Royals Report: The Offensive Magic Is Gone

5) Ian Kennedy Imploded The Third Time Through The Order

Ian Kennedy had allowed a mere one run through five innings and was locked in a pitching duel with Indians starter Josh Tomlin. 

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Then the roof caved in when he allowed four runs in the sixth inning while facing the Indians hitters for the third time on Saturday. Mike Napoli began the collapse with a one-out solo shot to put the Indians up 2-0.

Kennedy appeared to recover when he induced the second out of the inning from third baseman Jose Ramirez, but he gave up back to back doubles to Lonnie Chisenhall and Rajai Davis to put the Indians ahead 3-0. At this point it was clear that Davis would last no more than six innings, except Ned Yost attempted to get that last out from him.

The decision cost the KC Royals big time. Tyler Naquin followed Rajai Davis’ double with a home run to put the Indians ahead 5-1. Yes, Kennedy got out of the inning and “saved” the bullpen. But did getting another two outs really help when the team woke up on Sunday wallowing in another losing streak?

Down 2-0 the game was still winnable if Yost decided to use his prime relievers rather than getting stuck with “B” squad in Scott Alexander and Chien-Ming Wang. Instead, the Kansas City Royals lost 7-1 and look poised to fall back into a week of lousy play.

Next: James Shields

4) Chicago Trades For James Shields

KC KIngdom reported that the Royals had been interested in reacquiring their former team leader, but the White Sox offered pitcher Erik Johnson and recent international signing Fernando Tatis, Jr. The Padres reportedly ate between $27 to 31 million of the $58 million remaining on Shields contract (3 2/3 years remaining on the deal). 

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The KC Royals might have just missed their best chance to upgrade their rotation, given that the prospect price wasn’t all that high and the Padres willingness to pay most of his salary made Shields contract pretty palatable.

However, with starters Mike Minor and Jason Vargas possibly returning to the rotation this season, the Kansas City Royals front office might have decided that Shields simply wasn’t worth it. Shields is not the pitcher he was in Kansas CIty, suffering both a decline in velocity and a bump in his walk rate to around 3.6 BB/9 the last season and 1/3.

We will see what Shields has left with the White Sox, but you would have to think that he would have been a better fit in Kansas City with the Royals outstanding outfield defense and big home park. U.S. Cellular Field is a bandbox that isn’t at all good for a fly ball pitcher like Shields.

Next: Salvador Perez

3) Salvador Perez Returned To The Lineup

Even with the KC Royals losing 7-1 on Saturday, there was some good news. Salvador Perez caught the game and went 2 for 4 with a double.

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It was good to not only see Perez back in action, but that he seemed to pick up where he left off with the bat. Perez now sports a quite robust .282/.317/.500 triple slash and is a big boost to the Kansas City Royals. However, manager Ned Yost said that he expects to ease Perez back into his full duties and that he planned to rest him more in the near future.

Perez’s return to the Kansas City Royals lineup after only missing six games was the best news of what has been a miserable start to their 10-game road trip. While Drew Butera hit the ball well during Perez’s absence, the 26-year-old Perez is the team’s emotional leader and defensive rock.

Many pundits consider Perez the best player in the KC Royals lineup right now, with most of the others tabbing first baseman Eric Hosmer with that distinction. Either way, it’s good news getting one of the three missing All-Stars back in the lineup.

Next: Whit Merrifield

2) Whit Merrifield To Get Most Of The starts At Second

Ned Yost commented to reporters on Saturday that the 27-year-old rookie Merrifield will get most of the starts at second base for the foreseeable future.

That’s more good news for KC Royals fans who are fed up with Omar Infante‘s continued poor play at the plate over the last 2 1/3 seasons (pretty much the moment he signed a four-year, $32 million deal with the Kansas City Royals in 2014).

Signing Infante has clearly been a failure. Now that his elbow has been repaired, there is little reason to think the the 34-year-old will suddenly rebound to his former level of performance. At this point, Infante looks to be little more than a utility infielder, rather than a starting player in major-league baseball (if he’s worth a roster spot at all).

Merrifield, meanwhile, has looked good while drawing starts at left field, third base, and second base since getting the call in mid-May. While he is unlikely to maintain his current 333/.345/.439 triple slash over the long-term, he’s brought an energy to the position that has boosted the KC Royals offense.

Merrifield has taken over the no. 2 slot on the days he’s in the lineup, and really has the skill set to be the leadoff hitter. While I’m not going to rehash the Alcides Escobar at leadoff debate, I will point out that Merrifield has given the Kansas City Royals everything they could have hoped when they added him to the roster in favor of Christian Colon.

Next: Kendrys Morales

1) Kendrys Morales Needs To Pull The Mike Moustakas

Kendrys Morales terrible .194/.261/.325 triple slash isn’t all due to bad luck. Part of it is he’s getting the extreme shift treatment when hitting from the left side similar to what teammate Mike Moustakas faced in 2014 and 2015.

Moustakas famously recalibrated his swing to shoot balls to the opposite field and force defenses to play him honest. He also prevented pitchers from simply peppering the outside edge. Kendrys Moralas’ accidental grounder down the third base line turning into a double shows just what such an approach could accomplish.

If Morales could show opponents that he has learned to exploit the shift on a regular basis, he could get back to the formidable hitter that won a silver slugger for the KC Royals in 2015.  Of coruse, that;s easier said than done, especially in the middle of a season.

Next: Kendrys Morales Isn't Hitting The Ball Where He Should

Nonetheless, something needs to change. Slashing .194/.261/.325 isn’t doing the Kansas City Royals lineup any favors, and he’s now posted his second straight month of awful production. There’s only so long that the KC Royals can tolerate his struggling bat with the team in contention for the AL Central title.

The KC Royals will send Chris Young to the mound (2-5, 5.94 ERA) for the final game of the four game series in Cleveland. The Indians will counter with Corey Kluber (7-1, 4.15 ERA) 1:10 CST at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio, June 4, 2016.