2035 All Star Break
The Royals (56-41) reach the All Star Break comfortably in a wild place but 7 games of the pace of baseball’s best, the Chicago White Sox (63-34). The Orioles (57-39) and Blue Jays (58-40) are locked atop the East while the Avalanche (51-47) continue to lead the West.
The American league sees the Phillies (55-41), the Cardinals (54-42) and the Giants (57-40) leading their respective divisions.
The American League once again took the spoils in the All Star Game with two Royals, both first-time picks, contributing – Edgar Mir went 0-1 but walked twice and scored a run while Mike Hoffer pitched a perfect final inning, 3Ks from 17 pitches.
After a difficult start, the Royals bats have returned to the top of the American League standings. Only Rogelio Camacho (51 wRC+) and Tim Spears (77 wRC+) have really struggled with the defence of all the remaining below league-average bats – Sam Hart (97 wRC+), Edgar Rivera (94 wRC+), Colt Keith (92 wRC+), and Tim Storer (88 wRC+) – more than making up for the discrepancy.
Edgar Mir (143 wRC+) has been the revelation of the season, offering plus defence at 2B while hitting 18 HRs, knocking in 58 RBIs, with 9 SBs.
Impressing in July were two recent additions to the big league roster, the Roses – Eric Rose (187 wRC+) at 3B and Danny Rose (205 wRC+) at CF – doing everything they have been asked to do while covering for injuries.
The rotation has been exceptional with only Cade Townsend (113 FIP-) below league average and Daniel Nava (69 FIP-) very unfortunate not to earn an All Star nomination, adding 3.1 WAR, similar to Mike Hoffer’s 3.4 WAR.
In the bullpen, Chris Wagner (61 FIP-) may be the dominant bullpen arm the Royals have lacked for the last couple of seasons while Connor Phillips (10.7 K/9), Eric Cook (10.5 K/9), and Jon Holtz (10 K/9) all generate buzz whenever they come to the mound.