MLB Standings
The Royals go 16-10 to lead the AL Central after the first month of the season, one game up on the Chicago White Sox and with the best (equal with the Rays) record in the American League. The Brewers (17-8) lead all of baseball, followed by the NL East leaders the Phillies (17-9).
Kansas City Results
The Royals were 7-3 against Division rivals, winning home series against the Twins (2-1) and the Tigers (3-1) and taking two-three from the Tigers on the road.
In AL play, the Royals were swept by the Yankees in New York, before taking two-three against them at home while sweeping AL West leaders the Astros and taking three out of four from the Blue Jays at home.
They lost their only inter-league match-up, losing 2-3 on the road in Miami against the Marlins.
Kansas City Team Statistics
The Royals hitters have been generally strong over the first month with the biggest outlier being
Bobby Witt Jr. with an wRC+ of 12. A .217 BABIP suggests (.312 career average) strongly hints at bad luck, with a SO% below 20% adding to that evidence while his 3% walk rate is far below his 9% career average.
Glove-wise,
Dominic Fletcher came back from injury and has a -1.8 ZR in 51 innings, although his bat (171 wRC+) made up the deficit this month.
Victor Mesa Jr. chose not to opt out of his MiL contract and his is available should Fletcher’s glove not improve.
In the starting rotation, it was the returning veteran
Mason Barnett (61 ERA+) who struggled in his first 5 starts while newcomer
J.J. Paniagua (176 ERA+) looked right at home, holding opponents to .211 with a WHIP of 1.06.
The bullpen was a mixed bag (with a very small sample size).
Nicanor Berns’ walk rate (7.7 BB/9) will need to be monitored, as will
William Schmidt’s FIP (5.48), which was covered by his defense (142 ERA+) over the first month of the season.
Around the League
Transactions
Wednesday, April 7th , 2032
San Francisco Giants: 2B Dylan O'Rae 3 years $24,700,000.
Tuesday, April 13th , 2032
Boston Red Sox: 1B Triston Casas 5 years $143,000,000.
Thursday, April 15th , 2032
Houston Astros: C Johanfran Garcia 4 years $46,100,000.
San Antonio Avalanche: SS Roderick Arias 4 years $82,100,000.
Saturday, April 17th , 2032
Pittsburgh Pirates: RP Luke Little 2 years $11,600,000.
Sunday, April 18th , 2032
Milwaukee Brewers: LF Charlie Condon 5 years $127,200,000.
Monday, April 19th , 2032
San Antonio Avalanche: RF Cam Cannarella 3 years $33,300,000.
Injuries
Saturday, April 3rd , 2032
Baltimore Orioles: 3B Coby Mayo was injured being hit by a pitch. The Diagnosis: fractured hand. He's expected to miss about 5 weeks.
Tuesday, April 6th , 2032
Baltimore Orioles: RP Tyler Dean was injured when he fell asleep at the wheel. The Diagnosis: torn labrum (Shoulder). He's expected to miss about 7 months.
Wednesday, April 7th , 2032
Miami Marlins: 2B Sean Gamble diagnosed with a herniated disc, will miss 3-4 weeks.
Saturday, April 10th , 2032
Chicago Cubs: C Moises Ballesteros diagnosed with plantar fascitis, will miss 4 weeks.
Sunday, April 11th , 2032
Detroit Tigers: 3B Blaze Alexander diagnosed with a torn labrum, will miss 4 months.
Monday, April 12th , 2032
New York Mets: CL Spencer Strider diagnosed with an elbow strain, will miss 3 months.
Tuesday, April 13th , 2032
Cincinnati Reds: SP Andy Squires was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: oblique strain. He's expected to miss about 5 weeks.
Wednesday, April 14th , 2032
Toronto Blue Jays: SP Seth Johnson diagnosed with a sore shoulder, will miss 5-6 weeks.
Thursday, April 15th , 2032
Texas Rangers: RP Alessandro Ercolani diagnosed with back spasms, will miss 5 weeks.
Philadelphia Phillies: RP Hagen Danner diagnosed with shoulder inflammation, will miss 3-4 months.
Minnesota Twins: LF Shawn Sawyer diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, will miss 7-8 months.
Sunday, April 18th , 2032
Houston Astros: RP Dustin May diagnosed with a ruptured finger tendon, will miss 4 months.
Tuesday, April 20th , 2032
Cleveland Guardians: SP Nick Frasso diagnosed with shoulder inflammation, will miss 3 months.
New York Yankees: RP Jonathan Mastin was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: acromioclavicular joint irritation. He's expected to miss about 3-4 weeks.
Tampa Bay Rays: CF Luis Robert Jr. was injured on a defensive play. The Diagnosis: torn thumb ligament. He's expected to miss about 3-4 weeks.
Wednesday, April 21st , 2032
New York Mets: SP Taj Bradley diagnosed with a ruptured finger tendon, will miss 3-4 months.
Detroit Tigers: LF Dylan Beavers diagnosed with a strained shoulder, will miss 5 weeks.
Thursday, April 22nd , 2032
San Diego Padres: RP Paul Wilson diagnosed with a strained oblique, will miss 6 weeks.
Friday, April 23rd , 2032
Boston Red Sox: RF James Tibbs diagnosed with a fractured hand, will miss 4 weeks.
Saturday, April 24th , 2032
Texas Rangers: SP David Molina diagnosed with an elbow strain, will miss 5 weeks.
Sunday, April 25th , 2032
Colorado Rockies: LF Mike Sirota diagnosed with a strained oblique, will miss 5-6 weeks.
Monday, April 26th , 2032
Houston Astros: CF Jacob Melton diagnosed with an elbow sprain, will miss 5 weeks.
Tuesday, April 27th , 2032
Baltimore Orioles: SP Jack Mahoney diagnosed with a bone spur in his elbow, will miss 2 months.
Wednesday, April 28th , 2032
Toronto Blue Jays: RP Jordan Balazovic diagnosed with rotator cuff inflammation, will miss 2-3 months.
Philadelphia Phillies: 2B Andres Gimenez diagnosed with chronic back soreness, will miss 4 weeks.
Boston Red Sox: 2B Ceddanne Rafaela diagnosed with a fractured thumb, will miss 5 weeks.
Boston Red Sox: LF Roman Anthony diagnosed with a strained oblique, will miss 5 weeks.