INSIDER
AP source: White Sox hire Royals coach Grifol as manager
Read full article: AP source: White Sox hire Royals coach Grifol as managerA person familiar with the situation says the Chicago White Sox have hired Kansas City Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol to replace Hall of Famer Tony La Russa as their manager.
Royals hire Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro as manager
Read full article: Royals hire Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro as managerThe Kansas City Royals hired Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro as manager Sunday night, turning over the young core of a rebuilding franchise to a forward-thinking manager with experience winning in a small market.
Royals fire manager Mike Matheny after 65-97 end to season
Read full article: Royals fire manager Mike Matheny after 65-97 end to seasonThe Kansas City Royals fired manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred on Wednesday night, shortly after the struggling franchise finished the season 65-97 with a listless 9-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians.
Judge hits grand slam for 41st HR, Yanks rally past Royals
Read full article: Judge hits grand slam for 41st HR, Yanks rally past RoyalsAaron Judge became the first big leaguer with 40 homers this season, smashed a grand slam for No. 41 and robbed a home run in right field as the New York Yankees rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 11-5.
Judge's 3rd walk-off HR of year lifts Yanks over Royals 1-0
Read full article: Judge's 3rd walk-off HR of year lifts Yanks over Royals 1-0Aaron Judge hit his third walk-off homer this year, his major league-leading 39th home run of the season, to lift the New York Yankees over the Kansas City Royals 1-0.
Benintendi won't say whether will get vaccinated with Yanks
Read full article: Benintendi won't say whether will get vaccinated with YanksAndrew Benintendi wouldn’t say whether he will get vaccinated for COVID-19 now that he’s with the first-place New York Yankees rather than the last-place Kansas City Royals.
Royals patching up roster for Toronto, image among fans
Read full article: Royals patching up roster for Toronto, image among fansThe Kansas City Royals are busy patching up a roster decimated by players barred from traveling to Toronto because of their COVID-19 vaccination status while trying to heal their damaged image among fans.
LEADING OFF: Royals down 10 unvaccinated players in Toronto
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Royals down 10 unvaccinated players in TorontoThe Royals will be without 10 of the 26 players on their active roster for their upcoming trip to Toronto due to Canadian restrictions on travelers who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19.
10 unvaccinated Royals players skipping trip to Toronto
Read full article: 10 unvaccinated Royals players skipping trip to TorontoThe Kansas City Royals will be without 10 of the 26 players on their active roster for their upcoming trip to Toronto due to Canadian restrictions on travelers who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19.
Royals' Merrifield ends streak of playing 553 straight games
Read full article: Royals' Merrifield ends streak of playing 553 straight gamesRoyals infielder Whit Merrifield’s streak of playing in a franchise-record 553 straight games ended when he missed the opener of a doubleheader against Detroit because of a toe injury.
Shohei Ohtani has 2 dazzling days to remember for Angels
Read full article: Shohei Ohtani has 2 dazzling days to remember for AngelsShohei Ohtani accomplished two feats that would both be career landmarks for practically any other player in baseball history on back-to-back nights during an otherwise ordinary June homestand for the Los Angeles Angels.
Ohtani strikes out career-high 13 in Angels' 5-0 win over KC
Read full article: Ohtani strikes out career-high 13 in Angels' 5-0 win over KCShohei Ohtani struck out a career-high 13 over eight dominant innings of two-hit ball, and the AL MVP also reached base three times in the Los Angeles Angels’ 5-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Royals' bats awaken in 8-4 win over Blue Jays to avoid sweep
Read full article: Royals' bats awaken in 8-4 win over Blue Jays to avoid sweepMJ Melendez and Emmanuel Rivera drove in two runs apiece, leading Brady Singer and the Kansas City Royals over the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 to end a three-game losing streak.
Royals' Perez ties Bench's HR mark with 45th in loss to A's
Read full article: Royals' Perez ties Bench's HR mark with 45th in loss to A'sSalvador Perez tied Johnny Bench’s record for homers in a season by a catcher with his 45th, but Chad Pinder’s two-run single spurred a third-inning rally and the Oakland Athletics held off the Kansas City Royals 7-2.
Yankees beats Royals for 12th straight series win against KC
Read full article: Yankees beats Royals for 12th straight series win against KCLuke Voit had a two-run single in New York’s three-run first inning and the Yankees beat Kansas City 5-2 on Wednesday for their 12th straight series victory over the Royals.
Coming to grips: Sticky stuff ban provokes managers, players
Read full article: Coming to grips: Sticky stuff ban provokes managers, playersKansas City manager Mike Matheny warned opponents that if they act like Philadelphia’s Joe Girardi and ask umpires to check Royals pitchers for sticky substances, it would provoke his team.
Cole's strikeouts, spin rate down, Royals rally past Yanks
Read full article: Cole's strikeouts, spin rate down, Royals rally past YanksGerrit Cole’s strikeouts and spin rate dropped as he pitched for the first time since Major League Baseball’s crackdown on sticky substances, and the Kansas City Royals rallied off Jonathan Loiasiga for four runs in the eighth inning to beat the New York Yankees 6-5.
Rays' 11-game win streak ends, fall to Keller, Royals 2-1
Read full article: Rays' 11-game win streak ends, fall to Keller, Royals 2-1The Tampa Bay Rays’ 11-game winning streak came to an end when Brad Keller pitched seven strong innings and Salvador Perez hit a tiebreaking RBI single to give the Kansas City Royals a 2-1 victory.
LEADING OFF: D-backs keep pitching amid no-hitter debate
Read full article: LEADING OFF: D-backs keep pitching amid no-hitter debateMerrill Kelly starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks when they host Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres following a dominant pitching performance in a doubleheader at Atlanta.
Full of surprises: Royals own best AL record, sweep Tigers
Read full article: Full of surprises: Royals own best AL record, sweep TigersJarrod Dyson doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 to complete a four-game sweep on the road for the first time in nearly 22 years.
LEADING OFF: Braves-Nats wait to play, Rangers welcome fans
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Braves-Nats wait to play, Rangers welcome fansThe Nationals and Atlanta Braves hadn’t heard by Sunday evening whether Major League Baseball will allow their game while Washington deals with a COVID-19 outbreak that could prevent 11 players from participating.
The Latest: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby cleared to play
Read full article: The Latest: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby cleared to playHe is the 10th Philadelphia player to enter the protocol this season, and first since Travis Konecny was cleared on Sunday following a two-week stint. That leaves a season-low-matching three players listed, including San Jose’s Tomas Hertl, who entered his ninth day in the protocol. The number of fans will increase monthly if it's safe to do so, the Royals said in a news release. Team officials have worked for months with Kansas City health officials and the Jackson County Sports Authority to ensure fans will have a safe experience, the team said. Following approval by local health officials, attendance will be limited to 2,500 for the women’s tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and to 8,000 for the men’s tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
LEADING OFF: Marlins back in action, Ohtani on the shelf
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Marlins back in action, Ohtani on the shelfManager Don Mattingly said he has never spoken with some of the players joining the team. With only about eight weeks left in the season, Ohtani might not pitch again until 2021. Ohtani reported discomfort in his arm Sunday after struggling through his second start since having Tommy John surgery in 2018. HAPPY BIRTHDAYKansas City right-hander Brady Singer makes his third major league start on his 24th birthday at Wrigley Field. Luzardo made six appearances as a September callup last season and made two appearances out of the bullpen this season.
LEADING OFF: Marlins back in action, Ohtani on the shelf
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Marlins back in action, Ohtani on the shelfWith only about eight weeks left in the season, Ohtani might not pitch again until 2021. Ohtani reported discomfort in his arm Sunday after struggling through his second start since having Tommy John surgery in 2018. Betts sat out Monday with swelling on a finger on his left hand that manager Dave Roberts described as substantial. HAPPY BIRTHDAYKansas City right-hander Brady Singer makes his third major league start on his 24th birthday at Wrigley Field. Just shy of his 23rd birthday, Luzardo will be the youngest starter for the As since Brett Anderson in 2010.
Indians' Carrasco wins first start since leukemia diagnosis
Read full article: Indians' Carrasco wins first start since leukemia diagnosisCleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco, top, delivers to Kansas City Royals' Whit Merrifield in the first inning in a baseball game Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)CLEVELAND Carlos Carrasco started again. Carrasco couldn't have imagined his journey when he took the mound on May 30, 2019, against the Chicago White Sox. Before Sunday's game, Indians manager Terry Francona appreciated the significance of Carrasco (1-0) starting again. Indians: Stay at home for three more games against the Chicago White Sox, with Aaron Civale starting for the Indians.
Big league debuts to be made without family, friends on hand
Read full article: Big league debuts to be made without family, friends on handWhen the decision was made to play an abbreviated 60-game major league season without fans, it meant that anybody making their debut would do so without their support system there to enjoy it. Or little league and high school coaches that taught them to throw a curveball or turn a double play. So it's no wonder that one of baseball's time-honored traditions is for family and friends to be sitting in the stands when a youngster debuts. I feel strong and I feel better than I ever have.He won't be the only player to make his big league debut this season. Just try to help this team win.
Royals' Dozier tests positive for COVID-19 before exhibition
Read full article: Royals' Dozier tests positive for COVID-19 before exhibitionKansas City Royals' Hunter Dozier bats during the first inning of an exhibition baseball game against the Houston Astros in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, July 20, 2020. Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Dozier has tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the injured list before the club played its final exhibition game against the Cardinals in St. Louis on Wednesday. And it still snuck up on them.The positive test leaves Matheny with another hole to fill in his starting lineup. Ryan McBroom, who made his big league debut last season, will likely start at first base with O'Hearn sidelined by the virus. Danny Duffy will start opening day against Cleveland and rookie Brady Singer will make his big league debut on Saturday.
After beating cancer, KC's Hill won't let COVID-19 stop him
Read full article: After beating cancer, KC's Hill won't let COVID-19 stop himNot long ago, Royals pitcher Tim Hill was wrapping up eight brutal months of chemotherapy to treat colon cancer. The biopsy came back positive for colon cancer, the same disease that claimed his father when Hill was just 17 years old. With the support of the Royals, Hill began to build back his strength. Those factors left Hill wondering whether he should step on the field when baseball resumed or stick to the sideline, knowing they increased the risk of complications should he contract COVID-19. Some of it seems over-the-top when you first look at it, but when you start seeing people test positive, you see maybe it's necessary.
Chemistry class: New managers test for right mix amid virus
Read full article: Chemistry class: New managers test for right mix amid virusFILE - In this Tuesday, July 7, 2020, file photo, Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell, right, listens to manager Derek Shelton during a team workout at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Shelton and other first-year managers are scrambling to make up for lost time. Fortunately for the first-year Pittsburgh Pirates manager, bench coach Donnie Kelly made it a point to provide it. I just (want) to make sure that Im talking to them, Im aware of what theyre going through, Shelton said. The 38-year-old Rojas the youngest manager in the majors read a book by Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski to help him prepare.
Majors confronting short time period before opening day
Read full article: Majors confronting short time period before opening dayWhen major leaguers report next week for spring training 2.0 or perhaps more accurately, baseball's first summer camp time will be one precious commodity with about three weeks to go before opening day. Day 1 and Day 2. Theres a reason why we have six weeks of spring training, in a typical spring training.There is particular concern for starting pitchers, who take great care in building up their arms over an extended period. Thats probably the thing Ill think about the most.While spring training was suspended March 12, players haven't exactly been sitting around this whole time. The Diamondbacks are going to use Chase Field and their spring training facility in Scottsdale, just a short drive away from their home ballpark.