As the trade deadline finally shakes up the rosters around baseball, the Royals continue their battle for second-worst team in MLB after the Angels this afternoon. The reason this is a battle is because the Rockies won the first two games of this series and caught back up to KC. It’s that kind of season.
The Royals announced their player and pitcher of the month ahead of today’s game and, well, you’ve got to see this to believe it:
No disrespect to either of these guys. They both played well in the month of July and more than earned the honors. But I don’t think there was ever a point where it crossed my mind that either of them could ever win this award with KC until last night when the Royals’ broadcast pointed out that Tolbert was in line to do it. It absolutely drives home the point that the Royals’ roster has been just absolutely devastated by injuries that these two guys were in a position to succeed like this.
The Royals also announced a couple of roster moves before the game:
Say it with me, everyone: right forearm tightness is often a symptom of a UCL injury and the precursor to elbow surgery. Anyway, it’s fitting that a guy named Bummer will pitch for Kansas City as they barrel towards the final third of what seems to be not only a bad season, but one that likely tanks their chances to try to compete next year as they refuse to trade aging guys and see all of their younger pitchers suffering long-term injuries.
Speaking of aging veterans, Seth Lugo will pitch for KC today. We’re all very familiar with him and his kitchen-sink approach to pitching that he will hopefully soon pass on to Lucas Braun. Lugo still stands as an example of why the Royals shouldn’t be precious about keeping Wacha past tomorrow night’s deadline. That said, he’s pitched better of late. He has a 2.74 ERA over his past four starts. Albeit, he also has an 8.7% K-BB% and a 4.95 xERA. So. Ya know. Don’t hold your breath for him to keep doing it forever.
The Rockies will counter with one of their most accomplished starting pitchers in their franchise’s history, Kyle Freeland. Freeland, a lefty, also has a 7.34 ERA this year. He has a better SIERA than Lugo, but he plays with the Rockies who, beyond just playing in Colorado, seem to have suspect outfield defense if last night’s contest was any indication. So his ERA is that much worse. He hasn’t allowed fewer than four runs in any of his last four starts, five of his last six, and six of his last eight. It’s been a rough go for him. He throws six pitches, and none of them have been particularly effective. Maybe the Royals’ offense will finally go off in this one.
Lineups
Isbel may be back with the team, but he’s not in the starting lineup, that’ll be John Rave in center. He’ll be batting sixth, just ahead of Royals Player of the Month Tyler Tolbert. Without Bobby Witt Jr. or Lane Thomas, Nick Loftin gets to bat second. If there’s any good news it’s that Witt is primed to return to the lineup on Tuesday when the Royals come come home.
The Royals have all three of their catchers somewhere in today’s lineup facing a left-handed pitcher. It’s safe to wonder if Starling Marte might have to leave in the middle of this game similarly to how Lane Thomas did yesterday, though we probably won’t care as much because if Lane Thomas could only get the return he got, Marte will be lucky to bring back a bag of balls.
