MLB Standings
The White Sox (87-47) have all but wrapped up the AL Central with a 12.5 game lead and the best record in baseball, they are on track for a 105-win season. The other two divisions in the AL remain competitive with the Blue Jays (81-55) and the Astros (70-64) leading the way. The West saw the Avalanche (67-67) absolutely collapse in August as they go 9-17, dropping from a four-game lead to a three game deficit, 7.5 back from a playoff spot.
In the National League, the Giants (82-53) lead the way with a comfortable lead in the West, while the Mets (79-57) and the Cardinals (71-62) both have cushions in their respective divisions. Here it is the Phillies who have tumbled, going from a 3.5 game lead to train by 3 games entering the last month of the season, although they are still comfortable in one of the Wild Card slots.
Kansas City Results
A terrible 13-15 month saw the Royals tumble out of pennant contention in the AL Central although they are still looking comfortable for a Playoff spot through the wild cards.
They started the month bouncing back to take the Detroit series 2-1 before playing a rare 5-game series against the Guardian, dropping three to a team under .500 a big disappointment. This was followed by coming home to get swept by the Orioles to conclude 4-6 star.
Thankfully, St. Louis came to down and dropped both games to the Royals before the team went to Minnesota and won two of three against the Twins, including an eight-inning, three-hit, no-run outing from Cade Townsend.
After a rest day, Kansas City dropped five in a row, firstly getting swept by the Cubs in Chicago before dropping the first two games in a home series against the Mariners. They bounced back with a shutout win to at least salvage a game from the Mariners series.
To end the month, the Royals took two-of-three at home to the Phillies, lost two-of-three to the White Sox which really closed the door on the division title, and then picked up the first of a four-game series on the road against the Astros.
Kansas City Team Statistics
The bats cooled down in August with only average and extra-base hits remaining top of the pack although they still remain top five in most categories. The pitching remains very strong with the second-best Starter and Bullpen ERA, despite the 8th best defensive effort.
The bats really struggled in August with eight regulars hitting under league average for wRC+. The saving grace was Enny Van Dyke (170 wRC+), with 6 HRs and 21 RBI for the month. Bobby Witt Jr. (21 wRC+) really struggled but has learned to play 1B, 60/70, which is a way for the Royals to look at keeping him on the diamond.
It was another strong month for the pitchers, with Daniel Nava (60 FIP-) continuing to have a stellar season to put into question how he was overlooked for the All Star Game. Cade Townsend (75 FIP-) had a bounceback month, including that 8-inning, 3-hit outing, still striking out at almost a 10K/9 rate.
Mason Barnett (113 FIP-) pitched the most out of the bullpen and looks like he could do with a rest while Chris Wagner (84 FIP-) was solid but blew three save opportunities out nine which was frustrating.
Transactions & Injuries
Monday, August 6th , 2035
RP Jon Holtz was injured while pitching. The diagnosis is not yet known.
Wednesday, August 8th , 2035
RP Jon Holtz diagnosed with ulnar nerve entrapment, will miss 4-5 months.
Purchased the contract of RP Ismael Conston from Triple A Omaha.
Thursday, August 16th , 2035
Sent SP Chase Dollander to Triple A Omaha for injury rehab.
Friday, August 17th , 2035
Sent CF Drew Burress to Triple A Omaha for injury rehab.
Monday, August 27th , 2035
Optioned CF Danny Rose to Triple A Omaha.
Purchased the contract of CF Drew Burress from Triple A Omaha.
Wednesday, August 29th , 2035
Sent 2B Edgar Mir to Triple A Omaha for injury rehab.
The month started with more injury woe for the Royals as Jon Holz suffered ulnar nerve entrapment, ending his season. A tough bullpen loss as the dependable Holz had pitched 48.1 I, with 53 K and a 1.01 WHIP. Ismael Conston, the 2034 trade from the Phillies as part of the Chase Dollander deal, gets his first call up.
After that it was the start of the hopeful return to health, with Drew Burress coming back and both Edgar Mir and Chase Dollander on rehab assignments.
Minor League News
Carolina League (A) Batter of the Month: Luis Morga (2030 Trade HOU) .412, 10 HRs, 28 RBIs
Midwest League (A+) Pitcher of the Month Award: Jonathon Cote (2034 Trade DET) 4-1, 1.10 ERA, 32.2 IP, 39 K, 19 H
Dominican Rookie League (R) Batter of the Month: Juan Rivas (2029 Scouting Discovery) .542, 16 HRs, 56 RBIs
Dominican Rookie League (R) Pitcher of the Month: David Castro (2034 International Amateur) 6-0, 2.74 ERA, 23 IP, 35 K
Around the League
Injuries
Thursday, August 30th , 2035
Cleveland Guardians: SS Naldo Narvaiz was injured being hit by a pitch. The Diagnosis: fractured wrist. He's expected to miss about 5 weeks.
Tuesday, August 28th , 2035
Boston Red Sox: 1B Sam Drees was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: concussion. He's expected to miss about 5-6 weeks.
Saturday, August 25th , 2035
Minnesota Twins: RP Sean Theobald diagnosed with a partially torn labrum, will miss 6 weeks.
Detroit Tigers: SS Flint Pallard was injured in a collision at a base. The Diagnosis: sprained ankle. He's expected to miss about 4 weeks.
Friday, August 24th , 2035
Philadelphia Phillies: CF Josh Gudex diagnosed with a fractured rib, will miss 6 weeks.
Thursday, August 23rd , 2035
Seattle Mariners: RP Emmanuel Clase diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 4 months.
Chicago White Sox: 1B Marcelo Mayer diagnosed with a broken bone in the elbow, will miss 5 months.
Wednesday, August 22nd , 2035
Baltimore Orioles: CF Zion Rose diagnosed with a hamstring strain, will miss 7-8 weeks.
Tuesday, August 21st , 2035
Seattle Mariners: C Creed Willems diagnosed with a broken bone in the elbow, will miss 6-7 months.
Monday, August 20th , 2035
Milwaukee Brewers: C Jeferson Quero diagnosed with a sprained thumb, will miss 5-6 weeks.
Sunday, August 19th , 2035
Washington Nationals: CF James Wood was injured while throwing the ball. The Diagnosis: sore elbow. He's expected to miss about 4-5 weeks.
Tuesday, August 14th , 2035
Boston Red Sox: SP David Flores diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, will miss 13 months.
Monday, August 13th , 2035
Atlanta Braves: CF Lonnie White Jr. diagnosed with a herniated disc, will miss 6 weeks.
Saturday, August 11th , 2035
St. Louis Cardinals: RP Luis Molina diagnosed with chronic back soreness, will miss 4 weeks.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 2B Jacob Reimer was injured in a collision at a base. The Diagnosis: sprained knee. He's expected to miss about 6 weeks.
Friday, August 10th , 2035
Houston Astros: C Johanfran Garcia diagnosed with a strained hamstring, is day-to-day for 3-4 weeks.
Thursday, August 9th , 2035
Los Angeles Dodgers: 2B Jesus Vela was injured in a collision at a base. The Diagnosis: strained hamstring. He's expected to miss about 6 weeks.
Tuesday, August 7th , 2035
St. Louis Cardinals: LF Takashi Toguchi diagnosed with a ruptured Achilles tendon, will miss 5 months.
Monday, August 6th , 2035
Pittsburgh Pirates: RP Raimon Gomez diagnosed with a torn meniscus, will miss 5 months.
New York Yankees: 3B Mike Diddle diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 3 months.
Philadelphia Phillies: SS Kevin McClellan was injured in a collision at a base. The Diagnosis: hamstring strain. He's expected to miss about 4 weeks.
Friday, August 3rd , 2035
Cincinnati Reds: RP Wilson Ayala diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 11 months.
Wednesday, August 1st , 2035
Pittsburgh Pirates: LF Olímpio Quintero diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, will miss 7 weeks.