aug. 29, 2003, finishing third that season.
The Royals don't appear to be letting up this time around, though. Their .281 batting average since Aug. 1 is the best in the majors, and Billy Butler is hitting .373 over his last 17 to raise his average 16 points to .280.
"(Butler has) got it back. He's a threat again, where he wasn't before," manager Ned Yost told MLB's official website. "Driving the gaps, hitting the ball hard."
Kansas City starters have a 2.67 ERA over the last eight, and rookie Yordano Ventura will take the mound in the series opener looking to deliver another solid performance.
Ventura (9-9, 3.48 ERA) is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA over his last four starts after giving up three runs in 6 2-3 innings of Saturday's 4-1 loss at Minnesota. He did walk a season-worst six and has issued 10 walks in his last 12 2-3 innings.
"The thing with him is, he walked the bases loaded with one out, but he's got stuff to get out of it," Yost said.
Ventura has never faced the Rangers (49-77), who had lost five of six before Wednesday's 5-4 win over Miami. Alex Rios, who has been fighting through a sprained right ankle and bruised thumb, went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
"You just have to go for it," Rios said. "Some of this stuff is going to be there quite a bit the rest of the way, so you have to play through it."
Texas has the worst home record in the majors at 23-38, and starter Colby Lewis has contributed plenty to that woeful mark.
Lewis (8-10, 5.52) lost his last two starts at home, giving up five runs - two earned - in five innings of a 7-0 loss to Tampa Bay on Aug. 11 before allowing five runs and 10 hits in six innings of Saturday's 5-4 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels.
The right-hander has given up at least 10 hits four times this season, with three of those instances coming at home. He's 2-7 with a 7.29 ERA in 12 starts in Arlington, marking the worst home ERA of any pitcher in baseball.
Lewis is 1-2 with a 6.86 ERA in four career starts against the Royals, whose .274 road batting average is by far the best in the majors.
"It doesn't matter who I'm facing, I've got a job to do," Lewis said. "I can't get outside of what makes me successful. I'm sure (pitching coach Mike Maddux) will do his work to exploit (Kansas City's) holes. We'll go over that and go from there."
The Royals have won 11 of their last 14 on the road.
|
| | Last Updated: 4/18/2024 12:39:34 PM EST. |
|
|
| |
|