The Kansas City Royals put veteran right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha in the seven-day concussion list with a pretty vague reason.
“He had an off-field accident that resulted in a concussion,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said pregame. “Nothing overly serious, we don’t think. But it’s something
that’s going to keep him from pitching a minimum of seven days.”
Kevin O’Brien looks at what needs to happen for the Royals to turn things around and names two hitters who need to stay hot in September.
Thus, the Royals need Jac Caglianone (114 wRC+) and Nick Loftin (152 wRC+) to have big Septembers for this Royals team to make the postseason. Cags isn’t hitting for much power, but the plate approach has vastly changed this month. He has a 25% BB rate to an 18.8% K rate, and his OBP is .438. He is also still making quality contact with a 44.4% hard-hit rate and .453 xSLG, which is 203 points higher than his actual slugging. With better plate discipline, the production should come through once both the power and plate approach finally click. When looking at his Statcast percentiles, the main thing that needs to improve is his ability to pull the ball in the air (which ranks in the 8th percentile).
Royals Data Dugout lists out the road blowout Kansas City suffered on Monday.
Mike Yastrzemski, who’s tattooed pitches down in the zone in his time as a Royal, similarly watched a fastball scoot right down Broadway on the second pitch of the night. If I’m being nitpicky by calling out hitters leading off innings, fine — maybe this is too granular of a complaint. But how about Pasquantino, the only reliable run-producer in the lineup right now, not being ready in the box for this driveable fastball to lead off the fourth? If that’s not a perfect representation of the Royals’ failures on Monday night, I don’t know what is. At least Monday Night Football was on.
Craig Brown keeps “the optimism fires burning,” but has some realistic outlooks on this Royals team.
Yet, as long as the Royals are in it, I’ll keep the optimism fires burning in this space. After 144 games, we know this team…their strengths, their weaknesses. I don’t think this team is good enough for the playoffs. If they somehow sneak in, they will almost certainly get rolled in the Wild Card round. I am taking comfort that the Royals are playing meaningful (if sometimes awful) September baseball. I am writing about the Wild Card and postseason odds and scoreboard watching. That’s something I haven’t been able to do all that often. I’ll take 82 wins and this team in the mix in September all day over 100 losses and the team out of it by the end of April.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter predicts the Royals will add outfielder Austin Hays in free agency in Reuter’s Opening Day 2026 prediction.
Outfield production has been a glaring hole for the Royals the past few years, and they can’t bank on guys like MJ Melendez, Drew Waters and Nick Loftin suddenly taking a step forward. Re-signing Mike Yastrzemski would be a nice first step, as he has been excellent since coming over from the Giants at the deadline, while a multi-year deal for Austin Hays would be a nice mid-level move to shore up the other corner.
Kings of Kauffman’s Mike Gillespie calls right-handed pitcher A.J. Causey a possible “closer of the future for the Royals.”
Only three times in 46 relief appearances — 27 with the River Bandits and 16 for Northwest Arkansas after his July 8 promotion to Double-A — has Causey been charged with more than one run (he gave up two each time). He’s saved eight games and permitted only two of the 17 runners he’s inherited to score. But those aren’t Causey’s only impressive numbers. Entering Tuesday, he’s fanned 73 and walked only 18 in 72 innings, owns a 0.89 WHIP, and is limiting opponents to a .183 average. He earned his way to Double-A by going 8-2 with a 1.56 ERA at Quad Cities, and is 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA at Northwest Arkansas. Between the two minor league clubs, his ERA is 1.63 and he’s 11-4.
In the Kansas City metro? Make sure to check out some Royals history.
“On the Road with the Royals Hall of Fame” will feature visits to 10 Mid-Continent Library branches across the metro. The hall of fame features more than 50 years of Royals baseball with artifacts, stories and trivia. According to the team, the presentation includes a section called “Royals from Here, There & Everywhere,” highlighting stories from players born around the world.
ESPN decides baseball’s most exciting player, with New York Yankees outfielder edging out Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
Bleacher Report’s fatal flaw for Kansas City this season is no surprise, naming the corner outfield production.
ESPN looks at the playoff picture, with the Royals on the outside looking in.
Rebble Hunting’s Sam Miller lauds the age of handheld broadcast angles.
Under the Knife’s Will Carroll highlights some MLB executives he says fans should know.
Lance Brozdowski looks at two 2025 first-rounders who made their affiliated ball debuts.
The Draft Scout has the scoop on NFL Draft names to know three weeks into the college football season.
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins returned to action Tuesday after missing 57 games.
Boston Red Sox call up yet another pitching prospect, Connelly Early expected to debut against Athletics.
Second-half troubles continue for Kyle Tucker after Chicago Cubs place him on injured list.
Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy sees his season end early after surgery to repair a labral tear in his hip.
Read the numbers behind catcher Samuel Bassallo’s eight-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles.
Judge slammed his 359th career home run Tuesday, moving to 5th in Yankees history.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter gets a hefty fine and convoluted suspension for spitting on a Dallas Cowboys player in Week 1.
Whether it is work-life balance or NIL, more football coaches are moving from the college ranks to NFL.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama looks to up the fan ante with a new “supporter’s section”.
Does Toyota have an edge in the NASCAR playoffs?
How and why reviewers are saying Hamnet “will wreck you.”
A man dressed as an ice cream treat passed out frozen treats to hikers at the top of Huron Peak.
Today’s song of the day is Battle Drums by Kayzo and Atreyu.
