KANSAS CITY ROYALS NOTES:
CLOSE CALLS: The Royals suffered a 4-3 loss at Fenway Park last night in a game of several bizarre plays and missed opportunities…in the 2nd inning, Kyle Isbel hit a ball that smashed through a light fixture on the Green Monster and was ruled a ground-rule double…Matt Duffy, who began the play on first base with 2 outs, likely would’ve scored if not for the ruling…in the 4th, Michael Massey lost a popup in the twilight that dropped for a leadoff double…four batters later, Alex Verdugo hit a go-ahead, 2-run double that a diving MJ Melendez got a glove on but could not catch…the next batter, Luis Urías, reached on a catcher’s interference that negated an inning-ending lineout…Resse McGuire followed with an RBI single to pour salt on the wound…the game might’ve ended differently had any of those things gone the Royals way in a 1-run game, but instead the defeat spoiled a complete game effort by Jordan Lyles, his 2nd of the season…all 3 of Kansas City’s runs scored on solo homers, including a pair by Melendez in the 2nd and 4th and another by Freddy Fermin in the 8th.
ROSTER MOVE: The Royals today placed outfielder Drew Waters on the Bereavement List and recalled outfielder Nelson Velázquez from Triple-A Omaha…Velázquez, 24, was acquired from the Cubs on July 31 for right hander Jose Cuas…he’s gone 1-for-22 in 6 games with Omaha since joining the Royals organization, but had 31 extra-base hits in 74 games with Triple-A Iowa before the trade…Velázquez made his Majors debut with the Cubs last season, and in 90 games in the Majors between 2022 and 2023, 21 of his 45 hits have gone for extra bases (46.7%), including 5 of his 7 hits in 13 games with the Cubs this season, during which he had a .933 OPS.
SERIES SPEAKING: This week’s series in Boston marks Kansas City’s seventh 4-game set of the season, and in their previous six, they’ve won one, split one and lost four…with a win tonight the Royals could salvage a series split, which would mark their first in a 4-game set since June 22-25 at Tampa Bay…a win tonight would also snap Kansas City’s streak of four straight losing series at Fenway Park, dating back to their last win here in 2017.
These teams will meet again at Kauffman Stadium for a 3-game set during the first week of September.
Royals starters have recorded a quality start in 5 of their last 7 games vs. the Red Sox dating back to Aug. 7, 2022, a stretch in which they’ve have pitched to a 2.95 ERA (14 ER in 42.2 IP) and .227 opponents’ average (34-for-150), and only 10 of the 34 hits they’ve allowed have gone for extra bases (.619 OPS).
STARTING SOMETHING: Last night’s complete game by Jordan Lyles continued what has been a strong run of starting pitching for the Royals over the last 10 games, during which their 3.39 ERA (24 ER in 61.0 IP) since July 30 ranks 7th in the Majors behind Cleveland (2.35), Texas (2.45), Toronto (2.92), Tampa Bay (3.05), Baltimore (3.34) and Seattle (3.38)…among the 22 teams that have played no more than 10 games during this stretch, Kansas City’s starters rank 1st with 61.0 innings, for an average of more than 6.0 innings per start.
Royals starting pitchers have issued 7 walks to 240 batters over 61.0 innings during this 10-game stretch for a 1.07 BB/9 and 2.9 BB%, both of which rank 4th in the Majors behind the Giants, Rays and Twins.
Tonight the Royals turn to opener Austin Cox, who has a 3.58 ERA (11 ER in 27.2 IP) and .194 opponents’ average (18-for-93) in 15 appearances (2 starts) in his rookie season…this marks the 9th game this season that the Royals have used an opener and the 1st since June 22 at Tampa Bay, a game they won 6-5.
The Royals are 3-5 when starting an opener and those pitchers have allowed 6 runs (5 ER) in 12.1 innings.
GETTING OFFENSIVE: The Royals have hit 3 home runs in each of their last 2 games for the first time since June 20-21 of last season, and another 3-homer game tonight would mark their 5th such streak of at least 3 games in franchise history, something they last did from July 22-24, 2017…the Royals have hit 19 home runs in their last 12 games since July 28, which is tied with Houston for 2nd most in the American League during that time, trailing only Tampa Bay (20)…in fact, the Royals lead the AL in several offensive categories in their last 12 games since July 28, including runs per game (5.9), hits (121), total bases (210), batting average (.288), slugging percentage (.500) and OPS (.840) and lead the Majors with 26 stolen bases, 8 more than any other team.
Maikel Garcia enters tonight with a career-best 13-game hit streak, during which he’s batting .296 (16- for-54) with 9 RBI…it’s the 3rd-longest active streak in the Majors and the longest by a Royal since Bobby Witt Jr.’s 13-game hit streak last Sept. 16-Oct. 1…with another hit tonight, Garcia would have the longest hit streak by a Royal since Whit Merrifield’s 15-game run four years ago, from June 29-July 17, 2019.
After hitting .206 (63-for-306) with a .622 OPS before the All-Star break, MJ Melendez has a hit in 19 of 24 games since the break, during which he’s batting .281 (25-for-89) with 11 extra-base hits for an .891 OPS…in his last 4 games, he is 7-for-16 (.438) with 4 home runs and a 1.188 slugging pct. and 1.658 OPS.
Witt Jr. has a hit in 10 of his last 11 games since July 28, a stretch in which he leads the American League in hits (20), extra-base hits (8), RBI (17) and total bases (37) and ranks 2nd in batting average (.435), slugging percentage (.804) and OPS (1.295)…after hitting .228 (52-for-228) with a .695 OPS through the end of May, Witt Jr. is batting .309 (71-for-230) since June 1, a stretch in which his 71 hits are tied for 3rd most in the American League, trailing only Shohei Ohtani (73) and Corey Seager (72).
In 17 games since the start of the last road trip, Michael Massey is batting .283 (17-for-60) with 14 RBI, a .988 OPS and his 6 home runs are 1 behind Cal Raleigh and Kyle Tucker for the American League lead.
THE RUNNING ROYALS: The Royals were caught stealing twice in a game last night for the first time since July 9 at Cleveland…in 25 games since the break, the Royals lead the Majors with 36 steals in 40 attempts for a 90.0% success rate, tied for 3rd best in the Majors…they have 26 steals in their last 12 games, which are 8 more than the D-backs (18) for the Majors lead and 13 more than the Astros (13) for the American League lead.
After recording only 40 stolen bases in 56 games through the end of May, the Royals rank 2nd in the Major Leagues and lead the American League with 72 steals in 60 games since June 1…for the season, they rank 4th in the Majors with 112 steals, trailing Cincinnati (130), Tampa Bay (121) and Arizona (120).
Bobby Witt Jr. ranks 4th in the Majors with 34 stolen bases behind Ronald Acuña Jr. (53), Esteury Ruiz (46) and Corbin Carroll (36).
TONIGHT’S STARTERS: LHP AUSTIN COX (0-1, 3.58)
Tonight marks Austin’s 3rd Major League start, also doing so on June 28 vs. CLE and July 3 at MIN.
Cox earned his 1st Major League save last Friday night in Philadelphia, becoming the 42nd left hander to record a save in club history, and second this year, joining Aroldis Chapman (2).
He was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on July 19, marking his third stint with KC this season.
In 2 starts with the Royals this season, Cox has allowed 7 runs in 8.1 innings of work with 6 walks and 6 strikeouts…in 13 relief appearances, he has spun 19.1 innings of 4-run ball, scattering 7 hits and 8 walks with 17 strikeouts and 1 save.
Cox began his Major League career by retiring 35 of the first 39 batters he faced across 6 relief appearances, allowing only 4 walks…his 39 batters without allowing a hit marked the longest such streak in the Expansion Era (since 1961), according to Elias, surpassing the record held by Mark Rogers (32, Sept. 10-Oct. 1, 2010) and Joel McKeon (32, May 6-25, 1986), as well as the previous Royals record, held by D.J. Carrasco (23, April 2-14, 2003).
BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox have won 2 of their last 3 games following a 4-game losing streak from 8/2-6. The Sox are 8-8 in their last 16 games. At 59-55 (.518), Boston own’s MLB’s 12th-best record.
SERIES BUSINESS: With a win today, the Red Sox would snap a 3-series losing streak and improve to 20-15-2 in series play, including 12-7-0 at home. They are 6-4-0 in their last 10 series, beginning 6/30.
IT’S GO TIME: Monday the Red Sox began a stretch of 10 straight games against teams who currently hold a record below .500 (2-1 vs. KC, 3 vs. DET, 3 at WSH). Those 3 teams are a combined 138-207 (.400). Prior to this stretch, Boston played 11 straight games against teams at or above .500…They went 4-7 over that span (2-0 vs. ATL, 1-2 at SF, 1-2 at SEA, 0-3 vs. TOR). 6 of the Sox’ 11 series from 7/7-8/17 are against teams that entered today with a record of .500 or lower.
BACK TO THE GRIND: Boston is currently on a season-long 10-game homestand (3 vs. TOR, 4 vs. KC, 3 vs. DET). Boston is in a stretch of 32 games in 34 days, from 7/28-8/30…They will only have 1 day off (8/14) in a 27-day span from 8/4-30. After their off day on 8/14, the Sox will play a game on 16 consecutive days from 8/15-30.
SOX & ROYALS: The Sox are 12-4 vs. KC at Fenway Park since the start of 2018, including 8-2 in their last 10… They’ve won each of the last 4 series played at the venue. Boston went 3-4 against Kansas City in 2022…Are 19-8 vs. the Royals since the start of 2018. The Red Sox will visit Kauffman Stadium for a 3-game series from 9/1-3.
CENTRAL TIME: The Red Sox are 13-9 against AL Central teams this season, after going 18-15 in 2022. Monday began a stretch of 7 straight games against AL Central teams (2-1 vs. KC, 3 vs. DET). They’re 3-2-1 in series against AL Central opponents (3-0 at DET, 2-1 vs. MIN, 2-1 vs. CLE, 1-2 at CLE, 2-2 at MIN, 1-2 at CWS).
RUNNIN’ RED SOX: The Sox rank 6th in the AL and 14th in the majors in stolen baswe % (79.8, 79-for-99). The Sox’ top 3 leaders in steals are a combined 38-for-42 (90.5%): Jarren Duran (23-for-25), Masataka Yoshida (8-for-8), and Rob Refsnyder (7-for-9).
SLUGGING SOX: The Red Sox rank 2nd in MLB in doubles (250)…They rank 2nd in the AL in AVG (.261) and XBH (392), 5th in OBP (.327), and 4th in SLG (.431) and OPS (.758). In their last 30 games since 6/30, Boston leads the AL in AVG (.269), rank 2nd in SLG (.462) and 3rd in OPS (.788). The Sox have hit 38 HR in their last 25 games since 7/8, 5th most in the AL and 10th in MLB during that span.
RED SOX OFFENSE BY DATE
Dates Record AVG OPS Runs/G
3/30-5/6 21-14 .273 .800 5.9
5/7-6/13 12-21 .243 .704 3.8
6/14-7/27 22-12 .281 .803 5.4
7/28-pres. 4-8 .223 .660 3.3
HOME COOKING: The Sox have won 11 of their last 16 home games, including wins in 2 of their last 3 games. In 17 home games since the start of July, the Sox have hit .286 with an .813 OPS (56 XBH: 32 2B, 3 3B, 21 HR). At home, the Sox lead the majors in AVG (.286)…They also rank 2nd in OBP (.351), 3rd in OPS (.815), 4th in SLG (.462), and 5th in runs scored per game (5.42).
HIGH FIVE: Boston owns MLB’s best record when scoring 5+ runs (47-7, .870)…They have scored 4 or fewer runs in 6 of their last 7 games since 8/2 at SEA. Since 6/14, they’ve won 20 of their last 21 games when scoring 5+ runs, including each of their last 6 since 7/22.
LATE SURGE: Boston has scored 240 runs in innings 6-9, 3rd most in the AL behind TEX (250) and HOU (243)…BOS leads the AL and ranks 2nd in MLB in hits during those innings (429; MIA-460).
LOCK IT DOWN: The Red Sox own MLB’s best record when leading after 6 innings (45-3, .938)…In 2022, they ranked 18th in MLB when leading after 6 (63-10, .863). Boston leads MLB in save % (76.2; 32-for-42). Kenley Jansen ranks 5th in the AL with 25 saves.
MARTY PARTY: Since 6/9, Chris Martin has allowed only 1 run over his last 22 outings, including 16 straight scoreless appearances from 6/9-7/25…His 0.46 ERA over that span is 2nd best in MLB (min. 15.0 IP). Overall, his 1.45 ERA leads the Red Sox and is 4th best in the majors (min. 30 games). His home ERA of 0.47 ranks 2nd in MLB behind only Josh Hader’s mark of 0.42 (min. 20 games).
ON THE MEND: Chris Sale, Tanner Houck, and Garrett Whitlock are currently on rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester. Sale did not allow a run over 2 starts at Syracuse on 8/1 & 8/6 (6.1 IP, 4 H, 10 SO, 2 BB, 93 pitches). Houck made his 1st rehab start Saturday at Syracuse, allowing 2 runs in 1.2 IP (3 H, 3 BB, 3 SO, 46 pitches)… He is scheduled to start today vs. Buffalo. Whitlock made his 1st rehab start yesterday vs. Buffalo, allowing 2 hits over 2.1 IP (3 SO, HB, 46 pitches).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: 65 JAMES PAXTON – LHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 6-3 3.60 14 14 75.0 30 12 22 84 1.15 .227
CAREER 63-36 3.59 151 151 829.2 331 93 253 915 1.21 .238
Was charged with the loss Friday vs. TOR (5.0 IP, 4 R, 9 H, 2 BB, 4 SO, 3 HR). In his last 11 starts, beginning on 5/31, is 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, .223 opponent AVG, and 4.06 SO/BB (61.0 IP, 24 R/22 ER, 51 H, 16 BB, 65 SO). Has issued 2 or fewer walks in 12 of his 14 starts this season. Is 3-0 with a 1.70 ERA (8 ER/42.1 IP) with 53 SO in 7 starts vs. KC…Tossed 6.0 scoreless innings while striking out 12 batters in his last start vs. KC on 4/21/19 with NYY. Has pitched 5.0+ innings in 11 of his 14 starts this season. Has allowed 2 ER or fewer in 9 of his 14 starts (1 or 0 runs in 5 of them). 42 of his 84 strikeouts have come with the 4-seam fastball. 1
