KC Royals Report: Chris Young Gets Bombed In Bronx

KC Royals starter Chris Young looked like he was throwing batting practice on Monday against the New York Yankees, getting bombed with five solo home runs in Kansas City’s 6-2 loss in New York.

The fact is, the Kansas City Royals are pretty much giving games away by continuing to start the struggling Chris Young, who has given up 13 home runs in 32.2 innings pitched in 2016.

That’s awful.

His formerly ghost-like fastball has suddenly become visible to opposing hitters. I can’t help but wonder if he’s somehow tipping the pitch, because his high fastball is getting rocked instead of making hitters miss like it did last season.

Perhaps opponents have figured him out.

In any case, the five home runs put the Yankees in command 5-1 in the third inning, which was too much for the toothless KC Royals offense to overcome. Former Kansas City Royals center-fielder and current Yankee right fielder Carlos Beltran slammed two dingers off Young to help break out of a recent slump.

That’s what Chris Young has become: the slumpbuster.

The Kansas City Royals did counter with long-balls from both Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer, but their solo shots weren’t enough to lift Kansas City’s moribund offense.

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Chris Young is a disaster. If you’ve been a glutton for punishment and somehow still have him in your rotation, get rid of him immediately. At the very least bench him, and I would consider cutting him outright. It’s not as if any other owner will be in a hurry to grab him. Young is likely to be available if he suddenly turns his season around.

Alex Gordon is heating up. He’s been seeing the ball much better at the plate of late and getting better hacks. Before Monday, he had mostly been collecting singles. Against the Yankees, he broke through with a bomb to go with a single and a walk. If you own Gordon, move him back into your lineup if you have an outfield need. Grab him if he’s available in your league and you need outfield help.

KEY PITCHING PERFORMANCES:

Kansas City Royals:

Chris Young: 2.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 5 HR L (1-5)

New York Yankees:

Ivan Nova: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

KEY HITTING PERFORMANCES:

Kansas City Royals:

Alex Gordon: 2-3, 1 R, 1 HR (3), 1 BB, 1 RBI

Eric Hosmer: 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR (5), 1 BB, 1 RBI

New York Yankees:

Brian McCann: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR (4), 1 RBI

Carlos Beltran: 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR (6), 2 RBI

Brett Gardner: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR (4), 1 RBI

Aaron Hicks: 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR (2), 2 RBI

Next: Metric Show Kendrys Morales Will Be Just Fine

NEXT GAME:

The KC Royals will send Kris Medlen (1-3, 2.61 ERA) to the mound against Masahiro Tanaka (1-0, 2.29 ERA) for the New York Yankees 6:05 CST at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York on Tuesday, May10.