Royals pitching continues to impress.
Seth Lugo was sensational Friday against the Astros, writes Jackson Stone.
“To me, that was probably the best game I’ve seen him pitch, to be honest,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “ … Right from the get-go it looked like he was incredibly sharp. To go through that lineup three times, they made him work a little bit there towards the end and needed some good defense there to get out of that, but the crispness of his pitches and efficiency he was working with was incredible.”
Vinnie Pasquantino smacked a home run after being bumped down to the #7 spot in the lineup, writes Jaylon Thompson.
“Apparently, the seventh spot is really good for me against lefties,” Pasquantino said. “Two RBIs in two games. So, whatever they want me to do, I’ll do. If that’s what they see is best for the team, I’m all in.”
Quatraro doesn’t expect it to be a long-term switch. He felt Pasquantino would be served better against tough lefties in the spot but said that 99% of the time he will be in his customary No. 3 spot in the batting order.
Michael Wacha had his longest start of the year, going six innings in a win on Saturday.
“It’s more a mentality type thing,” Wacha said of facing hitters a third time. “It’s understanding what you did in the previous ABs against them and talking with Freddy in between innings on how we’re going to attack them. Just stay on that attack mode out there on the mound.”
Vahe Gregorian writes the team is winning even if they aren’t scoring more runs.
But all of it is a reminder of two very different faces of these Royals, who certainly seem vulnerable if they can’t simply score more.
Still, they’ve shown this:
They’re resilient enough to nimbly recover from a deflating early season losing streak, and they’re resourceful enough to cobble out wins despite meager offense by virtue of pitching and defense that has committed the third-fewest errors in MLB. And by way of some select moments this last week.
Such as with “a little power, a little baserunning and some opportunistic situational hitting,” as manager Matt Quatraro described the offense Saturday.
Cole Ragans has a very mild groin strain, and is day-to-day.
The Star asked 100 fans what they thought about a new stadium for the Royals.
Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino took in some UFC over the weekend.
Salvy talks about his friendship with Astros outfielder Jose Altuve.
Devin Williams loses the closer job with the Yankees.
Jarren Duran becomes the first Red Sox player in 16 years to steal home.
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow leaves a game with shoulder discomfort.
A Mets minor leaguer throws a 104.5 mph pitch.
Is taking the Athletics worth it for Sacramento?
The Savannah Bananas play in front of 81,000 people at Clemson University.
Former Reds and Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty dies at age 74.
Wrexham, the Welsh soccer club owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, will be promoted for a third consecutive year and is just a level below the Premier League.
The son of Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich apologies for a phone prank on Shedeur Sanders.
A new pro curling league is scheduled to begin play in 2026.
Does anyone still hitchhike and should they?
Less demand for domestic travel has plane ticket prices falling.
George Lucas reveals why Yoda talks like that.
Your song of the day is AC/DC with Shoot to Thrill.