Royal Rebuild [OOTP 19]

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ROYALS INJURY NEWS

Salvador Perez has returned from his rehab assignment a little quicker than expected. Cam Gallagher's bat needs some work, so he's being sent down to get consistent AB's as he's splitting time with Drew Butera at the ML level.

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PITCHING MATCHUPS (04/26 - 04/29)

04/26: RHP Lucas Giolito (0-3, 5.32) vs LHP Danny Duffy (3-2, 5.46)
04/27: RHP Miguel Gonzalez (1-3, 5.03) vs RHP Jason Hammel (2-1, 4.45)
04/28: LHP Hector Santiago (0-4, 7.91) vs RHP Ian Kennedy (1-1, 2.77)
04/29: RHP Carson Fulmer (1-2, 8.71) vs RHP Jake Junis (4-0, 2.15)

GAME RECAPS

April 26th, 2018
White Sox (9-17) 2, Royals (16-9) 6
Winner: Danny Duffy (4-2) Loser: Lucas Giolito (0-4) Save: None

Royals Coast Behind Duffy's Strong Performance

Danny Duffy rebounded from a pair of subpar starts with an eight-inning, 118-pitch outing to help the Royals take the first game of their four-game set with Chicago by a 6-2 count. Duffy went on to fan seven with no walks, as he continues to maintain an absurdly-impressive 36/3 K/BB ratio through 39 1/3 innings. Lucas Duda and Alex Gordon contributed with a pair of RBI apiece, with Gordon's coming via the homerun ball. Alcides Escobar also went 1-for-3 with an RBI triple and a run scored. Newly-called up Burch Smith pitched the final inning, walking one and fanning one in his first action of 2018.

MLB SCOREBOARD
San Francisco (12-13) 5, LA Angels (14-12) 6
Chi. Sox (9-17) 2, Kansas City (16-9) 6
Minnesota (11-13) 2, NY Yankees (17-9) 3
Seattle (9-16) 3, Cleveland (12-13) 0
Tampa Bay (11-13) 6, Baltimore (13-14) 5
Boston (11-14) 5, Toronto (9-17) 9
Detroit (12-13) 4, Pittsburgh (11-13) 3
Atlanta (17-9) 9, Cincinnati (11-13) 3
Arizona (11-13) 3, Philadelphia (15-10) 9
Milwaukee (9-17) 6, Chi. Cubs (14-11) 7
NY Mets (13-12) 6, St. Louis (12-12) 3

April 27th, 2018
White Sox (10-17) 10, Royals (16-10) 8
Winner: Bruce Rondon (2-0) Loser: Blaine Boyer (1-1) Save: Reynaldo Lopez (1)

White Sox Take Slugfest By 10-8 Count

Despite a 4-for-4 performance from Mike Moustakas; including a pair of homeruns, the Royals couldn't overcome a poor start from Jason Hammel in a 10-8 defeat to the last-place White Sox. The Royals led 4-2 after three innings, but a four-run fifth by the White Sox chased Hammel from the contest. Kansas City scored once again in the fifth, and followed up with three in the sixth, but the Royals again coughed up the lead as Blaine Boyer loaded the bases, only to see Justin Grimm allow all of them to score before getting the final two outs of the inning. Whit Merrifield and Salvador Perez also added homeruns in the victory, their second and first of the season, respectively.

MLB SCOREBOARD
NY Yankees (18-9) 3, LA Angels (14-13) 2
Chi. Sox (10-17) 10, Kansas City (16-10) 8
Cincinnati (11-14) 5, Minnesota (12-13) 8
Seattle (9-17) 1, Cleveland (13-13) 2
Tampa Bay (12-13) 8, Boston (11-15) 1
Oakland (17-9) 2, Houston (16-11) 5
Detroit (13-13) 8, Baltimore (13-15) 7
Texas (14-13) 11, Toronto (9-18) 3
LA Dodgers (17-8) 6, San Francisco (12-14) 4
Colorado (14-13) 4, Miami (9-16) 2
NY Mets (14-12) 4, San Diego (13-14) 3
St. Louis (13-12) 5, Pittsburgh (11-14) 2
Atlanta (17-10) 2, Philadelphia (16-10) 3
Arizona (11-14) 5, Washington (13-13) 8
Milwaukee (9-18) 5, Chi. Cubs (15-11) 8

April 28th, 2018
White Sox (11-17) 6, Royals (16-11) 2
Winner: Miguel Gonzalez (2-3) Loser: Ian Kennedy (1-2) Save: None

ChiSox Pound Out Fifteen Hits In 6-2 Victory

The Royals led 2-1 after three innings, but a pair of runs in the fourth and sixth innings by the White Sox helped put the game out of reach as the White Sox clinched at least a split of the four-game series with a 6-2 victory. Ian Kennedy went 5 1/3 innings, allowing a dozen hits and a walk with six strikeouts in ninety-six pitches. Kevin McCarthy and Blaine Boyer went the rest of the way, each giving up an earned run along the way. Mike Moustakas' RBI single in the first, and Alcides Escobar's homerun in the third were the only runs the Royals' offense could muster. After a 13-6 start, the Royals have now lost five of their last eight games.

MLB SCOREBOARD
NY Yankees (19-9) 7, LA Angels (14-14) 3
Chi. Sox (11-17) 6, Kansas City (16-11) 2
Cincinnati (11-15) 3, Minnesota (13-13) 11
Seattle (9-18) 6, Cleveland (14-13) 8
Tampa Bay (13-13) 3, Boston (11-16) 0
Oakland (17-10) 7, Houston (17-11) 8
Texas (15-13) 5, Toronto (9-19) 4
Detroit (13-13) @ Baltimore (13-15) -- PPD
LA Dodgers (18-8) 7, San Francisco (12-15) 5
Colorado (15-13) 6, Miami (9-17) 3
NY Mets (14-13) 1, San Diego (14-14) 2
St. Louis (13-13) 2, Pittsburgh (12-14) 6
Atlanta (18-10) 7, Philadelphia (16-11) 5
Arizona (12-14) 6, Washington (13-14) 4
Milwaukee (9-19) 3, Chi. Cubs (16-11) 8

April 29th, 2018
White Sox (12-17) 6, Royals (16-12) 2
Winner: Nate Jones (1-0) Loser: Tim Hill (0-1) Save: Joakim Soria (5)

Royals Fall 4-2 In Extras

Jorge Soler had a game he'd like to forget; going 0-for-4 with a walk and a pair of strikeouts, including the game-ending strikeout with a man on base. In addition, he also misplayed a routine fly ball with two out in the 10th that led to two unearned runs in a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the White Sox. The loss also cemented a losing homestand for the first time this season, going 2-4 against two of the worst teams in baseball in Milwaukee and the Pale Hose, and was the team's first extra-inning contest of the season. Jose Abreu was the main antagonist for the Royals in this game, hitting a two-run homerun in the fourth off Jake Junis which was the only black mark on an otherwise great performance for the youngster. He went seven innings, scattering five hits and a walk while fanning eight, but didn't figure into the decision as he left with the game tied up at two apiece. Former Royal Joakim Soria locked down the save in the bottom of the 10th for the ChiSox, his fifth.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Detroit (13-14) 0, Baltimore (14-15) 4 (G1)
Detroit (14-14) 9, Baltimore (14-16) 4 (G2)
NY Yankees (20-9) 12, LA Angels (14-15) 6
Chi. Sox (12-17) 4, Kansas City (16-12) 2 (Final/10)
Cincinnati (12-15) 5, Minnesota (13-14) 4
Seattle (9-19) 0, Cleveland (15-13) 6
Tampa Bay (14-13) 7, Boston (11-17) 3
Oakland (18-10) 6, Houston (17-12) 2
Texas (15-14) 1, Toronto (10-19) 10
LA Dodgers (19-8) 8, San Francisco (12-16) 6
Colorado (16-13) 6, Miami (9-18) 3
NY Mets (14-14) 2, San Diego (15-14) 9
St. Louis (13-14) 1, Pittsburgh (13-14) 4
Atlanta (19-10) 4, Philadelphia (16-12) 1
Arizona (12-15) 2, Washington (14-14) 4
Milwaukee (9-20) 2, Chi. Cubs (17-11) 7

MAJOR NEWS/INJURIES/TRANSACTIONS
04/26: Texas signs RHP Arnold Leon to pro-rated one-year, $1.24M deal
04/27: San Francisco places RHP Chris Stratton on 60-day disabled list, retro to 04/24/2018 (shoulder coracoid bone)

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PROSPECT PROMOTION

With Arnaldo Hernandez and a few other pitchers with the A-Advanced club in Wilmington going on the disabled list, Lexington southpaw Garrett Davila is getting the call to the Blue Rocks. With a 2.03 ERA in 31 innings, the 22nd-ranked team prospect Davila is going to get a pretty solid audition to see if he belongs at this level with Hernandez out up to three or four months. In Lexington, Yefri Del Rosario (another young prospect we like) is going to move from the bullpen to the rotation at just eighteen years of age, so we'll find out if he can hack it as a starter. If not, he may have to go down to Burlington when their season begins later this summer.

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GM'S APRIL MONTH-END REPORT

The end of the month is not quite here, but I'm going to send out my first monthly report anyway. The most recent homestand was disappointing, although it's not time to worry just yet. We turn the calendar over with Boston this week before coming back home to face a resurgent Detroit squad that has looked better since we played them last.

Record: 16-12
Place: 1st

Batter of the Month: Some would say that Alcides Escobar has put up better overall numbers, but Whit Merrifield hit .370/.387/.513 with seven doubles, two triples, and a pair of homeruns. He leads the league in hits with forty-four, and has struck out just sixteen times in 124 PA.

Pitcher of the Month: With a 4-0 mark in April, Jake Junis fashioned a 2.22 ERA in 44 2/3 innings, with just nine walks to thirty-five strikeouts. Danny Duffy's 39/3 K/BB ratio is impressive, but has an ERA more than double Junis'.

Minor League Batter of the Month: The team's top prospect, Khalil Lee, takes home this honor for April. The 19-year-old outfielder slashed an impressive .322/.408/.567, ranking second in the Carolina League in both homeruns and RBI.

Minor League Pitcher of the Month: With a nod to Scott Blewett and Garrett Davila, Foster Griffin was just a touch better than both of them in April. Not known as a strikeout artist, Griffin fanned thirty-four in 28 1/3 innings, covering five starts. He also has a team-best 1.91 ERA in that same time frame.

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PITCHING MATCHUPS (04/30 - 05/02)

04/30: LHP Eric Skoglund (2-1, 4.87) vs RHP Rick Porcello (1-1, 4.80)
05/01: LHP Danny Duffy (4-2, 4.81) vs LHP Drew Pomeranz (0-4, 3.42)
05/02: RHP Jason Hammel (2-1, 5.45) vs LHP David Price (2-2, 3.82)

GAME RECAPS

April 30th, 2018
Royals (16-13) 3, Red Sox (12-17) 7
Winner: Eric Skoglund (2-2) Loser: Rick Porcello (2-1) Save: None

Martinez, Red Sox Hand Royals Fourth Straight Loss

The Royals ended April on a four-game losing skid, falling 7-3 to the struggling Red Sox in Boston. J.D. Martinez, as he's always been to the Royals, was a thorn in their side; drawing a pair of walks and hitting a pair of towering homeruns off Eric Skoglund, who allowed five earned runs in five innings of work. Whit Merrifield led the offensive attack for the Royals with a 3-for-5 performance, doubling twice and adding a triple. Cheslor Cuthbert was 3-for-4 with a double of his own, and drove in two of the team's three runs. Alcides Escobar hit a sacrifice fly in the second to drive in the team's other run. Since a 13-7 start, the Royals have now lost six of their last nine games.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Tampa Bay (14-14) 1, Detroit (15-14) 11
Texas (16-14) 4, Cleveland (15-14) 3 (Final/10)
NY Yankees (20-10) 3, Houston (18-12) 5
Kansas City (16-13) 3, Boston (12-17) 7
Toronto (11-19) 2, Minnesota (13-15) 1 (Final/16)
Colorado (16-14) 5, Chi. Cubs (18-11) 7
Pittsburgh (13-15) 1, Washington (15-14) 2
Milwaukee (9-21) 1, Cincinnati (13-15) 8
LA Dodgers (20-8) 2, Arizona (12-16) 1
Philadelphia (16-13) 0, Miami (10-18) 5
San Diego (16-14) 5, San Francisco (12-17) 3

May 1st, 2018
Royals (17-13) 7, Red Sox (12-18) 6
Winner: Danny Duffy (5-2) Loser: Drew Pomeranz (0-5) Save: Kelvin Herrera (5)

Royals Hold Off Late Rally, Stop Losing Skid

A six-run fifth inning proved to be just enough for the Royals, as the Red Sox fought their way back from a 7-1 deficit just to fall short by a 7-6 count to start the month of May on the right foot. Jorge Soler was 3-for-4 with a run scored and a two-RBI hit that put the Royals up 3-1. Lucas Duda, Salvador Perez, and Cheslor Cuthbert all had RBI hits in the inning following Soler's hit. Danny Duffy earned his fifth victory of the season, although it was hard-fought. He pitched just five innings, allowing three runs, three hits, and surrendering a season-worst three walks with three strikeouts. He was cruising along until the fifth inning, when J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts hit back-to-back homeruns off Duffy to pull the Red Sox back to within four runs at the time, 7-3. Five relievers combined to keep the lead, although they surrendered three runs, two in the eighth. Kelvin Herrera pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his fifth save of the season.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Kansas City (17-13) 7, Boston (12-18) 6
Tampa Bay (14-15) 3, Detroit (16-14) 5
Texas (16-15) 2, Cleveland (16-14) 5
NY Yankees (21-10) 4, Houston (18-13) 3
Toronto (11-20) 8, Minnesota (14-15) 9
Oakland (18-11) 4, Seattle (10-19) 5 (Final/14)
Baltimore (14-17) 4, LA Angels (15-15) (Final/10)
Pittsburgh (14-15) 5, Washington (15-15) 3 (Final/13)
Milwaukee (9-22) 2, Cincinnati (14-15) 3 (Final/10)
Atlanta (20-10) 8, NY Mets (14-15) 1
Philadelphia (16-14) 4, Miami (11-18) 5
Colorado (17-14) 5, Chi. Cubs (18-12) 2
LA Dodgers (21-8) 5, Arizona (12-17) 2
Chi. Sox (12-18) 0, St. Louis (14-14) 2
San Diego (17-14) 5, San Francisco (12-18) 3

May 2nd, 2018
Royals (18-13) 8, Red Sox (12-19) 4
Winner: Burch Smith (1-0) Loser: Tyler Thornburg (0-1) Save: None

Royals Fall Behind Early; Double Up BoSox 8-4

David Price had the Royals down 4-0 after four innings, but the Royals scored eight runs in their final four at-bats as they doubled up the Red Sox 8-4 to claim the series two games to one. Price was chased from the game with two outs in the fifth having allowed three runs with three walks. Just recently called up from Omaha, Burch Smith picked up the victory with 2 2/3 innings of relief, taking over for an ineffective Jason Hammel in the fourth. He fanned three while walking just one, and allowing just one hit. Kansas City broke a 4-4 tie in the seventh with a two-out RBI single by Cheslor Cuthbert, and then Lucas Duda banged a two-run homerun in the next at-bat to bring Cuthbert home.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Kansas City (18-13) 8, Boston (12-19) 4
Tampa Bay (14-16) 3, Detroit (17-14) 5
Texas (16-16) 2, Cleveland (17-14) 3
NY Yankees (22-10) 10, Houston (18-14) 4
Toronto (12-20) 10, Minnesota (14-16) 4
Oakland (18-12) 3, Seattle (11-19) 5
Baltimore (14-18) 2, LA Angels (16-15) 7
Milwaukee (9-23) 2, Cincinnati (15-15) 3
Atlanta (20-11) 3, NY Mets (15-15) 13
Philadelphia (17-14) 5, Miami (11-19) 1
Colorado (18-14) 6, Chi. Cubs (18-13) 3
LA Dodgers (21-9) 2, Arizona (13-17) 6
Chi. Sox (12-19) 1, St. Louis (15-14) 5
San Diego (18-14) 4, San Francisco (12-19) 0
Pittsburgh (14-15) @ Washington (15-15) -- PPD

MAJOR NEWS/INJURIES/TRANSACTIONS
04/30: San Francisco activates LHP Madison Bumgarner from disabled list; send to Triple-A for rehab assignment
04/30: NY Yankees activate 1B Greg Bird from disabled list; send to Triple-A for rehab assignment
05/01: Mazara, Tanaka win AL April monthly awards
05/01: Giants' Blach, Cubs' Rizzo win NL monthlies for April
05/01: Twins' Garver, Phils' Crawford claim April Rookie of the Month honors

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PITCHING MATCHUPS (05/03 - 05/06)

05/03: RHP Mike Fiers (0-2, 9.88) vs RHP Ian Kennedy (1-2, 3.45)
05/04: LHP Matt Boyd (2-2, 4.60) vs RHP Jake Junis (4-0, 2.22)
05/05: LHP Francisco Liriano (3-1, 2.09) vs LHP Eric Skoglund (2-2, 5.68)
05/06: RHP Michael Fulmer (5-2, 2.79) vs LHP Danny Duffy (5-2, 4.87)

GAME RECAPS

May 3rd, 2018
Tigers (18-14) 9, Royals (18-14) 3
Winner: Mike Fiers (1-2) Loser: Ian Kennedy (1-3) Save: None

Royals Fall Into First-Place Tie With 9-3 Defeat

Mike Moustakas' three-run homerun in the first was all the Royals put forth offensively, as the Tigers scored single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings, and six more over the final five innings as the Tigers tripled up the Royals by a 9-3 count. Jeimer Candelario reached base in all five plate appearances, going 4-for-4 with a homerun, two runs scored, and three RBI and a walk. Ian Kennedy took the loss to fall to 1-3, going six innings while allowing six runs (five earned) with six strikeouts and a walk. In his first appearance since coming off the disabled list, Mike Fiers went five innings, allowing three runs while walking four and fanning two in seventy-seven pitches. Jon Jay was the only Royal with more than one hit, hitting a single and a double, and also drawing a walk. Jose Iglesias was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, and Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homerun as part of a three-run seventh for streaking Detroit, winners of five in a row to draw to a first-place tie in the Central.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Boston (13-19) 3, Texas (16-17) 1
Detroit (18-14) 9, Kansas City (18-14) 3
Minnesota (15-16) 7, Chi. Sox (12-20) 5 (Final/10)
NY Yankees (22-11) 0, Houston (19-14) 1
Baltimore (14-19) 2, LA Angels (17-15) 9
Oakland (18-13) 3, Seattle (12-19) 7
Pittsburgh (14-16) 3, Washington (16-15) 4 (G1, Final/11)
Pittsburgh (14-17) 2, Washington (17-15) 7 (G2)
Atlanta (20-12) 2, NY Mets (16-15) 5
LA Dodgers (21-10) 2, Arizona (14-17) 3

May 4th, 2018
Tigers (18-15) 2, Royals (19-14) 10
Winner: Jake Junis (5-0) Loser: Francisco Liriano (3-2) Save: None

Junis, Royals Regain Central Lead With 10-2 Victory

The Royals scored six runs in the first inning on a pair of three-run homeruns off Francisco Liriano; one by Mike Moustakas and the other by Paulo Orlando, and coasted to a 10-2 win over the Tigers. Orlando drove in a career-high five runs in the contest, adding an RBI single and a sac fly later on. Jake Junis notched his AL-leading third complete game, allowing two runs and fanning six with no walks; also scattering just five hits. With the win, he joins Danny Duffy in the five-win club, and the two also comprise the only starting pitcher duo in the majors with five wins each.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Detroit (18-15) 2, Kansas City (19-14) 10
Toronto (12-21) 3, Tampa Bay (15-16) 9
Cleveland (17-15) 2, NY Yankees (23-11) 9
Boston (13-20) 1, Texas (17-17) 7
Minnesota (15-17) 4, Chi. Sox (13-20) 6
LA Angels (17-16) 1, Seattle (13-19) 9
Baltimore (14-20) 1, Oakland (19-13) 4
Philadelphia (18-14) 9, Washington (17-16) 6
Miami (11-20) 6, Cincinnati (16-15) 8
Colorado (18-15) 5, NY Mets (17-15) 8
San Francisco (12-20) 1, Atlanta (21-12) 3
Pittsburgh (15-17) 5, Milwaukee (9-24) 3
Houston (19-15) 1, Arizona (15-17) 13
Chi. Cubs (18-14) 4, St. Louis (16-14) 5
LA Dodgers (21-11) 2, San Diego (19-14) 6

May 5th, 2018
Tigers (19-15) 11, Royals (19-15) 3
Winner: Matt Boyd (3-2) Loser: Eric Skoglund (2-3) Save: None

Big Fifth Inning Propels Tigers to Victory, 11-3

Nick Castellanos and Victor Martinez each drove in four runs, and Castellanos fell a double short of the cycle as the Royals were shellacked by an 11-3 score. Leading just 2-0 going into the fifth, a six-run salvo in the fifth blew the game open, and chased Royals starter Eric Skoglund from the game. Skoglund lasted just four and one-third innings, surrendering eight runs with one strikeout and no walks. Just re-called from Omaha, Brandon Maurer pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief only to see the deficit expand in the ninth with Blaine Boyer allowing three more tallies. Paulo Orlando followed up his five-RBI performance yesterday with three more hits, and Mike Moustakas doubled and singled as part of a 2-for-4 day.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Toronto (13-21) 6, Tampa Bay (15-17) 3
Detroit (19-15) 11, Kansas City (19-15) 3
Cleveland (17-16) 2, NY Yankees (24-11) 5
Minnesota (15-18) 5, Chi. Sox (14-20) 6
Boston (14-20) 7, Texas (17-18) 3
LA Angels (18-16) 4, Seattle (13-20) 3
Baltimore (15-20) 4, Oakland (19-14) 3
Chi. Cubs (18-15) 7, St. Louis (17-14) 8 (Final/12)
LA Dodgers (22-11) 7, San Diego (19-15) 4
Philadelphia (19-14) 5, Washington (17-17) 4
Miami (12-20) 3, Cincinnati (16-16) 2
Pittsburgh (15-18) 3, Milwaukee (10-24) 6
Houston (20-15) 8, Arizona (15-18) 3
San Francisco (12-21) 2, Atlanta (22-12) 6
Colorado (18-16) 0, NY Mets (18-15) 1 (Final/13)

May 6th, 2018
Tigers (20-15) 7, Royals (19-16) 5
Winner: Blaine Hardy (1-0) Loser: Burch Smith (0-1) Save: Joe Jimenez (10)

Big Fifth Inning Propels Tigers to Victory, 11-3

A two-out triple by Jose Iglesias off Burch Smith to score Dixon Machado brought broke a 5-5 tie, and an Alcides Escobar error led to another run as the Tigers took three of four from the Royals in Kansas City. The Royals were down 5-1 after three innings, but fought back to tie the score at five before the key eighth inning salvo by Detroit. Danny Duffy didn't figure into the decision, going six innings while allowing five runs on seven hits. He fanned three and walked three. Smith pitched admirably, going the final three innings while allowing just one earned run (two total) with three punchouts. Iglesias went 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI, while Mikie Mahtook also drove in a pair of runs while going 2-for-5. Jon Jay dealt the game-tying hit for the Royals in the sixth, a two-run single. Cheslor Cuthbert also drove in a pair of runs with a two-run homerun in the fifth. The only other run came when Alex Gordon was hit by a pitch in the first inning, the first of two times he was hit by a pitch.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Toronto (14-21) 5, Tampa Bay (15-18) 4
Detroit (20-15) 7, Kansas City (19-16) 5
Cleveland (17-17) 3, NY Yankees (25-11) 6
Minnesota (16-18) 11, Chi. Sox (14-21) 2
Boston (14-21) 2, Texas (18-18) 4
LA Angels (18-17) 1, Seattle (14-20) 2
Baltimore (15-21) 0, Oakland (20-14) 5
Chi. Cubs (18-16) 2, St. Louis (18-14) 4
LA Dodgers (23-11) 3, San Diego (19-16) 1
Philadelphia (20-14) 4, Washington (17-18) 3 (Final/11)
Miami (13-20) 10, Cincinnati (16-17) 4
Pittsburgh (15-19) 0, Milwaukee (11-24) 4
Houston (20-16) 2, Arizona (16-18) 7
San Francisco (12-22) 4, Atlanta (23-12) 9
Colorado (19-16) 3, NY Mets (18-16) 0

MAJOR NEWS/INJURIES/TRANSACTIONS
05/07: Mariners' Ryon Healy, Rockies' Nolan Arenado named MLB AL, NL Players of the Week

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PITCHING MATCHUPS (05/08 - 05/10)

05/08: RHP Jason Hammel (2-1, 5.67) vs LHP Jayson Aquino (1-5, 8.13)
05/09: RHP Ian Kennedy (1-3, 4.10) vs RHP Dylan Bundy (0-2, 7.66)
05/10: RHP Jake Junis (5-0, 2.18) vs RHP Andrew Cashner (2-2, 4.26)

GAME RECAPS

May 8th, 2018
Royals (19-17) 5, Orioles (16-21) 7
Winner: Jayson Aquino (2-5) Loser: Jason Hammel (2-2) Save: Darren O'Day (5)

Despite a 4-for-4, 3 RBI performance from Paulo Orlando, the Royals couldn't overcome an early onslaught of homeruns from the Orioles' lineup in a 7-5 defeat. Baltimore hit one homerun in each of the first four innings off Royals starter Jason Hammel, who set a new career-worst with the four homeruns allowed in his start. Manny Machado earned player of the game honors, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored, and kicked off the Orioles' scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning. Jayson Aquino went just five innings, but allowed just two runs with six punchouts and a walk for Baltimore to move to 2-5 on the season, while Hammel fell to an even 2-2. Since starting 14-8, the Royals have lost five of their last fourteen games to slip out of first place in the AL Central.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Seattle (15-20) 4, Toronto (14-22) 1
Kansas City (19-17) 5, Baltimore (16-21) 7
Boston (14-22) 0, NY Yankees (26-11) 2
Atlanta (23-13) 0, Tampa Bay (16-18) 1
Detroit (21-16) 16, Texas (19-19) 8
Houston (21-17) 0, Oakland (21-15) 7
Pittsburgh (16-19) 5, Chi. Sox (14-22)
Minnesota (18-18) 6, St. Louis (18-16) 5
NY Mets (19-17) 2, Cincinnati (17-18) 0
San Francisco (13-23) 2, Philadelphia (21-15) 5
Cleveland (17-18) 3, Milwaukee (12-24) 5
Miami (13-22) 5, Chi. Cubs (20-16) 6
Arizona (17-18) 7, LA Dodgers (23-12) 1
LA Angels (19-17) 7, Colorado (19-17) 3
Washington (18-19) 4, San Diego (20-17) 2

May 9th, 2018
Royals (20-17) 6, Orioles (16-22) 5
Winner: Tim Hill (1-1) Loser: Donnie Hart (0-1) Save: Kelvin Herrera (6)

Mike Moustakas' eighth-inning double to break a 5-5 tie was the deciding hit in the Royals' 6-5 victory at Baltimore. Moustakas was 3-for-5 with a pair of two-baggers and a single, scoring once himself in the process. Whit Merrifield also had three hits as part of a 3-for-6 day, with an RBI and a pair of runs scored. A potential development from this game is a serious injury to Lucas Duda, who left the game after appearing to pull up lame running towards home on a base hit from Alex Gordon into the right-center gap. Moustakas moved from third to play first base for the first time in his career at the big-league level, and Ryan Goins moved to third to make room for Alcides Escobar on the field at shortstop. Four relievers combined to shut the Orioles out the last three innings after Ian Kennedy surrendered five earned runs in six innings; including three homeruns, with Kelvin Herrera locking down the save in the ninth. Through the first two games, the Orioles have seven homeruns, all in the first six innings of the two contests.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Seattle (15-21) 2, Toronto (15-22) 3
Kansas City (20-17) 6, Baltimore (16-22) 5
Boston (14-23) 2, NY Yankees (27-11) 10
Atlanta (24-13) 9, Tampa Bay (16-18) 8 (Final/10)
Detroit (22-16) 9, Texas (19-20) 3
Houston (21-18) 2, Oakland (22-15) 3 (Final/12)
Pittsburgh (17-19) 14, Chi. Sox (14-23) 5
NY Mets (19-18) 4, Cincinnati (18-18) 5
San Francisco (13-24) 3, Philadelphia (22-15) 3
Cleveland (17-19) 5, Milwaukee (13-24) 8
Miami (13-23) 2, Chi. Cubs (21-16) 3
Arizona (17-19) 0, LA Dodgers (24-12) 2
LA Angels (19-18) 7, Colorado (20-17) 8 (Final/10)
Washington (18-20) 5, San Diego (21-17) 8

May 10th, 2018
Royals (20-18) 2, Orioles (17-22) 3
Winner: Andrew Cashner (3-2) Loser: Jake Junis (5-1) Save: Darren O'Day (6)

With a pair of homeruns from Chris Davis, the Orioles did just enough to sneak past the Royals by a 4-2 score. Mike Moustakas gave the Royals a 2-0 lead with a double in the third, and Davis cut that deficit in half with his 12th homerun of the season off Jake Junis, who took his first loss of the season. Davis gave the Orioles the lead for good in the seventh with a two-run shot off Junis; who went seven innings, and was solid despite the two mistakes. He fanned eight with no walks while scattering six hits and three runs. Baltimore added an insurance run in the eighth with a single off the bat of Anthony Santander, but Darren O'Day shut the door in the ninth to pick up the save. The Royals continue to slide slowly behind the surprising Tigers; as they are now two games back of streaking Detroit, and just a half-game ahead of the Twins for second place.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Minnesota (19-18) 4, LA Angels (19-19) 3
Seattle (16-21) 6, Toronto (15-23) 1
Kansas City (20-18) 2, Baltimore (17-22) 3
Boston (15-23) 5, NY Yankees (27-12) 2
Atlanta (25-13) 5, Miami (13-24) 4
Milwaukee (13-25) 8, Colorado (21-17) 12
Washington (18-21) 4, Arizona (18-19) 7
St. Louis (18-17) 3, San Diego (22-17) 4
Cincinnati (18-19) 0, LA Dodgers (25-12) 2
San Francisco (13-25) 1, Philadelphia (23-15) 5

MAJOR NEWS/INJURIES/TRANSACTIONS
05/08: Cincinnati activates RHP Anthony DeSclafani from disabled list; sends to Triple-A for rehab assignment
05/09: Arizona places IF Chris Owings on 10-day disabled list (concussion), retro to 05/08/2018
05/09: Washington activates RHP Koda Glover from disabled list; sends to Triple-A for rehab assignment
05/09: Rays' Wilson Ramos sees hit streak reach 20 games
05/10: Rockies LHP Mike Dunn to miss remainder of season to remove bone chips from elbow, placed on 60-day disabled list
05/10: Texas designated RHP Tim Lincecum for assignment
05/10: Seattle designated RHP Hisashi Iwakuma for assignment
05/10: Atlanta placed RHP Arodys Vizcaino on 10-day disabled list (shoulder), retro to 05/09/2018

[artoodeetoo]

ROYALS SIGN MARIOT, ZIMMER TO MINOR-LEAGUE DEALS

The pitching depth in the upper minors has been bolstered a little bit with righties Michael Mariot and Kyle Zimmer, both signed within the past day or two. Both are no strangers to the Royals; they were both drafted by the team in previous years, although Kyle had considered retirement after a long, arduous road to this point. It is unlikely they will see time at the major league level unless injuries strike, but it will allow some of the struggling arms in Triple-A, like Brad Keller, to get some more seasoning at Northwest Arkansas.