Kansas City Royals take San Francisco series behind bullpen, bats
The game today was an interesting one; with both Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo on the IL, the Royals bullpen banded together to get the win before heading back to Minnesota to take on the hottest team in baseball.
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Royals number 1 prospect Jac Caglianone promoted to Triple-A
Bullpen day in lieu of Ragans, Lugo
Six bullpen arms were on the mound for KC today, starting with Daniel Lynch IV. Here's who threw for the Royals on a bullpen day in San Fran:
Daniel Lynch IV: 1.2 innings, one hit, three walks, two strikeouts
Jonathan Bowlan (W): 1.1 innings, two hits, one earned run, strikeout
Seven Cruz: Two innings, two hits, one earned run, two walks, strikeout
Taylor Clarke: Two innings, strikeout
Angel Zerpa: One inning, one hit, strikeout
Lucas Erceg: One inning, two hits, two earned runs, walk, strikeout
Perez, others back on track
Salvador Perez had a three-hit game today, capatilized by a fourth inning two-run homer. Perez has been slumping as of late, so it's a sign that maybe the veteran Captain is getting back into a groove.
Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia continued their hot hitting; both had a pair of hits, a run scored and a couple of RBI. The two left-infielders are batting over .300 in 2025.
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Additionally, Drew Waters had a multi-hit game with two hits and a run scored. Michael Massey continues to get back on track seemingly, he had three hits today with an RBI.
University of Kansas Basketball alum joins Self staff as assistant
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The Royals have the day off tomorrow before playing the Minnesota Twins on Friday at 7:10 p.m. The Twins are incredibly hot right now, piling up wins to crawl back into American League Central contention after starting the year 7-15. They're 19-6 over their last 25.
The Royals, on the other hand, have more wins than the Twins but they also have more losses. The Royals are 28-23, the Twins 27-22. They're tied for second place in the ALC, so this weekends series should be competitive and entertaining to say the least.
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Friday's game will see LHP Noah Cameron (1-1, 0.71 ERA) fill the hole in the rotation once again. He'll face righty Pablo Lopez (4-2, 2.40 ERA). Hopefully, Lugo and Ragans will be back in the rotation in time so KC doesn't need to tax the bullpen so heavily again early in the year.
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Chicago Tribune
4 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago baseball report: Cubs' Willi Castro a man of many gloves — and Miguel Vargas' quick return to White Sox
The Chicago Cubs are trying to get rolling as they return home for a stretch that features their final five regular-season games versus the soaring Milwaukee Brewers. Top prospect Owen Caissie earned his first big-league call-up in his home country Thursday in Toronto, with catcher Miguel Amaya going back on the injured list with a left ankle sprain he sustained in his first game off the 60-day IL. The Chicago White Sox just completed a 2-4 homestand against the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers. They'll continue working through the American League Central this weekend with three games against the Royals in Kansas City, Mo. Every week during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what's ahead — for the Cubs and White Willi Castro is on a road trip, the utilityman typically brings three mitts with him. Two are for playing the infield and a third for the outfield. Castro estimates he has five or six gloves back at the Cubs clubhouse at Wrigley Field with another 25 at his home. 'Just in case, I've got some backups,' he said. Life as a versatile defender means constant preparation for multiple positions. Since joining the Cubs on July 31 in a deadline deal with the Minnesota Twins, Castro has started at five positions: second base, third base and all three outfield spots. 'I know a lot of teams wanted me at the trade deadline,' Castro said. 'That was a good fit over here, come here to help the team. I feel every time they put me in a different position every day, I feel natural at it. It is part of the work that I got through the years.' Castro's pregame routine can vary depending on whether he's starting or on the bench. If he's in the lineup, he makes sure to get reps at that position. Otherwise, he takes ground balls at his three infield positions before moving to the outfield to shag flies. Castro's presence allows manager Craig Counsell to find more rest for his regulars and be creative with in-game moves. 'That job is mostly about (embracing) playing the different positions,' Counsell said, 'because you can't overcomplicate that. You understand that it's going to be hard going into a game at a different position and having a tough chance and just letting that be: 'Hey, that was a tough chance and I've got to make the next one, or I might have to make the next one tomorrow at a different position.' 'That's a mindset that you have to play with when you're asked to do what we're going to ask Willi to do, and that's something he's proven that he's good at.' Miguel Vargas was a late scratch before an Aug. 2 game against the Los Angeles Angels because of a left oblique strain. The corner infielder landed on the 10-day injured list the next day. Vargas made a quick recovery and returned to the Sox lineup Tuesday against the Tigers. 'Means a lot,' Vargas said of returning. 'Was a little sad the last couple days, trying to come back here, trying to play with the guys and help them. Very glad to get back here.' Vargas went 0-for-3 with two walks and a run in a 9-6 victory at Rate Field, then went 0-for-3 in Wednesday's 1-0 loss. 'I thought it was better each at-bat,' manager Will Venable said Wednesday of Vargas' return the night before. 'He's been grinding off the Trajek (machine) and he put himself in a really good spot to be prepared. There's nothing like game action. 'I thought every pitch, every at-bat, we saw the timing better, the swing decisions better — drawing the walk later in the game was nice. It was a great day for him, and (I) expect to see him hitting the ball around the ballpark here pretty soon.' Vargas said after Tuesday's game that the oblique 'felt good.' 'I don't feel anything there today, so I'm happy,' he said. He felt positive throughout that it wouldn't be a lengthy absence, saying he 'was crushing the rehab thing.' 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Right-hander Michael Soroka checked one of the first boxes as he works back from a right shoulder strain he sustained two innings into his first start for the Cubs on Aug. 4. Soroka threw plyo balls Wednesday and was expected to begin light catch Thursday. An MRI showed the shoulder strain will keep him on the IL long enough to require some level of building back up. But Soroka said Wednesday his shoulder feels really good and he's making progress. It helps that this isn't Soroka's first experience with a shoulder injury — most recently last year with the White Sox — so he understands how things should feel as he recovers. Part of that process has included pitching coach Tommy Hottovy and special assistant Tyler Zombro identifying things within his delivery that changed over the last few months and may have contributed to taking a certain load in that spot of his shoulder, leading to the injury. 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New York Times
4 hours ago
- New York Times
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Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Royals play the White Sox in first of 3-game series
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