Weekend starters prove some things for the KC Royals

Fans usually can't find things to make a three-game series between last-place teams too interesting. Such wasn't the case, though, leading up to the three-contest set the KC Royals and Colorado completed Sunday at Kauffman Stadium.

As we wrote in this space Thursday, the games collectively offered up what might prove to be Mike Moustakas' last Kansas City appearance as a player, and chances for Royals' starters Jordan Lyles, Daniel Lynch, and Brady Singer to prove some important things. And although the Royals lost two of three to the Rockies, the weekend really didn't disappoint.

They had to wait until Sunday, but KC Royals fans finally saw The Moose

Followers of Mike Moustakas, of which there must be many among Royals faithful, didn't get to see him play Friday or Saturday. He didn't crack the lineup in either game, both of which his club won, but whether or not treating those fans to at least a glimpse of Moose on the field mattered to him or not, Colorado manager Bud Black started him at first base Sunday.

Those who chose to attend—MLB.com put the number at 13,128, a little more than one-third of The K's capacity—gave Moustakas a nice ovation when he stepped to the plate in the first inning and, although it threatened for a moment the Royals' precarious 2-0 lead, seemed to appreciate his ninth-inning single. It was one of his two hits.

Whether Moose, now only a part-time player who finished the day at .244, plays in Kansas City again remains to be seen.

On to Lyles, Lynch, and Singer...

FRIDAY: KC Royals starter Jordan Lyles managed to minimize the scoring

We pointed out Thursday the painful facts about Lyles most KC fans probably already knew: entering the weekend, he owned the majors' worst ERA and had lost more games than any other big league pitcher. He needed to prove he could limit an opponent's scoring when he took the mound Friday evening.

That he did—Lyles, 0-9 with a 7.30 ERA before he threw the game's first pitch, pitched his best game of the season.

For a few minutes, however, it looked like that wouldn't be the outcome. The two-out home run he gave up to Ryan McMahon in the first could have signaled another poor outing for the righthander who's surrendered more home runs this season than anyone except Toronto's Yusei Kikuchi (both have allowed 17).

But McMahon's blast turned out to be one of only two hits Colorado mustered. After Harold Castro singled with one out in the second, Lyles retired the Rox in order in the third and fourth and allowed only a harmless walk in the fifth. And he struck out eight, just one less than his season-high nine against the Blue Jays in his first start of the campaign.

Manager Matt Quatraro, obviously leery of Lyles repeating the struggles he's had in the later innings this season, ended Lyles' night after the fifth. Because their bullpen collapsed, the Royals ended up losing 7-2. But Lyles provided some hope that he could get better.

How about Daniel Lynch? Let's see...

SUNDAY: Pitcher Brady Singer continued to get better for the KC Royals

His start Sunday afternoon was important for Singer, loser of the consistency he discovered last season and converted into the 10-5, 3.23 ERA campaign via which he earned the Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year Award as the club's best hurler and set himself up to be the staff ace going forward. Singer started the day 3-4 with a ghastly 7.12 ERA but, after yielding only two runs in five innings to Washington last weekend, 1-0, 4.35 in his last four starts.

Sunday's matinee, then, gave Singer the chance to keep his improving work going. And anyone anticipating just that result didn't go home disappointed.

Singer was superb, perhaps the best he's been all season. The Rockies couldn't score even a single off of him. He hurled 5.2 scoreless innings; only when Nolan Jones singled and later reached third in the fourth did Colorado mount any kind of threat against Singer.

He also struck out seven and, on top of that, didn't walk a batter. He gave way to the bullpen, which also didn't allow Colorado a run, after Moustakas singled with two away in the sixth.

So, things continue to look better for Singer, who evened his record at 4-4 and lowered that unsightly ERA to 6.45.