Seth Lugo got back in the win column on Friday
, writes Jaylon Thompson.Lugo threw his four-seamer 38% of the time during his first trip through the order. The pitch also registered 6-of-9 first-pitch strikes, per Baseball Savant.
“I think, you know, it makes the hitters be a little more aggressive,” Lugo said. “So then, the spin and off-speed pitches tend to work better when they’re trying to hit fastballs. So we were trying to challenge early in the count and make sure they are quality pitches.”
Noah Cameron looked good in Sunday’s loss, writes Ken Powtak at MLB.com.
“He battles, that’s probably his Number 1 characteristic,” Quatraro said. “He’s exceptionally competitive and he’s been on a really good run here lately the way he throws the ball. He has a lot of confidence and we have a lot of confidence in him.”
Overall, Cameron threw 85 pitches, 57 for strikes, relying a bit more on his slider than usual.
“Obviously, a long first inning. I was thankful to get out of there,” he said.
Carter Jensen tied a Royals rookie record with his 24th home run.
“That’s a phenomenal record,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We know that he’s been on a tear here offensively as of late. So good for him. Not only that, but it tied the game.”
Jensen has 13 hits, five home runs and 10 RBIs in September. He leads all American League rookies in extra-base hits (57) and doubles (31). He also ranks second with 71 RBIs, and third with 24 home runs.
“He’s swinging the (expletive) out of it,” Royals starter Randy Dobnak said. “He can do it pretty well. And what he’s been doing is what he’s been doing all year. I mean, this month, he has four or five pumps. Just swinging it really well.”
And Bobby Witt Jr. is reaching milestones with his legs.
Witt began his day by beating out an infield hit before he stole second base for his 40th bag of the season. The All-Star shortstop, who reached that number for the second time in his career (49 in 2023), is one of just five players in franchise history with multiple 40 stolen-base campaigns.
With 13 games remaining in the regular season, Witt is just two homers shy of the third 20 HR/40 SB season in franchise history. His 2023 campaign (30/49) and Carlos Beltran’s 2003 performance (26/41) are the only two to date.
Jac Caglianone returned to the lineup on Sunday.
“Yeah, definitely feel better,” Caglianone said pregame. “You know, with these, it’s different for everybody going through them. So I’m glad there was no IL (injured list) or anything like that. Still a few games left in the year, so I’m excited and very happy to be back.”
Kevin O’Brien at Royals Keep writes that Jensen is becoming a long-term star for the Royals.
Payton Tolle had an immaculate inning in the first against the Royals.
The Quad Cities River Bandits win Game 1 of the Midwest League Championship Series.
Former Royals pitcher Matt Strahm has knee surgery.
The Brewers and Rays clinch playoff spots.
Giants slugger Rafael Devers is out for the year with a core muscle injury.
The Diamondbacks designate outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. for assignment.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hits his first home run in Toronto this year.
Is the decline of starting pitcher innings bad for baseball?
The Tigers plan to have Justin Verlander start one more time this year.
Can Jose Altuve reach 3,000 career hits?
The Athletics interview Mike Rizzo and Billy Owens for their GM job.
The Giants ownership situation is complicated.
How the system traps and exploits Dominican baseball players.
Alexander Zverev beats Ben Shelton to win the US Open.
USA wins its fifth consecutive women’s FIBA World Cup title.
This could be a good week to see the “false dawn.”
Prediction markets are becoming professionalized and harder to beat.
Burning Man is facing a midlife crisis.
Your song of the day is The Orwells with Who Needs You.
