Royals Report: 5 Things About 4-3 Loss In Philadelphia

5) Ian Kennedy Again Struggles On Road

Kennedy went 5.0 innings, allowing  6 hits, 3 walks, and 3 earned runs with 8 strikeouts. He certainly missed bats, but again gave up runs on the road. He surrendered single runs in the first, third, and fifth innings, and left the game trailing 3-1.

More from Kings of Kauffman

• KC Royals Rumors: Is a monster move in the cards?
• KC Royals Free Agent Hunt: 3 Tampa Bay pitchers
• Grading the 2022 KC Royals: The $25 million man
• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Expectations met
• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Day 3 update

Since the KC Royals never drew even, Kennedy ended up taking the loss to go 6-7 on the season.

Kennedy is now 3-6, with a 5.36 ERA on the road. He gave up another road home run (a solo shot to Odubel Herrera leading off the game for the Phillies), to make it 16 dingers in 55.1 innings pitched away from Kauffman Stadium. He’s only allowed 4 home runs in 38.1 innings at home.

On the road, Kennedy gives up almost as many home runs as Chris Young.

Overall, Kennedy’s 4.04 ERA isn’t horrible, but he needs to somehow figure out how to keep the ball in the park on the road or he will remain inconsistent. He’d be OK as a bottom of the rotation pitcher, but the Kansas City Royals really need him to be more than that given the struggles of Yordano Ventura and Edinson Volquez this season.

Next: Whit Merrifield