KC Royals: 3 battles to watch down the 2021 stretch

The KC Royals’ star catcher is battling by himself for a big team record.

After hitting a home run for the fifth consecutive game against Sunday, Salvador Perez has 38 this season, 11 more than he’d ever hit before in one season. And 12 of those homers have come in August, a total boosted by the seven he’s clubbed in his last 10 games.

Perez is hot, which puts a Kansas City record within his reach. He’ll have to stretch to grab it, but it’s definitely possible.

It was just two seasons ago that Jorge Soler finally delivered the consistent power the Royals sought when they traded Wade Davis to the Cubs to get him after the 2016 season. Soler’s 48 homers in 2019 led the American League and broke the club record of 38 Mike Moustakas set in 2017 when he slipped by the 36 Steve Balboni hit 32 years before.

But can Perez really catch and pass Soler? Yes, and here’s why.

Soler had 28 home runs when August of his record-breaking season began, then hit 10 in August and another 10 in September.

Perez started August with 26 homers, but the 12 he’s added with one game left in the month (Tuesday at The K against Cleveland) are two more than Soler had in August.

That leaves Perez with 10 to tie, and 11 to break, his former teammate’s record.

It will be close. But it can be done.