Daily Clips
August 6, 2017
LOCAL
Mariners-Royals postponed; twin bill today
August 5, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com
Salvy has intercostal strain, could go on DL
Butera to step in at catcher; Gallagher to fill backup role
August 5, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com
Duffy ready to take on M's in twin-bill opener
August 6, 2017By Greg Johns/MLB.com
Even in worst-case scenario, resilient Royals can 'cover for' Perez
August 5, 2017By Vahe Gregorian/KC Star
Royals’ Salvador Perez likely headed to disabled list because of intercostal strain
August 5, 2017By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
As Royals surge, so have their local TV ratings
August 4, 2017By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Alex Gordon is struggling. Here’s why Ned Yost says he’ll still play most days
August 4, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
MINORS
Sacramento Scrapes By Omaha 5-4
Cuthbert collects 2 hits & an RBI as part of rehab assignment
August 5, 2017By Omaha Storm Chasers
Arozarena blasts walk-off homer, Cards top Naturals, 8-7, in 12 innings
August 6, 2017By Springfield Cardinals
Vines and Offense Rebound for Win
Rocks Get Key Win to Take Lead in Pivotal Series
August 5, 2017By Wilmington Blue Rocks
Voyagers Vaporize Home Losing Streak
Four-Run 1st Sets Tone, Blackman Clubs First Homer
August 6, 2017 By Shawn Tiemann/Great Falls Voyagers
Cash Homer Wins Game, Series for Royals
Breaks tie in ninth, Royals win 4-3 over Twins
August 5, 2017By Matt Krause/Burlington Royals
MLB TRANSACTIONS
August 6, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Mariners-Royals postponed; twin bill today
August 5, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com
The Royals avoided potentially playing until 3:00 a.m. -- like they did in May 2013 -- as tonight's scheduled game against the Mariners was postponed by rain and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Sunday at Kaufmann Stadium.
Game 1 on Sunday will start at 1:15 p.m. CT. Game 2 will begin within 30 minutes of the completion of the opener. Fans holding tickets to Saturday's game must exchange them for Sunday's doubleheader or any remaining game on the 2017 regular season schedule. For more information, go to royals.com/weather.
Left-hander Danny Duffy, who was slated to start on Saturday, will get the ball for Game 1 against lefty Marco Gonzales, who will be making his Mariners debut. Rookie right-hander Jake Junis will likely start the nightcap against Erasmo Ramirez. Junis can be called up from Triple-A Omaha as the Royals' 26th man for Game 2. The club may also place catcher Salvador Perez (intercostal strain) on the 10-day disabled list and add catcher Cam Gallagher to the active roster.
"I'm trying to stay away from making roster moves right now," manager Ned Yost said.
The rest of the Royals' rotation will slide back a day, meaning Ian Kennedy, who was scheduled to start on Sunday, will now face the Cardinals on Monday.
The Royals wound up playing into the wee hours on May 31, 2013. That game, a 4-2 victory over the Cardinals, was the strangest rain delay that Yost said he ever experienced.
"You kept looking at the radar," Yost said. "We had taken the lead, but because St. Louis hadn't hit, if the game was going to be rained out, we were going to lose, and we were really struggling at that point.
"The grounds crew guy was really dragging his feet and trying to do everything he could to make sure we couldn't get back on the field. He told [umpire] Joe West, 'Look, it's not going to stop raining.' Well, Joe came in my office and said, 'I'm going to have to call this. It's not going to stop raining.'
"Joe didn't know I'm a phenomenal meteorologist. I got right on the computer and said, 'Look. That guy's lying. It's fixing to stop in five minutes.' Joe looked at that radar and went back out and said, 'We're staying here. I don't care how long.' Joe made them fix that field to the point where it was playable. Barely, but it was playable."
The umpiring crew had to be in Chicago for a matinee game the next day, and the Royals were scheduled to fly to Texas. The game ended at 3:14 a.m., but both groups made it to their next destinations.
"We're weren't taking that lead and just leaving it and taking a loss," Yost said. "Once Joe figured out the guy was trying to dupe him, Joe West was having none of that. ... It wasn't a fun day, but at least we won."
Salvy has intercostal strain, could go on DL
Butera to step in at catcher; Gallagher to fill backup role
August 5, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com
All-Star catcher Salvador Perez suffered an intercostal strain during the Royals' 5-2 loss to the Mariners on Friday night, manager Ned Yost said. The Royals are waiting to decide if they will need to place Perez on the disabled list.
"We'll determine how he feels tomorrow and then make a decision," Yost said before Saturday's game was rained out. "It's going to have to be a pretty miraculous recovery, but we'll see."
Yost said the Royals will know more about Perez's intercostal strain on Sunday, when it will have been 48 hours since the initial injury. The best-case scenario -- if Perez goes on the DL -- is that he will be out for 10 days. The worst-case scenario is a longer time frame: four weeks.
"It's hard to tell right now," Yost said. "It's sore, real sore. After 48 hours, we'll have a better idea of what the timetable will be."
Perez's injury comes with the Royals three games behind the first-place Indians in the American League Central and one game ahead of the Rays for the second AL Wild Card spot.
Perez underwent an MRI on his right side after he struck out to end the sixth inning of Friday's loss. He appeared to wince after his swing, and he was replaced by backup catcher Drew Butera.
Earlier this season, Perez was selected to his fifth overall and fourth straight All-Star Game. He is batting .278, and he leads all catchers with 21 home runs and a .510 slugging percentage this season.
In Perez's place, Butera will step in as the starting catcher. He has played in 44 games this season, and he is batting .250 with two home runs.
"I'm always ready," Butera said. "It's unfortunate that's the way [starting] happened. You don't wish an injury on anybody, especially your teammates, and especially a really good guy like Sal."
In order to have a backup catcher available, the Royals brought Cam Gallagher up from Triple-A Omaha to be on standby to be activated should Perez go on the DL. Gallagher has no previous Major League experience.
Duffy ready to take on M's in twin-bill opener
August 6, 2017By Greg Johns/MLB.com
Following Saturday's rainout, the Mariners and Royals will play a doubleheader to close the out the four-game series at Kauffman Stadium.
The twin bill be a traditional doubleheader with Game 1 starting at 1:15 p.m. CT, followed by the nightcap after a 20-30 minute break.
After splitting the first two games of the series, the Royals own a 1 1/2 game lead over the Mariners for the American League's second Wild Card spot.
Rookie left-hander Marco Gonzales, who was called up on Saturday from Triple-A Tacoma when Mariners ace Felix Hernandez landed on the 10-day disabled list with biceps tendinitis, will start the twin-bill opener and recently acquired right-hander Erasmo Ramirez will start the finale.
Gonzales, who was acquired from the Cardinals two weeks ago for Minor League outfielder Tyler O'Neill, will be making his Mariners debut. Gonzales went 4-2 with a 5.53 ERA in 12 games, including seven starts, with the Cardinals during brief stints in 2014-15 and one spot start this year. He is ranked as the Mariners' No. 11 prospect by MLBPipeline.com.
Ramirez will be making his second start for the Mariners after being acquired from the Rays for closer Steve Cishek. The 27-year-old started six games for Tampa Bay, but he had mostly been working out of the bullpen and lasted just 3 1/3 innings with five hits and three runs (two earned) in his first start for Seattle on Tuesday against the Rangers.
The Royals will counter with veteran lefty Danny Duffy in the opener. The second game starter has not yet been announced, but 24-year-old rookie Jake Junis is expected to be called up to make the spot start with right-hander Ian Kennedy being pushed back from his scheduled Sunday start to face the Cardinals on Monday.
Duffy is 7-6 with a 3.42 ERA in 17 starts, including going 3-2 with a 3.20 ERA in six starts since coming off a five-week stint on the DL. Junis is 3-2 with a 5.50 ERA in nine games, including six starts, this season for the Royals.
Both teams will be able to add a 26th player to their roster to be used in the second game of the doubleheader and Junis fills that role for the Royals. Seattle is expected to call up reliever Cody Martin to provide some depth behind Ramirez.
Three things to know about this game
• Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz is expected to play after being scratched from Friday's game with back spasms. Cruz took some swings in the cage on Saturday and was in the starting lineup before the game was postponed. Cruz entered Saturday leading the AL with 80 RBIs.
• The Royals are 4-1 against the Mariners this season, including a 7-3 victory on July 4 with Duffy getting the win. Duffy is 1-1 with a 2.39 ERA in five career starts against the Mariners.
• Ramirez is 0-2 with a 7.07 ERA in five appearances against the Royals, including two starts, though he hasn't faced them since 2015. Gonzales has never faced Kansas City.
Even in worst-case scenario, resilient Royals can 'cover for' Perez
August 5, 2017By Vahe Gregorian/KC Star
Much as you need to know what the deal is right now, it was, alas, too soon Saturday to understand the full implications of the strained intercostal muscle Royals catcher Sal Perez suffered Friday night.
But barring what Royals manager Ned Yost called “a pretty miraculous recovery,” Perez figures to go on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday. A worst-case scenario would have him out a month.
So the resilient Perez isn’t actually made of Teflon or steel but flesh and blood.
Despite what you might think after he has stayed off the disabled list since 2013 — through countless foul tips off virtually every part of his body, including many to his head, a frightening collision with Cheslor Cuthbert last season and the alarming crash with Drew Butera during the World Baseball Classic.
“I’ve realized that he’s a human being, not a robot. He’s not a machine,” Yost said after the Royals game against Seattle was rained out Saturday at Kauffman Stadium. “And as durable and tough as he is, this stuff happens. He can take a tremendous beating and still show up to play every day.
“But it’s just one of those things.”
One of those things that sends a shudder through Royals fans.
Especially as the team enters the nitty-gritty of the season with designs on a playoff run just off the pace in the American League Central (three games behind Cleveland heading into Sunday’s games) and a half game ahead of Tampa Bay for the second wild-card spot.
A strong case could be made that Perez is the most indispensable Royal, considering the combination of the crucial role he plays with pitchers and the bat that has produced 21 home runs and 65 RBIs this season.
Yost began to agree with that notion … only to think it through further as he cataloged the rest of an essential nucleus he listed who all just happen to be potential free agents at the end of the season: Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas.
“All of our core guys,” he said, “are really pretty indispensable.”
What that point means in terms of next year is its own little looming dilemma and drama.
But in the context of this season, the point was both that the Royals can ill-afford to lose any of their key players for an extended time but that he also believes “we can cover it.”
The prospect of covering it doesn’t mean just in the sense of how Drew Butera (.250, two home runs and nine RBIs in 92 at-bats) can stand in Perez’s stead at the plate and behind it.
It also means others picking up the slack, something this core has demonstrated a knack for over the last few years when the odds are laughing at them.
It doesn’t always work that way, of course —- or they would have found a way to overcome the Moustakas-Alex Gordon pileup that started the sabotage of last season, followed by a Cain hamstring injury that kept him out for a month in which the Royals went 9-16.
That’s a lot of missing pieces, though.
So maybe a more apt comparison would be to what the Royals faced in 2014, when soon after standing pat at the trade deadline they discovered Hosmer had a broken hand.
To skeptics, that looked like curtains for a Royals team that hadn’t been to the postseason since 1985. Hosmer didn’t return for a month.
But the Royals went 18-10 while he was out, hoisting themselves from four games behind in the division into first place before drifting into the wild-card berth.
They did that with considerable contributions not only from Hosmer’s replacement at first, Billy Butler, but all over the roster.
For instance, there was that night in Oakland when the only run of the game came on a home run by Raul Ibanez, who had five RBIs for the Royals that season.
You could say that victory proved to be the difference between playing the Athletics at home or on the road in the mystical wild-card game that led to the rebirth of the franchise.
The Royals, of course, don’t want to face the worst-case scenario here.
And there’s no telling how they’ll navigate it if they do — even if that team had the exact same record (56-52) when Hosmer went on the disabled list that the Royals have now.
Moreover, there’s a difference between what’s possible and what’s probable.
But the DNA and recent history of this team also tells you there’s no reason to assume disaster ahead.
Royals’ Salvador Perez likely headed to disabled list because of intercostal strain
August 5, 2017By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
There was good news for the Royals on Saturday, but not great.
The results of an MRI done Friday night on Royals catcher Salvador Perez revealed he has a strained intercostal muscle on the right side of his chest. Royals manager Ned Yost breathed a little sigh of relief, because he feared an oblique injury.
“Worst case scenario, it’s half the time (missed relative to an oblique injury),” Yost said. “But we won’t know anything for probably 48 hours to set a time line on it.”
An oblique injury, which affects the muscles that make up the base of a player’s core, connect the bottom rib and the pelvis. The recovery period can be up to eight weeks. According to innerbody.com, intercostal muscles are a group of 22 pairs of tiny muscles found between the ribs, and they are important to the movement of the chest during breathing.
The reason the news wasn’t great is that Perez would have gone on the disabled list had the Royals’ game Saturday night against the Seattle Mariners been played. As it stands, Yost added he would be “shocked” if Perez didn’t go on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday, and said the expected maximum time out would be four weeks.
“Will he be able to play tomorrow?” Yost asked. “I doubt it. But you still can’t go into a game with one catcher. But we’ll see. We’re just glad it’s not an oblique.”
Catcher Cam Gallagher, who is batting .294 at Class AAA Omaha, is with the team now and would be in line to take Perez’s place on the roster.
Perez left Friday night’s game after he struck out in the sixth inning. Perez has dealt with tightness and soreness in the muscles near his left and right rib cage earlier this season. But this was in a different spot.
Should Perez head to the DL, it would be the first time since he was on the 7-day bereavement list in 2013. He was on the 60-day disabled list in 2012 because of torn meniscus in his left knee.
There have been some close calls since. Perez and teammate Cheslor Cuthbert collided while chasing a foul ball last season and Perez’s left leg was injured. In spring training, Perez limped away from a World Baseball Classic game with Team Venezuela after he was hit in the knee by Royals teammate Drew Butera on a play at the plate.
In both instances, Perez avoided time on the disabled list. This time, it doesn’t appear he’ll be as fortunate.