Michael Lorenzen continues to struggle late in the year.
“I just couldn’t make a pitch,” Lorenzen said after Friday’s game. “That hasn’t been the case for my past few starts. I was able to make some good pitches. Today, I just didn’t have the feel. The sinker was running off the plate, and I was trying to keep it on the plate. I throw it down and in to Harper, and he hits it really well. I just feel like I didn’t have anything I could lean on tonight.”
The Royals know their playoff chances are slipping
away.
“Probably could interview 100 people, and I would assume 100 people would say we aren’t going to make the playoffs,” Royals second baseman Michael Massey said before Friday’s series opener against the Phillies in Philadelphia. “What does this clubhouse have to lose going out and playing free every night?”
It’s the right attitude, but time is running out for the Royals.
Cole Ragans had a second rehab start on Friday, striking out seven in 3.2 innings.
The Royals are hoping that two rehab starts is all Ragans will need and that he can get back into Kansas City’s rotation as soon as he feels ready.
“If everything goes well, we hope that this is the last one,” manager Matt Quatraro said before the Royals’ series-opener in Philadelphia on Friday at Citizens Bank Park.
Craig Brown was impressed with what he saw from Stephen Kolek on Thursday.
Like the other rookies we’ve seen in the last year or two, Kolek has a poise about the mound. He doesn’t get bothered and seems to have a gameplan and is able to stick to it. We’ve come a long way from resting our hopes on Vin Mazzarro and Kyle Davies. Even in the dark spots of this season, we can still find rays of light. That’s important.
For the night, Kolek walked just one and allowed three hits. He recorded 11 ground ball outs. The lone run he allowed came when Steven Kwan led off the third with a double. He advanced to third on a ground out and came home on another ground ball out.
Hey, both Kansas City teams play Philadelphia teams tomorrow, just the ninth time they’ve both played teams from the same city.
The Brewers become the first team to reach 90 wins.
Tarik Skubal exits his game in the fourth inning with side tightness.
Aaron Judge passes Joe DiMaggio to become fourth in Yankees history in career home runs.
Tanner Bibee throws the first complete game shutout by a Cleveland pitcher in six years.
Phillies reliever José Alvarado will miss the rest of the season with a forearm strain.
Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn will miss the rest of the year with a knee injury.
The Mariners are interested in bringing first baseman Josh Naylor back next year.
Mookie Betts may be salvaging his season.
Can the Braves and Orioles turn things around next year?
Ireland will host a college football game each year through 2037.
Arrowhead Stadium public address announcer Dale Carter quits after the team asks him to make changes.
Oracle’s Larry Ellison briefly became the richest man in the world.
Will scrolling on your phone rot your brain?
Your song of the day is Tommy James & The Shondells with I Think We’re Alone Now.
