MLB Standings
The Blue Jays (39-17) continue to set the pace in the American League although the White Sox (37-20) went 22-6 to establish a big league in the Central. The Royals (29-27) are 7.5 games back and trying to get going, while it is the Avalanche who lead over in the West.
The National League has the Giants (36-21) as their top team in a strong West division, with the Phillies (32-25) just holding the lead in the East and the Cardinals (31-24) cruising in a weak Central division.
Kansas City Results
The Royals went 16-13 for the month without ever feeling like they were in control. They played nine series, winning five of them but with only one sweep, dropping three and drawing the other.
In the division they won both series, dropping games one but bouncing back to win the next two in home to the Guardians and on the road against the Twins.
In the American League, half the series were won, with a tied four game series and two series lost. Wins against the Blue Jays (3-1), the Rangers (3-0), the Angels (2-1) were offset by defeats to the Avalanche (1-2) and the Rays (0-3) while they split a four-game road series in Seattle.
The only interleague match up saw the Reds come to Kansas City and take two of three.
Kansas City Team Statistics
The defence remain woeful but the rest of the stats are trending in the right direction at the end of May with top six placings in batting average and slugging percentage, suggesting an improvement to come from the 11th runs scored! On the pitching the bullpen remains elite, 2nd in the league, with a strong starting rotation.
Ed Nicholson (156 wRC+) moved into a back up role and hit a lot better so presenting a conundrum to Stewart as his replacement Tim Storer (56 wRC+) struggling but offering elite defence. Sam Hart (110 wRC+) and Edgar Mir (132 wRC+) had solid second months in the big leagues.
Mike Hoffer (74 FIP-) had a workhorse of a month, pitching 41 innings in 6 starts from only 91 PPG. Eddie Baquerizo (93 FIP-) is the show of the rotation, striking out 10.3 K/, although he got hit by defensive errors, an almost 3 run difference between FIP (4.18) and ERA (7.07) for the month.
Jon Holtz (141 FIP-) struggled with walks (6.2 BB/9) and home runs (2.1 HR/9) over the month but the Royals will back him to bounce back while William Schmidt (48 FIP-) did bounce back, giving up 4 hits over 8.2 IP.
Transactions & Injuries
Tuesday, May 1st , 2035
Traded 29-year old LF Jaison Chourio to the Cleveland Guardians, getting 17-year old minor league RHP Luis Medina and $40,000,000 in cash in return.
Purchased the contract of CF Drew Burress from Triple A Omaha.
Friday, May 4th , 2035
Traded 35-year old RHP Shane Baz to the Cincinnati Reds, getting 36-year old RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (retaining 35%) in return.
Purchased the contract of RP D'Mani Hamble from Triple A Omaha.
Saturday, May 5th , 2035
LF Enny Mijhail Van Dyke was injured while running the bases. The diagnosis is not yet known.
1B Jeremy Rogerson was injured in a collision at a base. The Diagnosis: hamstring strain. He's expected to miss about 3 weeks.
Purchased the contract of 3B Colt Keith from Triple A Omaha.
Tuesday, May 8th , 2035
RP Eric Cook was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: sore elbow. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 5 days.
LF Enny Mijhail Van Dyke diagnosed with a torn hamstring, will miss 5 weeks.
Purchased the contract of RF Albert Stefanov Thomas from Triple A Omaha.
Sunday, May 13th , 2035
LF Jimmy Goodman was injured in a collision at a base. The Diagnosis: hamstring strain. He's expected to miss about 3-4 weeks.
Purchased the contract of LF Tim Spears from Triple A Omaha.
Sunday, May 20th , 2035
CF Drew Burress was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: back spasms. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last one week.
SP Cade Townsend was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: finger blister. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 3 days.
Tuesday, May 22nd , 2035
Sent 1B Jeremy Rogerson to Triple A Omaha for injury rehab.
Wednesday, May 30th , 2035
Optioned 1B Rogelio Camacho to Triple A Omaha.
Purchased the contract of 1B Jeremy Rogerson from Triple A Omaha.
It was a hugely injury hit month for the Royals which actually started with the return from injury of Drew Burress and then the return of D’Mani Hamble. Those returns allowed the Royals to trade Jaison Chourio for a young pitcher and a lot of money and then get off a struggling two-year contract of Shane Baz for an overpriced but only one year contract with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, now a reliever.
Following those trades, the injuries hit. The key injuries were to Jeremy Rogerson – 3 weeks – Enny Mijhail Van Dyke – 5 weeks – and Jimmy Goodman – 3-4 weeks. Rogerson made it back on the last day of the month, with Rogelio Camacho being sent down to AAA thanks to the performance of MiL Free Agent signing from the off-season Colt Keith.
Minor League News
International League (AAA) Pitcher of the Month: Brad Demarest (2029 4th Round) 4-0, 2.02 ERA, 35 K, 40 IP
Texas League (AA) Batter of the Month: Juan Moreno (2030 International Amateur) .405, 10 HRs, 34 H
Texas League (AA) Pitcher of the Month: Jesus Baxter (2035 MiL Free Agent) 6-0, 1.52 ERA, 65 K, 47.1 IP
Midwest League (A+) Batter of the Month: Ajinkya Corley (2030 9th Round) .447, 21 RBs, .525 OBP
Midwest League (A+) Pitcher of the Month: Ethan Chafin (2033 Trade WAS) 4-0, 1.01 ERA, 35 K, 26.2 IP
Carolina League (A) Batter of the Month: Jesus Cipolloni (2032 Trade ATL) .422, 29 RBIs, 15 R
Around the League
Transactions
Sunday, May 27th , 2035
The Boston Red Sox traded 20-year old minor league RHP R.J. Flores and 22-year old minor league LF Sergio Corrales to the Los Angeles Dodgers, getting 29-year old minor league 3B Zach Bartko in return.
Friday, May 25th , 2035
The Texas Rangers traded 22-year old minor league C Jimmy Dennis and 23-year old minor league 1B Burt Tindale to the Detroit Tigers, getting 26-year old minor league LF Nate Sakkas in return.
Thursday, May 24th , 2035
The Texas Rangers traded 26-year old 3B T.J. Brister to the Minnesota Twins, getting 33-year old RHP Hurston Waldrep in return.
Wednesday, May 23rd , 2035
The New York Mets traded 24-year old minor league RF Hipólito Wronski and 21-year old minor league LHP Branson Battist to the Seattle Mariners, getting 25-year old minor league RHP Stephon Daniely in return.
Thursday, May 17th , 2035
The Pittsburgh Pirates traded 19-year old minor league 1B Nate Mills and 21-year old minor league RHP David Garza to the Milwaukee Brewers, getting 28-year old minor league 2B Enderso Snyder in return.
Sunday, May 13th , 2035
The Cleveland Guardians traded 22-year old minor league LF Luis Oceguera and 22-year old minor league 1B Edgar Amaya to the Houston Astros, getting 28-year old minor league 1B Andy Lynch in return.
Thursday, May 3rd , 2035
Toronto Blue Jays: Signed 2B Bryan Rincon to a 3-year contract extension worth a total of $17,400,000.
Chicago White Sox: Signed free agent SP Omari Clavon to a 1-year contract worth a total of $1,060,000.
The Houston Astros traded 22-year old minor league RHP Jeff Curtis and 23-year old minor league LF Wilfredo Bedoya to the Toronto Blue Jays, getting 26-year old minor league RHP Jeff Burns in return.
Tuesday, May 1st , 2035
The Pittsburgh Pirates traded 19-year old minor league LF Jonathan De Leeuw and 21-year old minor league 1B Dave Peterson to the Chicago White Sox, getting 26-year old minor league SS Albert Vargas in return.
Injuries
Wednesday, May 30th , 2035
Miami Marlins: 2B Korey Reilly was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: torn quadriceps. He's expected to miss about 6 weeks.
Monday, May 28th , 2035
Washington Nationals: SP Jack Mahoney diagnosed with a strained shoulder, will miss 4-5 weeks.
Sunday, May 27th , 2035
Tampa Bay Rays: RF David Alba diagnosed with a strained groin muscle, will miss 5 weeks.
Friday, May 25th , 2035
St. Louis Cardinals: LF Corbin Carroll diagnosed with chronic back soreness, will miss 4 weeks.
Milwaukee Brewers: SP Brayan Bello diagnosed with a strained triceps, will miss 5-6 weeks.
San Antonio Avalanche: CF Jesus Anaya diagnosed with forearm inflammation, will miss 2-3 months.
Chicago Cubs: SP Cade Horton was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: strained triceps. He's expected to miss about 5 weeks.
Wednesday, May 23rd , 2035
San Antonio Avalanche: RF Jackson Chirello diagnosed with a fractured elbow, will miss 7 months.
Philadelphia Phillies: 2B Cutter Coffey was injured being hit by a pitch. The Diagnosis: fractured foot. He's expected to miss about 4 weeks.
Tuesday, May 22nd , 2035
San Antonio Avalanche: SP Tekoah Roby diagnosed with a flexor-pronator strain, will miss 4 weeks.
Monday, May 21st , 2035
Pittsburgh Pirates: RP Adam Mazur diagnosed with an elbow strain, will miss 6 weeks.
Toronto Blue Jays: Jeremy Thornton has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 9 months.
Sunday, May 20th , 2035
Boston Red Sox: SP Victor Mederos diagnosed with a herniated disc, will miss 4 weeks.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Ajani Okafor has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 11-12 months.
Saturday, May 19th , 2035
San Diego Padres: RF Joe Harmon diagnosed with a broken hand, will miss 2-3 months.
Friday, May 18th , 2035
Los Angeles Angels: Marcerio Roberts has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 4 months.
Wednesday, May 16th , 2035
Baltimore Orioles: 2B Jackson Holliday diagnosed with a sore elbow, will miss 4-5 weeks.
Atlanta Braves: CF Devin Saltiban diagnosed with a fractured thumb, will miss 5 weeks.
St. Louis Cardinals: Jabari Isbell has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 5 weeks.
Minnesota Twins: SP Jorge Santa Cruz diagnosed with elbow tendinitis, will miss 4 weeks.
Sunday, May 13th , 2035
Washington Nationals: SP Trey Yesavage was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: shoulder bursitis. He's expected to miss about 6 weeks.
Pittsburgh Pirates: SP Mike Bowe was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: forearm inflammation. He's expected to miss about 4 weeks.
Chicago Cubs: 2B Kahlil Watson was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: concussion. He's expected to miss about 5 weeks.
Seattle Mariners: SP Billy Almarez was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: elbow strain. He's expected to miss about 4-5 weeks.
Friday, May 11th , 2035
Minnesota Twins: 3B Danny Stellato diagnosed with a fractured fibula, will miss 3 months.
Thursday, May 10th , 2035
Chicago Cubs: RP Tanner McDougal diagnosed with a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 11-12 months.
Miami Marlins: 2B Sean Gamble diagnosed with a torn groin muscle, will miss 7-8 weeks.
Wednesday, May 9th , 2035
Seattle Mariners: RP Mason Fluharty diagnosed with radial nerve compression, will miss 5 months.
Boston Red Sox: Frank Caraballo has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 3 months.
San Antonio Avalanche: 1B Chris Ryder was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: strained anterior cruciate ligament. He's expected to miss about 3 months.
Tuesday, May 8th , 2035
New York Yankees: 1B Nolan Schanuel diagnosed with bone marrow edema in his wrist, will miss 5 weeks.
Monday, May 7th , 2035
St. Louis Cardinals: Takashi Toguchi has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 4 weeks.
Sunday, May 6th , 2035
Los Angeles Dodgers: LF Victor Mesa Jr. diagnosed with a strained groin muscle, will miss 4 weeks.
Minnesota Twins: SP Tyrese Johnican diagnosed with a strained oblique, will miss 6 weeks.
Saturday, May 5th , 2035
San Diego Padres: LF Charlie Condon was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: fractured thumb. He's expected to miss about 6-7 weeks.
Friday, May 4th , 2035
Atlanta Braves: 2B Peyton Stovall diagnosed with a torn groin muscle, will miss 2 months.
Tampa Bay Rays: 1B Quency Danner diagnosed with a fractured fibula, will miss 2-3 months.
Thursday, May 3rd , 2035
Toronto Blue Jays: SP Steve Young diagnosed with radial nerve compression, will miss 5 months.
St. Louis Cardinals: SP Brad LaPointe was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: fractured shoulder blade. He's expected to miss about 4-5 weeks.
Arizona Diamondbacks: 3B Ramiro Cervantes was injured being hit by a pitch. The Diagnosis: fractured foot. He's expected to miss about 3 weeks.
Detroit Tigers: SP Adam Kloffenstein was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: biceps strain. He's expected to miss about 6-7 weeks.