Kansas City Royals

Just ridiculous, @mrzoombiya! https://t.co/3h8YXohViFhttps://t.co/dl19WI71SC

— MLB (@MLB) August 25, 2016

Miami Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich probably thought he had given his club a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of Thursday evening's game against the Kansas City Royals. Kansas City center fielder Jarrod Dyson thought otherwise. 

Yelich crushed a 1-2 pitch deep to straightaway center. Dyson sprinted back to the warning track, timed his jump perfectly, placed his left foot on the wall for leverage and caught the ball to rob Yelich of a sure home run.

That routine grab completed a perfect first inning for Kansas City starting pitcher Edinson Volquez.

[Twitter]

Here come the champs.

Make it eight straight for the Kansas City Royals, who beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Sunday to continue their winning ways and creep closer in the American League wild-card scramble.

After struggling for much of the season and looking like the victims of a championship hangover, the Royals are officially back in the mix.

"We've got everything going for us—starting pitching, the bullpen has been spectacular, our defense has been good and we're starting to swing the bats well," manager Ned Yost said after K.C. pounded the Twins 10-0 on Saturday, per MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan and Rhett Bollinger. "That's a good combination."

Let's start with the bats. Center fielder Lorenzo Cain, a top-three AL MVP finisher in 2015, has been on a tear, tallying 16 hits in his last eight games. First baseman Eric Hosmer has 10 hits and eight RBI over the same stretch. Left fielder Alex Gordon has hit five home runs since Aug. 14 and hiked his OPS more than 70 points in the process.

That's a hefty chunk of the Royals' offensive core, the same one that carried them to an AL pennant in 2014 and a confetti-strewn parade last November.

Oh, and toss in catcher Salvador Perez, the club's heart and soul, who got the day off Sunday but launched a two-run homer Saturday. 

"I hope it lasts the whole year," Gordon said after Saturday's victory, per Jeff Deters of the Topeka Capital-Journal. "We've got a good thing going right now, and we’re winning games and having fun. Hopefully the team can keep it up, and I can keep it up, too."

On the pitching side, Royals starters still hover just above the bottom third in MLB with a 4.55 ERA. During their winning streak, however, they've yielded one run or fewer six times.

Mercurial right-hander Yordano Ventura gave up one earned run in 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts in his most recent outing on Aug. 17. Ian Kennedy has scattered nine hits and one earned run over 14.2 innings in his last two starts. Dillon Gee fanned seven in seven innings while surrendering one earned run in a win on Aug. 18.

Danny Duffy, now officially the staff ace, won his 10th straight decision Sunday and lowered his ERA to 2.66, second-best in the AL.

The bullpen, meanwhile, remains the Royals' steady strength behind the dynamic duo of Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera. Overall, Kansas City's relief arms boast an MLB-best 3.19 ERA.

Entering play Monday, the Royals sit at 64-60, 3.5 games off the wild-card pace and eight games behind the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians.

They'll have to leapfrog the Seattle Mariners (66-57) and division rival Detroit Tigers (65-59) to challenge the Baltimore Orioles (67-55) and Boston Red Sox (69-54) for the wild-card lead. The Houston Astros have an identical 64-60 mark. And the rebuilt, reborn New York Yankees (63-60) won't go away.

It's a muddled mess in the Junior Circuit. This thing could go any number of ways.

That might benefit the Royals. This is an October-tested roster, accustomed to the rigors of a postseason battle. They've been here. They've done this.

FanGraphs' still foresees a perfectly mediocre 81-81 finish for K.C., behind both Cleveland and Detroit in the Central. 

The projection systems, though, can't measure the intangibles. They can't always gauge heat.

Kansas City has six games left against both the Tigers and Indians, including a season-ending series against the Tribe at Kauffman Stadium that may be teeming with playoff implications.

Throughout their recent run of trophy-snagging success, the Royals have been an enigmatic club, perennially talented and perpetually doubted. 

"The Kansas City Royals are the sort of team you find yourself trying to come up with excuses for why they just beat you, because you can't make sense of it otherwise," Will Leitch wrote at Sports on Earth in October 2015. "Everybody always thinks they're better than the Royals." 

For yet another season, everyone might be wrong.

Here come the champs.

           

All statistics current as of Aug. 21 and courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted. 

Kansas City Royals pitcher Danny Duffy set a franchise single-game record with his 16 strikeouts in Monday's 3-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, besting the old record of 15 that Zack Greinke established in 2009, per Sportsnet Stats.

The 27-year-old southpaw turned in one of the truly dominant outings of the 2016 campaign, allowing just one hit and one walk over eight scoreless innings. He only fell short of a complete game because all the strikeouts brought his pitch count up to 110 entering the ninth.

Royals relief pitcher Kelvin Herrera calmly finished off the game with a three-up, three-down inning, boosting Duffy's record to a sterling 7-1 for the season.

Nearly as impressive as his strikeout total, Duffy induced a whopping 35 missed swings, tying Clayton Kershaw for the most by any pitcher in a single game over the last 15 years, per ESPN Stats & Info.

The Rays made contact on just 25 of their 60 swings against Duffy, with the miss percentage (58.3) setting a standalone record for any starting pitcher over the past 15 years.

The lefty also came close to a no-hitter, making it through seven frames before Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings led off the eighth inning with a double.

While impressive in its own right, Monday's performance was also part of a larger trend, as Duffy has been phenomenal since he joined the starting rotation in May, posting a 2.98 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in his 15 starts, with 105 strikeouts (and just 18 walks) over 90.2 innings.

Kansas City Royals closer Wade Davis had been out since he suffered a right forearm strain in early July that forced him to the disabled list. However, he has been cleared to return.

Continue for updates.

---

Davis Reinstated from DL 

Friday, Sept. 2 

The Royals announced that Davis was activated on Friday.

---

Davis Continues to Struggle with Elbow Issues

Davis was forced to hit the 15-day disabled list after initially straining his forearm earlier this season, which held him out for more than two weeks. 

He looked fine after returning July 16, as he didn't allow a run and gave up just two hits in four appearances while picking up two saves. 

In his last outing before the injury, Davis allowed two runs on two hits and three walks against the Los Angeles Angels, though he closed out a 7-5 win.

Davis has been one of the premier relievers-turned-closers over the past three years, as he's allowed just 22 runs since the start of the 2014 season.

His ability to close out the opposition late in games is what helped the Royals make two consecutive World Series appearances, including a win over the New York Mets in 2015, with Davis firing the final pitch:

The Royals will be hoping Davis' DL stint will be beneficial to his long-term health as the regular season comes to a close.       

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Luke Hochevar is headed to the 15-day disabled list due to thoracic outlet syndrome. He's expected to have surgery and miss the rest of the season.

Continue for updates.

---

Hochevar to Seek 2nd Opinion

Friday, July 29

Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reported Hochevar's first diagnosis suggested thoracic outlet surgery; however, the reliever will seek a second opinion before undergoing the season-ending surgery.

---

Injury Could Shed Light on Hochevar's Struggles

As Kansas City's seventh-inning man ahead of Kelvin Herrera and closer Wade Davis in the bullpen, Hochevar had a 2.90 ERA heading into the month of July.

But in 6.1 innings over seven July outings, Hochevar has allowed six earned runs, the most he's allowed in a month all season.

It's ballooned his ERA to 3.86, which is on pace for his worst mark since 2012.

Thursday's news could provide an explanation as to why he's struggled, though. New York Mets ace Matt Harvey recently underwent season-ending surgery July 18 because of thoracic outlet syndrome. 

NJ.com's Maria Guardado explained what a player experiences while suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome: "TOS...is caused by the compression of nerves near the neck and shoulder and can result in tingling in the arm or hand."

That makes it difficult to comfortably grip and throw a baseball.

While Harvey needed to have a rib removed "to relieve some of the pressure off an entrapped nerve," per Guardado, it is unclear at the moment what kind of recovery options Hochevar has been presented with. 

With Hochevar shelved, the Royals announced they recalled pitcher Brooks Pounders from Triple-A. The 25-year-old has appeared in three games this season, pitching just four innings. But in that span, he allowed six runs, including two home runs, resulting in a 13.50 ERA.

Numbers like that won't help the defending champions as they struggle to make a playoff push, so expect veterans Joakim Soria and Chien-Ming Wang to see an increase in their usage as the team attempts to fill the void.

          

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

Dominant Kansas City Royals closer Wade Davis is reportedly generating interest ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline as the team is forced to make a tough decision about whether to buy or sell.

Continue for updates.

---

Nationals Reportedly Have Interest in Davis

Friday, July 29

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that the Washington Nationals are talking to Kansas City regarding Davis' availability.

---

Dodgers Emerge As Potential Davis Landing Spot

Thursday, July 28

Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball reported Wednesday that the Los Angeles Dodgers are one team interested in potentially acquiring Davis. He also noted that the reliever would prefer to remain in Kansas City with "all things being equal," though.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, citing sources, reported that the Royals "are trying to package Ian Kennedy" in a potential Davis trade. Passan noted that the Dodgers are a "strong match" and that the team wants Davis and can take on Kennedy's salary.

---

Davis Would Be Outstanding Bullpen Option for Contending Team

Davis is enjoying another outstanding season at the back end of the Royals bullpen. He's posted a 1.60 ERA and 1.10 WHIP while striking out 32 batters in 33.2 innings. And amazingly, those are his worst numbers since 2013, which showcases how terrific he's been since moving to the pen full time.

The Royals' struggles could make him expendable over the next few days, though. They own a 49-51 record at the 100-game mark. That leaves them 8.5 games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central and 6.5 games behind the final wild-card spot.

Typically, that type of deficit combined with a 7-15 record in July would lead a team to sell. The decision is a bit more complicated for Kansas City because it's more difficult for the reigning World Series champions to give up on a title defense before the trade deadline.

On Monday, Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star passed along comments from Royals general manager Dayton Moore, who's not taking anything off the table.

"I wouldn't categorize any player as untouchable—never have," Moore said. "We'll always evaluate somebody's level of interest and what their level of interest may mean to the improvement of our team, in terms of players that they would be willing to part with. That's what you do."

If Kansas City ultimately decides to move some key pieces, Davis figures to become a top asset and should demand more return now than he would in the offseason or at next year's deadline. That's because he's under team control for another year, per Spotrac, eliminating the risk of a rental acquisition.

The Dodgers represent a unique fit because they already lead MLB in bullpen ERA at 2.97, according to ESPN.com. They are looking to bolster that aspect of the team further thanks to concerns about the starting staff, highlighted by Clayton Kershaw's back injury.

All told, the Royals haven't fully committed to selling quite yet, and it sounds like Davis wants to stay with the organization, if possible. But if the decision is made to start looking toward the future, the Dodgers figure to face plenty of competition for the high-end closer on the trade market.

The reigning MLB champion Kansas City Royals will hope a visit Thursday to the White House with President Barack Obama to celebrate their 2015 World Series triumph can provide the spark they've been looking for heading into the final months of the regular season.

Kansas City, which sits six games out of the final AL wild-card spot with a 47-47 record, stopped by 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on an off day. The journey to Washington, D.C., represented a rare enjoyable road trip for the team, owner of a 17-32 record away from home this season.

Eric Hosmer, fresh off winning the 2016 MLB All-Star Game MVP Award, passed along a snapshot from the bus ride over, which made the group look more like security detail than baseball players:

Before meeting up with the president, the Royals crashed the daily briefing held by White House press secretary Josh Earnest. His socks answered any questions about his baseball allegiance:

Never been a better day to rock my #Royals socks. @POTUS will welcome the Champs to the White House later today. pic.twitter.com/hODMLXyOxd

— J Earnest (Archived) (@PressSec44) July 21, 2016

The team showcased manager Ned Yost along with Salvador Perez and Hosmer delivering some special gifts to one of their high-profile supporters:

The guys set up a surprise visit to diehard #Royals fan, @PressSec's morning briefing! #ForeverRoyal pic.twitter.com/Kcj7NEu9mR

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 21, 2016

Obama started his speech by rattling off the numerous players who made a large impact during last season's title run. As he shouted them out, however, he joked it didn't seem like people spent too long coming up with their various monikers, per 610 Sports Radio-KC:

"Hoz, Moose, Salvy...these nicknames aren't really that creative." -President Barack Obama

— 96.5 The Fan (@TheFan965) July 21, 2016

Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star noted the president particularly enjoyed a quote from Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson:

President Obama: " 'That's what speed do.' That's a good quote." We also just had a Fetty Wap reference.

— Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) July 21, 2016

Obama also took some time to discuss the importance of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City and commented on the continued positive impact the Royals are making to help grow the sport, via Vahe Gregorian of the Kansas City Star:

Obama also praises Royals urban baseball academy initiative and gives shoutout to Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

— Vahe Gregorian (@vgregorian) July 21, 2016

The ceremony concluded as the organization gave the president another championship jersey for a collection that's grown increasingly large over the past eight years:

A gift for @POTUS. #Royals pic.twitter.com/GggSsUwBAf

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 21, 2016

Mark Knoller of CBS News showed the different reactions from Obama, a noted fan of the division rival Chicago White Sox, and Earnest from earlier in the day:

Pres Obama gets @Royals jersey too at reception honoring the World Series Champs. His @PressSec seemed more excited. pic.twitter.com/1BSL3T0rrl

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 21, 2016

One player who missed the proceedings was Jonny Gomes. The veteran outfielder played 12 games for Kansas City last season but was left off the postseason roster. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports noted the Royals didn't include the free agent in the travel group, which disappointed him.

"I've been sent down. I've been non-tendered, whatever," Gomes said. "But this is probably the worst news of my professional baseball career."

Although Gomes played only a minor role for the organization last season, he stole the show during the World Series parade. He also stood out during a previous visit to the White House with the Boston Red Sox following their title in 2013 thanks to a patriotic American flag suit.

He would have provided some extra flair to the visit. That said, it was still a memorable trip for the Royals. Just like everything else associated with the title, it's a little sweeter since they fell just short in the 2014 World Series before fighting back to win it all one year later.

Now the focus turns back to baseball. Kansas City needs to get hot in the coming weeks if it wants an opportunity to defend the championship in the postseason. The team returns to action Friday for a three-game series with the AL West-leading Texas Rangers.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain was dealing with a hamstring injury and hasn't played since being placed on the disabled list on June 29. However, he's ready to return.

Continue for updates.

---

Cain Activated from DL

Friday, July 29

The Royals announced they have optioned outfielder Brett Eibner to make room for Cain on the active roster.

---

Cain Has Been Essential Piece to Royals Lineup 

Cain has always been a threat, but he truly turned the corner in 2015 during his fifth season with Kansas City. He set career highs in hits (169), runs scored (101), home runs (16), RBI (72), walks (37), on-base percentage (.361) and slugging percentage (.477), and he anchors the middle of the order as one of the team’s most dangerous weapons.

Cain also posted a career-best 7.2 offensive WAR, per ESPN.com, and he was responsible for 18 total defensive runs saved above average in center, per FanGraphs.

As a result, Cain made his first career All-Star Game in 2015 and helped the Royals win the World Series with 11 postseason RBI and six stolen bases. Thus far, he has followed up his tremendous 2015 season with a .290 batting average, eight home runs and 39 RBI in 2016. 

On Friday at U.S. Cellular Field, Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer looked over his right shoulder in the first inning of his team’s game against the Chicago White Sox and stared down one of MLB’s best pitchers, lefty Chris Sale.

Hosmer won the battle. Kansas City’s left-handed slugger homered to left field.

Then, in the top of the fourth inning, he faced Sale again. Same result: an opposite-field homer that seemed to erase any doubts that Hosmer has solidified his standing as one of the game’s elite hitters.

The first of those home runs, by the way, marked only the fourth time a left-handed hitter had gone yard off Sale in the pitcher’s seven-year career. Hosmer was only the second lefty to hit two in a game off Sale.

So, it appears Sale is the American League’s litmus test for left-handed power hitters—if not every hitter—and it's safe to say Hosmer passed the test. 

The 26-year-old is enjoying the best season of his career, hitting .317/.374/.525 through Tuesday’s games. All are career highs for the three-time reigning AL Gold Glove winner.

Credit Hosmer’s approach for his rise to elite status.

He has always been able to spray to all sides of the field. But this year, Hosmer has been hitting more balls the opposite way. According to FanGraphs, through Tuesday, Hosmer was pulling the ball 35.6 percent of the time, hitting to center at a rate of 27.8 percent and going opposite field on 36.6 percent of batted balls.

Previously, the highest frequency at which Hosmer went the other way was 31.4 percent in 2013.

"With lefties, that’s my approach," Hosmer said. "I try [to] keep that front shoulder in and try to shoot it, and if it happens to be a breaking ball, that could help me stay on it a little better. So yeah, against lefties, that’s definitely the approach is try to look that way."

Hosmer is having his George Clooney moment in 2016.

When Clooney starred on network TV, playing Dr. Doug Ross on ER, his talent went unheralded. Then, he left the show to do studio pictures and started making big bucks. His flair was finally recognized.

Playing in small-market Kansas City is to baseball what network television is to acting. Sure, you’re getting exposure, but not nearly as much as an actor in a studio picture or a baseball player in a larger market.

But after the Royals won the World Series last year, they earned more attention. Kansas City became a little more Hollywood with Hosmer as its star.

Now, the baseball world is captivated—or at least it should be—by the first baseman’s performance. And Hosmer’s numbers this season have helped his ascension to the short list of first basemen any team would want.

Hosmer’s batting average and slugging percentage rank tops among players at his position. Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who won the Triple Crown in 2012 and is a two-time AL MVP, is second in both categories. But at 33, Cabrera’s reign as the game’s top first baseman is nearing an end. Hosmer is the heir apparent.

As of Tuesday, only three first baseman were hitting above .300, including Cabrera (.305) and the San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Belt (.301).

"He’s been able to do it," Royals manager Ned Yost said of Hosmer’s ability to hit to all fields. "That’s always been his strength. His ability to pull the ball now has probably been more of a product of the higher batting average—having a smarter, better plan when he steps into the batter’s box—and having the ability to go out and try to accomplish it. He’s just becoming a smarter, more experienced hitter."

It’s no secret the rules of baseball are rigged like a casino game.

Baseball is designed so pitchers win the majority of matchups with hitters. In fact, the best hitters in MLB are less likely to get a hit than anyone is to win a hand of blackjack.

That’s not to encourage you to rush to Las Vegas and put it to the test.

It’s only to say that the compliment Royals second baseman/outfielder Whit Merrifield gave Hosmer is the highest any hitter can receive.

"It’s not surprising, but it’s very impressive," Merrifield said of Hosmer's season. "He’s got unbelievable power. When you put that with a great approach, it’s hard to stop him, and, really, when he makes outs, it’s because he gets himself out. Very rarely does a pitcher get him out, which is a huge compliment to him and the approach he has and the abilities he has. He’s done some great things this year."

So, while hitters are traditionally the ones tested in matchups between great hurlers and batters, Hosmer is an exception.

The White Sox and the Royals play each other six more times this season. Hosmer and Sale are likely to face each other again.

But next time, it will be Hosmer administering the test.

Seth Gruen is a national baseball columnist for Bleacher Report. Talk baseball with Seth by following him on Twitter @SethGruen.

Lorenzo Cain even had the fans at Camden Yards on their feet.

The Kansas City Royals center fielder made a remarkable play in the bottom of the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night, extending his glove over the wall to rob Pedro Alvarez of a home run.

The catch helped stop the bleeding in a four-run inning.

[MLB.com]