The Royals had two player selected for the All Star Game, reliever Shawn Bass and reigning MVP 2B Edgar Mir. Mir is injured so did not play while Bass was not tabbed to pitch as the National League crushed the American, 9-3.
Despite being only a half game back in the Division, it is clear the Royals bats haven’t lit up the division this season. Expected to be a back up in his final season for the Royals, Bobby Witt Jr. (67 wRC+) has ended up starting 60 games while acquisition Matt Shaw (71 wRC+) is a liability defensively, as is Eric Rose (106 wRC+), with -14.3 range between them although at least Rose offer something with the bat. The trade deadline looks like the time for an infield bat to kick start this group before Juan Moreno and Edgar Mir return.
Min-ho Kim (71 FIP-) and Mike Hoffer (77 FIP-) have contributed 6.1 WAR between them with Curt Bogans (77 FIP-) and Eddie Baquierzo (81 FIP-) a further 5.0. With all-star Shawn Bass (61 FIP-) locking down the closer role, the Royals simply need some solid relief to continue giving themselves a chance with their pitching.