MLB Standings
The Blue Jays (22-6) are off to the hot start in the American League, while the Central is back to equality of mediocrity, the Royals (13-14) only one game back but also in 4th place. The Astros (9-19) are yet to get to double figures in wins.
Over in the National League, the Giants (22-7) are flying, with SF fans on cloud nine as the Dodgers (9-20) have the worst record in baseball through one month. The Marlins (18-10) had a great month, while the Central is tight in the NL as well.
Kansas City Results
After the preseason hype, the crash back to earth for the very disappointing Royals, who open the season 13-14, with a 13-13 April.
After losing the remaining two games of the first series of the year against the Twins (3-0), the Royals won their next series 2-1 in New York but could only split a four-game home series against Detroit.
The hapless Astros came to town and were swept 3-0 but the Royals couldn’t generate any momentum losing two of three in Miami but they did bounce back to win a road series 2-1 in Detroit.
The Yankees evened up the year’s series in Kansas City, before their divisional compatriot Blue Jays did the same in Toronto.
The month ended splitting two games in Cleveland but overall, it was probably the most disappointing month of Stewart’s tenure. Unlike in previous seasons, Kansas City couldn’t even blame luck, with their Pythagorean record on game worse while their run differential sits at -13.
Kansas City Team Statistics
The batting side of the stat line makes tough reading for Royals fans. Other than avoiding strikeouts the Royals are failing to do anything well, and this is a real test of Stewart’s nerve after the offseason shake up not proving successful through month one. The pitching is in a better place although for a team predicted to have the best pitching in the league by a margin, still not stellar. The defense has been, simply put, atrocious.
The Catching corps have made a difficult start to the year and fans were looking fondly back on the Gerew consistent league average performances. Sam Hart (46 wRC+) has been marginally better with the bat with Edgar Rivera (1.1 FRM) the better glove for pitchers. Edgar Mir (160 wRC+) had a tremendous start to big league life, leading the team in HRs (7) and RBIs (17). Bobby Witt Jr. (107 wRC+) had his 2000th hit but hasn’t adapted to 3B as well as expected (-3.4 ZR) while his replacement at SS Ed Nicholson (-1.6 ZR) hasn’t been effective. The biggest struggle has been replacing the injured Drew Burress, however, with Jimmy Goodman (-4.1 ZR) really struggling.
Cade Townsend (152 FIP-) had a tough month but the rest of the starting rotation were comfortably better than league average, Daniel (64 FIP-) living up to billing with a 2.83 FIP.
The bullpen has been solid although there have been difficult starts for Shane Baz (122 FIP-) and William Schmidt (108 FIP-).
Transactions & Injuries
Thursday, April 5th , 2035
Sent RP D'Mani Hamble to Triple A Omaha for injury rehab.
Saturday, April 7th , 2035
RP Mason Barnett was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: wrist soreness. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 5 days.
Friday, April 13th , 2035
3B Bobby Witt Jr. was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: strained hamstring. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 2-3 weeks.
Thursday, April 19th , 2035
SP Chase Dollander diagnosed with a torn back muscle, will miss 4 months.
Tuesday, April 24th , 2035
CF Jimmy Goodman was injured being hit by a pitch. The diagnosis is not yet known.
Wednesday, April 25th , 2035
CF Jimmy Goodman diagnosed with a hand contusion, will miss 5 days.
Thursday, April 26th , 2035
Sent CF Drew Burress to Triple A Omaha for injury rehab.
Minor League News
Carolina League (A) Batter of the Month: Jesus Cipolloni (2032 Trade ATL) .390 batting average, 11 HRs, 24 RBIs.
Carolina League (A) Pitcher of the Month: Brad Harrington (2033 Trade WAS) 2-0 mark, 0.93 ERA, 34 K, 29 IP.
Around the League
Transactions
Sunday, April 29th , 2035
The Cincinnati Reds traded 24-year old C Shamel Vanterpool and 20-year old minor league RHP Saul Pacheco to the Arizona Diamondbacks, getting 28-year old minor league 2B Fernando Cruz in return.
Saturday, April 28th , 2035
San Francisco Giants: Signed 1B Brad Nicastro to a 3-year contract extension worth a total of $68,400,000.
Thursday, April 26th , 2035
Colorado Rockies: Signed SS Ethan Holliday to a 4-year contract extension worth a total of $70,800,000.
Wednesday, April 25th , 2035
Houston Astros: Signed free agent CL Michael Kennedy to a 1-year contract worth a total of $1,400,000.
Tuesday, April 24th , 2035
Cleveland Guardians: Signed SP Steve Dorrough to a 5-year contract extension worth a total of $56,400,000.
Sunday, April 22nd , 2035
Boston Red Sox: Signed 2B Dave Messineo to a 2-year contract extension worth a total of $18,000,000.
Friday, April 13th , 2035
New York Mets: Signed 3B Joe Butler to a 3-year contract extension worth a total of $55,000,000.
Sunday, April 8th , 2035
The Miami Marlins traded 20-year old minor league 1B Dana Ackerson and 19-year old minor league RHP Arturo Leyva to the Los Angeles Angels, getting 30-year old minor league LF Jorge Ruiz in return.
Injuries
Sunday, April 29th , 2035
Atlanta Braves: CF Lonnie White Jr. diagnosed with a sore elbow, will miss 5 weeks.
Washington Nationals: 2B Chris Maguire diagnosed with a fractured finger, will miss 4 weeks.
Saturday, April 28th , 2035
New York Yankees: RF Jackson Chourio diagnosed with a strained back muscle, will miss 4 weeks.
Friday, April 27th , 2035
San Diego Padres: Yeijiro Ando has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 3-4 weeks.
Thursday, April 26th , 2035
Tampa Bay Rays: 1B Cole Young diagnosed with a strained oblique, will miss 4-5 weeks.
Wednesday, April 25th , 2035
Cincinnati Reds: CF Gavin Turley diagnosed with a strained hamstring, will miss 6 weeks.
Houston Astros: RF Chaz Roberts was injured on a defensive play. The Diagnosis: sprained thumb. He's expected to miss about 6 weeks.
Tuesday, April 24th , 2035
Colorado Rockies: RP Adam Hachman diagnosed with a stretched elbow ligament, will miss 10 months.
Arizona Diamondbacks: SP Eddie Jordan diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 11 months.
Monday, April 23rd , 2035
San Francisco Giants: 2B Jordan Lawlar diagnosed with a strained posterior cruciate ligament, will miss 6 weeks.
Sunday, April 22nd , 2035
Houston Astros: 2B Joendry Vargas was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: sprained knee. He's expected to miss about 5-6 weeks.
Saturday, April 21st , 2035
St. Louis Cardinals: LF Jabari Isbell was injured while throwing the ball. The Diagnosis: herniated disc (back). He's expected to miss about 6 weeks.
Friday, April 20th , 2035
San Francisco Giants: 2B Adael Amador was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: strained abdominal muscle. He's expected to miss about 6 weeks.
Thursday, April 19th , 2035
Houston Astros: SP Julio Barrera diagnosed with ulnar nerve entrapment, will miss 4 months.
Wednesday, April 18th , 2035
Toronto Blue Jays: RP Juan Vera diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 8 months.
Tuesday, April 17th , 2035
Pittsburgh Pirates: RP Ben Joyce diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 14 months.
St. Louis Cardinals: LF Takashi Toguchi diagnosed with a strained lat, will miss 5-6 weeks.
Cleveland Guardians: RP Wen-Hui Pan was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: sprained elbow. He's expected to miss about 4-5 weeks.
Miami Marlins: 1B Korey Reilly was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: fractured rib. He's expected to miss about 5-6 weeks.
Saturday, April 14th , 2035
Pittsburgh Pirates: RP Haiden Leffew diagnosed with a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 13 months.
Thursday, April 12th , 2035
Atlanta Braves: 1B Royce Lewis diagnosed with a fractured foot, will miss 5 weeks.
Cincinnati Reds: RF Aaron Palensky diagnosed with a knee sprain, will miss 7-8 weeks.
Wednesday, April 11th , 2035
Boston Red Sox: RP Logan Workman diagnosed with a hamstring strain, will miss 5 weeks.
Cleveland Guardians: SS Josh Peck was injured while throwing the ball. The Diagnosis: strained forearm. He's expected to miss about 6 weeks.
Texas Rangers: SP Mike Crawford was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: elbow strain. He's expected to miss about 4 weeks.
Monday, April 9th , 2035
Seattle Mariners: SP Tyler Bremner diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 8 months.
Sunday, April 8th , 2035
San Diego Padres: RP Yeijiro Ando diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain, will miss 4-5 weeks.
Thursday, April 5th , 2035
New York Yankees: SP Andrew Painter diagnosed with a partially torn labrum, will miss 3-4 months.
Tuesday, April 3rd , 2035
Milwaukee Brewers: RF Mike Wills diagnosed with a sore shoulder, is day-to-day for 4 weeks.
Pittsburgh Pirates: SS Christian Doty was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: strained hamstring. He's expected to miss about 7 weeks.
Sunday, April 1st , 2035
Los Angeles Dodgers: CF Michael Siani diagnosed with a ruptured Achilles tendon, will miss 8 months.
New York Yankees: 1B Nelson Silva diagnosed with a fractured finger, will miss 4 weeks.
Milwaukee Brewers: LF Ryan Clifford was injured being hit by a pitch. The Diagnosis: fractured cheekbone. He's expected to miss about 6 weeks.