KANSAS CITY ROYALS NOTES:
MISTAKES MOUNT IN MOTOWN: The Royals suffered a 9-4 loss in Detroit yesterday as their series winless streak extended to 10, including nine losses and one split…Kansas City took a brief lead in the top of the 2nd on a 2-run double by Freddy Fermin, but the Tigers responded with a 3-run bottom half made possible by an errant flip to second base by Bobby Witt Jr…Brady Singer was charged with 5 runs—all earned—on 7 hits and 1 walk in a season-high 7.0 innings, and he exited with a 5-3 deficit after the Royals scored in the top of the 8th to make it a 2-run game…but the Tigers answered again in the bottom half, this time with a 4-run frame on 4 hits, a hit batter and a three-base error as they batted around vs. Jackson Kowar.
The Royals matched the Tigers with 11 hits, but went 3-for-11 in scoring situations and had 11 strikeouts.
PITCHING IN: Royals starters have completed at least 5.0 innings in each of their last 9 games since the start of the last homestand, including at least 6.0 innings in all 3 games in Detroit to begin this road trip…Jordan Lyles (6.0 IP), Daniel Lynch (7.0 IP) and Brady Singer (7.0 IP) are the first trio of Royals starters to complete 6.0 innings in 3 straight games since last Sept. 5-7, when Singer (6.0 IP), Kris Bubic (6.1 IP) and Zack Greinke (6.0 IP) turned the trick…the 2 most recent games mark the first time they’ve had back-to-back starts of at least 7.0 innings since May 21-22 of last season by Brad Keller (7.0 IP) and Singer (7.0 IP)…the length this week in the rotation has been a welcome outcome for a bullpen which has pitched the 8th-most innings in the Majors…but both streaks are likely to end tonight, as opener Jose Cuas is expected to make his 1st career start.
OPENING ACT: Right hander Jose Cuas is expected to make his 1st career start tonight as the opener, becoming the 13th different pitcher to start a game for the Royals this season, matching the Athletics and Rays for the most in the Majors…Kansas City’s 13 different starting pitchers—including 5 different openers—are 4 shy of the franchise record of 17 unique starting pitchers, set by the 2006 Royals…tonight will mark the 8th game in which the Royals will deploy an opener this season, and in the previous 7 games, Royals openers have combined to allow 4 runs (3 ER) on 6 hits and 2 walks in 11.0 innings, with 15 strikeouts…all 3 earned runs charged to Royals openers came on June 11 in Baltimore, where Carlos Hernández yielded a 3-spot in the 1st inning.
NO-HIT WONDER: Royals rookie Austin Cox is expected to follow opener Jose Cuas as the bulk pitcher tonight…Cox has faced 28 batters without allowing a hit over 5 scoreless outings (8.2 IP) to begin his Major League career…that includes 4 plate appearances vs. Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout last weekend, in which they combined to go 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts against Cox…he’s retired 25 of his 28 batters, allowing just 3 walks, and the 28 batters faced without allowing a hit is the 5th-longest streak to begin a career in the Expansion Era (since 1961), according to Elias…it’s four batters shy of matching the longest such streak, shared by Mark Rogers and Joel McKeon, who each faced 32 batters before allowing a hit in 2010 and 1986, respectively.
Perez leads Major League qualified catchers (min. 70% of games at the position) with 14 home runs, and he leads American League catchers in extra-base hits (28) and slugging percentage (.485)…Salvy also ranks 2nd among American League catchers in hits (71), RBI (37) and ranks 3rd in OPS (.789).
Salvy, who made his Major League debut at Tropicana Field on Aug. 10, 2011 vs. these Tampa Bay Rays, enters tonight 1 extra-base hit shy of matching Mike Sweeney (499) for 6th most in Royals history.
ROYALS ON THE MEND: The Royals have a season-high 12 players on the Injured List—including seven who were on the Opening Day roster—which are tied for the 2nd most in the Majors as of this morning, according to Spotrac, trailing only the Dodgers (15)…Kansas City’s 12 current injuries include eight pitchers—five of which have made at least 1 start—and three position players who were in the starting lineup on Opening Day.
Outfielder Diego Hernandez, who suffered a dislocated right shoulder in Spring Training, went 1-for-4 while playing 7.0 innings in center field in his 1st rehab game last night in the Arizona Complex League.
Ryan Yarbrough began a rehab assignment on Monday with the Arizona Complex League, and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits in 3.0 innings in his first action since being hit in the head by a comebacker on May 7.
Kyle Isbel is 5-for-16 with 3 extra-base hits and 4 RBI in 5 rehab games with Triple-A Omaha…Kansas City’s Opening Day center fielder suffered a strained left hamstring seven weeks ago today, on May 4.
Left hander Amir Garrett is expected to begin a rehab assignment tonight with Triple-A Omaha… Garrett was placed on the 15-day Injured List on June 2 with left elbow valgus extension overload.
Vinnie Pasquantino had successful surgery yesterday to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
LEADS LOST: The Royals held a 2-0 lead in Detroit yesterday before losing 9-4 to mark their 27th blown lead loss of the season, which are the most in the Majors ahead of the Athletics (25), Cardinals (24) and White Sox (24)…their opponent this weekend, the Rays, are near the opposite end of that list, as they’ve suffered only 11 blown lead losses, which are tied for the 2nd fewest in the Majors, 1 more than Boston’s 10…the Royals have held a lead in 32 of their last 45 games (71.1%) since the start of May, but they’re 13-32 during that stretch with 19 blown lead losses, including 9 blown lead losses in 18 games this month, in which they’re 3-15.
The Royals 27 blown lead losses are three-fourths of the way to matching their 36 from last season.
The Royals are 5-20 when scoring in the 1st inning with 10 consecutive losses, and have not won when scoring in the 1st frame since May 10 vs. the White Sox…but they haven’t scored in the 1st inning since June 13 vs. Cincinnati.
TRIP TO THE TROP: The Royals (20-54) begin a 4-game set tonight at Tropicana Field with the Rays (52-25) in a series that features the team with the 2nd-worst record in the Majors vs. the league’s best team…the Royals are 85-95 all-time against the Rays despite being an even 11-11-2 all-time in season series…the Royals are just 8-19 (.296) vs. Tampa Bay since 2018—including 3-4 last year—and they’ve lost four straight series at Tropicana Field.
This series is a homecoming of sorts for Royals first-year Manager Matt Quatraro, who spent the majority of his playing and coaching career in the Rays organization, including the last five seasons from 2018-22 on Kevin Cash’s staff…Royals Bench Coach Paul Hoover also spent the last four seasons on Cash’s staff here with the Rays, capping an 11-year run as a coach in the organization…Hoover and Quatraro played in the Rays organization and were teammates with Cash at Triple-A Durham…the four seasons from 2019-22 during which Cash, Q and Hoov were together on the big league staff, the Rays went 322-224 (.590) to mark the Majors’ 4th-best record, a run that included a World Series appearance in 2020.
TONIGHT’S STARTERS: RHP JOSE CUAS (3-0, 4.15)
According to Jose himself, tonight marks his 1st start since he was 9 years old, as he’s pitched in relief ever since…11 of his last 13 appearances have been scoreless (11.2 IP), dating back to May 17.
He last pitched Monday night in Detroit and induced an inning-ending double play in the 8th inning.
Cuas (kwas) allowed 1 of 2 inherited runners belonging to Carlos Hernández to score in the 7th inning last Friday vs. the Angels…his 29 inherited runners are the 3rd most in the Majors, behind Toronto’s Tim Mayza (32)…since the beginning of last season, his 67 inherited runners are the 2nd most in the Majors, behind Mayza (68).
Cuas is one of 12 pitchers in the Majors this season with at least 3 wins and no losses, including his most recent victory on May 23 vs. Detroit.
Cuas was named the 2022 Tony Conigliaro Award winner last November, an honor that has been given every year since 1990 in memory of the Red Sox outfielder, whose career was tragically shortened by a beanball in 1967 and whose life ended in 1990 at the age of 45…it is awarded to a “Major Leaguer who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination, and courage that were trademarks of Tony C.”
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
STREAK SNAPPERS — The Rays pushed across four runs in the second inning and RHP Taj Bradley (6.0IP, 3H, ER, 8SO) turned in his first career quality start as Tampa Bay cruised to a 7-2 victory over visiting Baltimore on Wednesday afternoon at Tropicana Field…LF Randy Arozarena (3-for-3, 2B, HR, 2RBI, R, BB) and 3B Isaac Paredes (1-for-3, HR, RBI, R, BB) launched back-to-back homers to open the second frame before CF Jose Siri (2-for-3, 2RBI, R, BB) added a two-run single for a 4-0 lead…the Rays tacked on two more runs in the seventh, including an RBI-single by Arozarena, before 1B Yandy Díaz (2-for-4, RBI, R, BB) drove in Tampa Bay’s final tally in the eighth with a run-scoring single…the Orioles plated their lone runs on solo homers in the third and ninth innings.
Tampa Bay snapped its season-high three-game losing streak with the victory… the Rays have dropped back-to-back home games just once in 2023 (4/25-26).
The win restored the Rays 5.0-game lead over the Orioles in the AL East…Tampa Bay improved to 17-10 against divisional opponents, including wins in four of five, six of eight, and eight of their last 11 games.
HISTORY AT HOME — Tampa Bay’s 32-8 (.795) record at Tropicana Field represents MLB’s best start at home since the 2008 Chicago Cubs (also 32-8)…the Rays are one of 10 teams since 1901 to win at least 32 of their first 40 home games (excluding ties) in a season…no club has recorded a better 40-game start at home since the 1998 New York Yankees (33- 7)…Tampa Bay has won 10 of 13, 14 of 19, and 18 of its last 24 games on home turf overall.
The Rays are 11-1-1 in series play at home and are undefeated over their last eight home series (7-0-1) since dropping two of three to Houston from 4/24-26.
Tampa Bay hitters rank among MLB leaders at home in several categories, including stolen bases (1st, 48), SLG (2nd, .483), homers (2nd, 64), runs per game (2nd, 5.88), extra-base hits (2nd, 147), OPS (3rd, .826) and OBP (4th, .344)…meanwhile, the Rays pitching staff ranks in home opp. AVG (3rd, .216), ERA (4th, 3.43) and opp. OPS (4th, .659).
IT STARTS WITH SHANE — The Rays have gone 13-2 in games started by Shane McClanahan, including 7-0 at Tropicana Field…it ties ATL Spencer Strider (13-2) for the most team wins in a pitcher’s starts this season…it also matches rotation-mate Zach Eflin (7-0) for the most consecutive team wins in a pitcher’s home starts to open a season in club history, surpassing four pitchers tied at five (last: Drew Rasmussen, 2022).
McClanahan has received 7.46 runs of support per 9.0 IP, the second-highest mark among MLB qualifiers behind TEX Martín Pérez (8.43).
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE — Tampa Bay is 12-1 (.923) against the AL Central, recording a +49 (88-39) run differential…it marks the best winning pct. against the division by any team in the majors, ahead of Atlanta and Philadelphia (both 5-1, .833)…the Rays opened the year with a nine-game winning streak against the division, tying their longest streak against the AL Central in club history (also: 6/29-7/11, 2013)…dating back to 8/20/22, Tampa Bay has won 11 straight home games over AL Central foes, the longest such streak in Rays history.
The Rays lead the AL in homers (28), slugging pct. (.530), OPS (.869) and run differential (+49) against the AL Central.
Luke Raley (1.270) and Yandy Díaz (1.210) own the top two OPS’s vs. the AL Central among all AL hitters (min. 35PA)…Raley is slashing .391/.440/1.261 (9-for-23) with one double, two triples, 5 HR and 11 RBI in his last seven games vs. the division.
THE BOYS OF SUMMER — Rays pitching leads the majors in several categories during the month of June, including ERA (3.04), opp. average (.198), opp. SLG (.331), opp. OPS (.620), hits per 9.0 IP (6.40), pct. of inherited runners scored (11.1%) and fewest total bases against (197).
Luke Raley is batting .364 (16-for-44) with five doubles, two triples, two homers and 6 RBI in 12 June games…he ranks among AL leaders (min. 40PA) in SLG (5th, .705), OPS (5th, 1.082), AVG (5th) and extra-base hits (T9th, 9) during June.
Harold Ramírez is slashing .326/.390/.478 (15-for-46) with four doubles, one homer and 8 RBI in 14 games this month.
Francisco Mejía has turned in a .370/.393/.630 (10-for-27) line with four doubles, one homer and 5 RBI in eight June games.
Isaac Paredes ranks third in the AL with a .441 OBP during June, trailing TEX Corey Seager (.466) and LAA Shohei Ohtani (.466), while his 1.029 OPS is fourth.
RANDY LAND — Randy Arozarena has a 30-game on-base streak at Tropicana Field dating back to 4/12, tied with COL Jurickson Profar (30G) for the longest active home on-base streak in the majors…during the streak, he is slashing .301/.455/.591 (28-for-93) with four doubles, one triple, seven homers, 22 RBI, eight hit-by-pitches and 20 walks.
It ties the fourth-longest overall home on-base streak in Rays history and marks the third-longest single-season streak in club history behind Ben Zobrist (37G, 5/2-7/28, 2009) and Evan Longoria (34G, 4/6-6/22, 2010).
A ‘PEN-CHANT FOR SUCCESS—Over the last 17 games since 6/4, the Rays bullpen has produced a 1.85 ERA (63.1IP, 13ER) while holding opponents to a .156/.260/.278 (33-for212) clip…they pace all MLB bullpens in ERA, opp. AVG, opp. OBP, opp. SLG, opp. OPS (.539) and WHIP (0.92) during that timeframe…the bullpen has stranded each of its last 15 inherited runners dating back to the eighth inning on 6/10 vs. Texas.
RHP Kevin Kelly has strung together a 12.0 scoreless inning streak, the fourth-longest active streak among AL relievers — TEX Josh Sborz (14.0) has the longest streak…Kelly has held opponents to a .150 AVG (6-for-40) during the run.
CROWNS CAPSULE — The Rays and Royals open their seven-game season series tonight at Tropicana Field…since a 10-game winning streak from 8/30/17 – 4/23/19, Tampa Bay is 10-8 over its last 18 meetings with Kansas City…the Rays have won each of the last four season series since 2018 (did not meet in 2020), the longest streak in club history.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: LHP SHANE McCLANAHAN (11-1, 2.12)
SUGAR SHANE — The left-hander gets the starting nod in tonight’s series opener, marking his 16th start of the season and his eighth at home…has earned the win in three straight starts, posting a 2.29 ERA (19.2IP, 5ER) in that span…his 2.12 ERA is third lowest through a pitcher’s first 15 starts of a season in club history, behind himself in 2022 (1.81) and Chris Archer in 2015 (2.08)…ranks among MLB leaders in wins (1st, 11), ERA (1st) and strikeout rate (10th, 27.2%).
LAST TIME OUT — McClanahan improved to 11-1 on 6/16 at San Diego after tossing 6.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
Despite going 6-1 with a 2.58 ERA (45.1IP, 13ER) in eight road starts, he has surrendered multiple walks in each of those outings, allowing 23 free passes compared to 44 strikeouts.
OFF AND RUNNING — McClanahan is the first major league pitcher to win 11 of his first 12 decisions in a season since four pitchers turned the trick in 2016, led by WSH Stephen Strasburg’s 12-0 mark…with a win tonight, he would become the first pitcher to start 12-1 or better since Strasburg (13-0) and SF Johnny Cueto (12-1) in 2016.
KINGS AND QUEENS — Has made two career starts against Kansas City, going 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (12.0IP, 2ER) and 14 strikeouts against three walks…in his last start vs. KC on 8/19/22, he did not factor into the decision after throwing 7.0 innings of two-run ball with eight strikeouts.
In 13 career starts against AL Central opponents, he is 6-5 with a 3.21 ERA (73.0IP, 26ER).
HOME SWEET HOME — McClanahan ranks among AL leaders at home (min. 40.0IP) in several categories this year, including ERA (1st, 1.64) and opponent batting average (4th, .177)…in 38 career starts at Tropicana Field, McClanahan is 21-8 with a 2.78 ERA (214.0IP, 66ER) and 260 strikeouts against 58 walks…since making his Tropicana Field debut on 4/29/21 vs. Oakland, his 2.79 ERA at home is sixth lowest in the majors (min. 200.0IP) behind LAA Shohei Ohtani (2.06), PHI Zack Wheeler (2.28), MIA Sandy Alcantara (2.52), SEA Luis Castillo (2.55) and AZ Zac Gallen (2.58).
TO THE VICTOR… — McClanahan is the first pitcher in Rays history to win 11 of his first 12 decisions in a season…the Rays are 13-2 in his starts, the best team record through a pitcher’s first 15 starts in club history (prev. 11-4, Jeff Niemann in 2010).
BUCKLE DOWN — McClanahan is holding the opposition to a .130 (7-for54) average with zero extra-base hits with runners in scoring position… with RISP and two outs, opposing hitters are just 1-for-25 (.040) against McClanahan, the lowest mark among qualifiers.
QUALITY IN QUANTITY — McClanahan’s 11 quality starts are tied for fourth most in the majors…his 13 starts with 5.0+ innings and two or fewer runs allowed are tied for second most in the majors behind CHC Marcus Stroman (14) — since the beginning of 2022, his 33 such starts are the most in MLB, ahead of AZ Zac Gallen and LAD Julio Urías (32 each).
DIVING DEEPER — McClanahan’s 33.5 pct. whiff rate ranks second in the majors behind ATL Spencer Strider (38.9%)…he has registered a 52.5 pct. whiff rate on his changeup, the third-highest mark on any pitch in MLB (min. 200 pitches thrown), trailing only NYM Kodai Senga’s forkball (58.1%) and Strider’s slider (56.5%).
Opposing hitters have offered at 32.5 pct. of his pitches outside of the strike zone, the 15th chase rate in the majors.
He averages 96.7 mph on his four-seam fastball, the fastest mark among all MLB left-handed pitchers (min. 500 fastballs thrown).
WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK — McClanahan’s 7.46 runs of support per 9.0 IP rank second in the majors, trailing TEX Martín Pérez (8.43).
In his career, the Rays are 33-4 when providing him with 3+ runs of support, compared to 10-21 with two or fewer runs of support.
