KC Royals Look To End Home Stand On A Positive

After nine games following MLB’s All-Star Break our KC Royals are 3-6 having lost all three series played despite being in position to win each one. In the latest chapter, the offense continues to be inconsistent but it was the bullpen showing fatigue this time out.

Luke Hochevar and Joakim Soria each struggled to get key outs in situations Ned Yost put them in. Saturday Soria while pitching a rare second inning went on a four run bender (which KC almost made up in the ninth) while Sunday’s tie was broken when Hoch served up a long ball.

Probable Pitching Match-Ups
Monday, 7:15 pm – Hector Santiago/LHP (8-4, 4.32) v. Ian Kennedy/RHP (6-8, 4.28)
Tuesday, 7:15 pm – TBA v. TBA
Wednesday, 7:15 pm – Matt Shoemaker/RHP (5-10, 3.99) v. Danny Duffy/6-1, 3.14)

Comments on Pitching Match-Ups – Lots of unknowns coming into this three game tilt between former AL Western Division foes as we begin this week. Both clubs enter limping before squaring off versus one another.

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Game 1: Santiago has rebounded this month after, well doing little April-June despite having a winning record he’s carrying a high ERA. Kennedy was dreadful versus Cleveland last Wednesday from the start as Jason Kipnis took him deep, he never seemed to recover fully.

Game 2: It’s hard to say which cards get pulled from either deck and start this middle game. Does Yost go with the piggyback of Dillon Gee/Brian Flynn again or something else?

Game 3: Shoemaker like his teammate Santiago has done a little bit better in his previous couple starts which hopefully doesn’t continue. Duffy continues to wear “club ace” start after start which considering which at least someone is willing to do.

Series Outlook – Mike Trout and Albert Pujols are leading most offensive categories, they’re carrying this team by and large. Sure LA has had some injuries it’s just not a great roster despite having Trout/Pujols carrying most of the load. Lorenzo Cain likely returns on Monday which helps out some but he’ll need teammates help (outside of Kendrys Morales and Salvador Perez) so who gets hot again? These teams mirror each other so it’s hard to say which happens, they’re really different from last time they met when Los Angeles dominated at Angel Stadium in April.

Prediction – The Kansas City Royals win two of three

2016 Meetings
It wasn’t pretty at all for our boys in blue during the first meeting out west, LA handled the KC Royals winning two games by five runs then squeaking out a close game.

Franchise History
All-time the Los Angeles/California/Anaheim etc etc Angels are 287-279 versus the Kansas City Royals. Games played at Kauffman Stadium also are in favor of the visitor at 147-131.

TV/Radio Coverage
FOX Sports Kansas City will broadcast all three games with Steve Physioc and Rex Hudler from beautiful Kauffman Stadium. Joel Goldberg and KC Royals Hall of Famer Jeff Montgomery host Royals Live before and after.

On the KC Royals Radio Network (610 Sports in KC) will be Royals Hall of Famer/2007 Ford C. Frick Award winner Denny Matthews who’s joined in the booth by Ryan Lefebvre and Steve Stewart.

Series Resulta/Schedule v. Angels (LA 3-0)
April 25-27/Angel Stadium: L 6-1, L 9-4, L 4-2
July 25-27/Kauffman Stadium:

Next: KC Falls Below .500 In Loss To Texas

Game Notes:
Los Angels Angels
Kansas City Royals