Royals weekly notebook
The Kansas City Royals sit at 18-25, 5.5-games out of first in the AL Central, and 5.5-games out of the second wild card spot. On tap this week, the Royals have a four game set with the New York Yankees before taking on the Cleveland Indians in a 3-game weekend trip. In their last ten games the Royals are 6-4, and have experienced peaks and valleys in those ten games. Through it all, they seem to just be running on a treadmill to mediocrity.
Roster moves, news, and notes:
The Royals played a double header on Sunday that prompted a lot of Roster moves.
- Jake Junis being recalled to Kansas City and Al Alburquerque got designated for assignment.
- Junis was then sent back down to AAA following his game one start to make room for Ian Kennedy to be activated off the DL for Kennedy's game two start Sunday.
- Alex Gordon was placed on paternity leave that prompted a Raul Mondesi promotion for the time being. Gordon expected to be ready on Tuesday but likely won't return to the line up until Wednesday.
- Miguel Almonte was at first just the 26th-man for Kansas City, teams get award that luxury when playing a twin bill, but he got the nod to stay with the big club which now puts the Royals bullpen at nine men. Who was the odd man out to keep Almonte in the bigs? No other than, Raul Mondesi. A lot of moving and shaking happened on Sunday.
- Nate Karns left his last start with "tightness in his forearm". A 10-day DL stint is very possible, and since that can be retroactive Karns would miss just one start.
Former-Royals:
- Greg Holland, now of the Rockies, is 19-for-19 in the saves category. Holland, has racked up more saves than the Royals have wins.
- Wade Davis, who was shipped to the Cubs for Jorge Soler, is sitting on a 0.00-ERA.
- Brett Eibner who was shipped to the A's organization for Billy Burns, is now with the Dodgers. Eibner, has spent 2017 bouncing back-and-forth from LA to AAA-OKC back to LA. Eibner has found himself a home in LA. The outfielder, who won a historic game against the White Sox last year for your Kansas City Royals, is being tried out as an outfielder/bullpen arm for the Dodgers. If it works, or does not work, this will be a fun story to track. Eibner, pitched in college and featured a 95-MPH fastball with the University of Arkansas.
Previewing the week:
Monday: Royals @ Yankees; Vargas vs Pineda; 6:05 CST
Tuesday: Royals @ Yankees; Duffy vs Montgomery; 6:05 CST
Wednesday: Royals @ Yankees; Hammel vs Severino; 6:05 CST
*Thursday: Royals @ Yankees; TBD vs Tanaka; 12:05 CST
Friday: Royals @ Indians; TBD vs TBD; 6:10 CST
Saturday: Royals @ Indians; TBD vs TBD; 3:15 CST
Sunday: Royals @ Indians; TBD vs TBD; 12:10 CST
*Thursday the Royals might need a start in place of Nate Karns if a DL-Stint is necessary. Jake Junis is an option, but so is Ian Kennedy. Ned Yost made it clear Sunday evening that since Kennedy only tossed 2-innings against the Twins on Sunday he would be available to go Thursday in New York.
Buy or Sell (As of now): The Royals sit 18-25 on May 22nd. 7-games under .500. The earliest that they could get to .500 is following May 28th's game against the Cleveland Indians. That of course would mean, the Royals would pull off a 7-game winning streak which would feature a sweeping of the first place Yankees, and first place Indians. Each Loss from now to then pushes that .500-date back more and more. Getting to .500 is only half the battle, they then have to gain the ground they will lack to get into playoff contention. As of this edition of Royals notebook: Sell.
