MLB Standings
The Royals (23-8) have the best record in baseball and lead the AL Central by 6 games. The Mariners (21-9) are hot on their heels while the Orioles (18-11) have also had a strong first month of the season.
In the National League, the Giants (19-11) lead the West while it is tight in the East between the Braves (18-12) and the Marlins (18-13), and the Central is led by a mediocre 16-15 Pirates.
Kansas City Results
A 20-8 month is the best month by the Royals in some time. They did lose three series, all three dropped 2-1 on the road, to the Mets, the White Sox, and the Tigers respectively, with the New York and Chicago defeats involving extra-inning losses in the third game of the series. However, there were also three-game home series sweeps against the Astros (two shutouts) and the Orioles (one shutout), with a four-game home sweep of the Blue Jays. The Royals also took a 2-1 road series against the Orioles and a 3-1 home series against the White Sox, and then finished by taking two games of a three-game road series against the Blue Jays.
Kansas City Team Statistics
The Royals’ great month sees them near the top of nearly all the offensive statistics, with only Home Runs (8th) outside the top three. This includes, maybe for the first time, baserunning (2nd) and stolen bases (3rd), the development lab focus during spring training hopefully beginning to pay off. Similarly, it’s top three in most pitching categories except, surprisingly, Bullpen ERA (5th) and Home Runs allowed (6th). Defense is back to elite levels with a +12.3 ZR leading the American League.
Enny Van Dyke (153 wRC+) has led the way, knocking in 24 RBI with 6 HRs. Defensively, Jimmy Goodman (+4.2 ZR) has had an All-World first home.
Daniel Nava (64 FIP-) and Mike Hoffer (70 FIP-) have both contributed over 1 WAR in a month (6 starts) of work while in the bullpen Chris Wagner (47 FIP-) had 15 saves in the month (47 being the Royals single season record)
Transactions & Injuries
Monday, April 7th , 2036
SP Eddie Baquerizo was injured while pitching. The diagnosis is not yet known.
Wednesday, April 9th , 2036
SP Eddie Baquerizo diagnosed with an oblique strain, will miss 3-4 weeks.
Placed RP Cade Povich on the secondary (40-man) roster.
Purchased the contract of RP Cade Povich from Triple A Omaha.
Sunday, April 13th , 2036
SS Tim Storer was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: calf soreness. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 5 days.
Thursday, April 17th , 2036
SS Tim Storer was injured while running the bases. The diagnosis is not yet known.
Saturday, April 19th , 2036
SS Tim Storer diagnosed with a strained abdominal muscle, will miss 5 weeks.
Purchased the contract of 2B Brooks Lee from Triple A Omaha.
Tuesday, April 22nd , 2036
3B Jeremy Rogerson was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: knee tendinitis. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 4 weeks.
Saturday, April 26th , 2036
3B Jeremy Rogerson was injured while running the bases. The diagnosis is not yet known.
Sunday, April 27th , 2036
3B Jeremy Rogerson diagnosed with a sore back, but will not miss any additional time.
Wednesday, April 30th , 2036
RP Robby Denton was injured while pitching. The diagnosis is not yet known.
A few challenges over the first month of the season as the Royals lost a Starting Pitcher and their starting Shortstop to month long injuries in Eddie Baquerizo and Tim Storer. Experience was the order of the day with MiL Free Agent SP Cade Povich called up while 2B Brooks Lee covering the infield. Jeremy Rogerson took a couple of knocks late in the month so was sent to the IR to avoid any risks while Robby Denton left the last game of the month and the Royals await his diagnosis early in May.
Minor League News
International League (AAA) Pitcher of the Month: Ethan Chafin (2033 Trade WAS) 4-0, 2.43 ERA, 38 K, 37 IP
Texas League (AA) Batter of the Month: Jon Basiliere (2034 6th Round) .367, 6 HRs, 16 RBIs
Texas League (AA) Pitcher of the Month: Trey Beard (2036 MiL FA) 3-0, 0.43 ERA, 31 K, 21 IP
Midwest League (A+) Pitcher of the Month Award: Skyler Van der Linden (2035 Trade HOU) 3-0, 1.14 ERA, 34 K, 23.2 IP
Around the League
Transactions
Wednesday, April 30th , 2036
The Los Angeles Angels traded 23-year old minor league RF Andres Caudillo, 24-year old minor league RHP Tim Turner, and 22-year old minor league 2B Ernie Rager to the Houston Astros, getting 26-year old minor league 2B Andy Garber in return.
Saturday, April 26th , 2036
Baltimore Orioles: Signed SS Mike Sims to a 3-year contract extension worth a total of $31,300,000.
Monday, April 21st , 2036
San Diego Padres: Signed free agent SP Codi Henson to a 1-year contract worth a total of $1,140,000.
Saturday, April 12th , 2036
Seattle Mariners: Signed SP Tyler Bremner to a 5-year contract extension worth a total of $118,000,000.
Tuesday, April 8th , 2036
Baltimore Orioles: Signed SP Sam Bigelow to a 2-year contract extension worth a total of $14,800,000.
Monday, April 7th , 2036
New York Yankees: Signed LF Jasson Dominguez to a 5-year contract extension worth a total of $111,000,000.
Injuries
Tuesday, April 29th , 2036
Chicago Cubs: RF Jeff Wells diagnosed with a broken bone in the elbow, will miss 8-9 months.
Sunday, April 27th , 2036
San Francisco Giants: LF Yin-zhen Le diagnosed with a torn labrum, will miss 4-5 months.
Saturday, April 26th , 2036
Philadelphia Phillies: SP Zyaire Litzsey diagnosed with a partially torn labrum, will miss 2 months.
Pittsburgh Pirates: SP Amari Haugh diagnosed with a sore shoulder, will miss 7 weeks.
Tampa Bay Rays: SP Robbie Austin diagnosed with bone chips in his elbow, will miss 8 months.
Friday, April 25th , 2036
New York Yankees: RF Nolan Schanuel diagnosed with an oblique strain, will miss 6 weeks.
St. Louis Cardinals: 2B Ed Kolesar diagnosed with an oblique strain, will miss 6 weeks.
Thursday, April 24th , 2036
Colorado Rockies: C Drew Romo diagnosed with a strained groin muscle, will miss 5 weeks.
Philadelphia Phillies: LF Josh Gudex was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: sprained ankle. He's expected to miss about 4 weeks.
Colorado Rockies: SS Ernesto Cordero was injured while throwing the ball. The Diagnosis: elbow strain. He's expected to miss about 4-5 weeks.
Sunday, April 20th , 2036
Detroit Tigers: SS Zach Neto diagnosed with a knee sprain, will miss 6 weeks.
San Francisco Giants: SP Edgar Rubalcaba diagnosed with elbow tendinitis, will miss 4-5 weeks.
Pittsburgh Pirates: RP Eric Hamilton was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: strained shoulder. He's expected to miss about 8-9 weeks.
Saturday, April 19th , 2036
Chicago White Sox: LF Beau Cutrone diagnosed with a sprained ankle, will miss 4 weeks.
Kansas City Royals: SS Tim Storer diagnosed with a strained abdominal muscle, will miss 5 weeks.
Thursday, April 17th , 2036
Chicago White Sox: 1B Vince Borden was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: strained anterior cruciate ligament. He's expected to miss about 8 weeks.
Wednesday, April 16th , 2036
Chicago White Sox: SP Tim Bowman diagnosed with a damaged elbow ligament, will miss 16 months.
Tuesday, April 15th , 2036
Toronto Blue Jays: RP Juan Vera diagnosed with a strained triceps, will miss 5-6 weeks.
San Antonio Avalanche: SP Andy Cervantes was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: strained abdominal muscle. He's expected to miss about 5 weeks.
Monday, April 14th , 2036
Cleveland Guardians: SP Timothy Theophanous diagnosed with a fractured elbow, will miss 8 months.
Sunday, April 13th , 2036
Detroit Tigers: 1B Fernando Tatis Jr. diagnosed with a fractured foot, will miss 4 weeks.
Saturday, April 12th , 2036
Chicago White Sox: CF Brady Harris diagnosed with a fractured finger, will miss 3 months.
Los Angeles Dodgers: CF Julio Balandran was injured when he was hit from behind while at a traffic signal. The Diagnosis: partially torn labrum. He's expected to miss about 5 weeks.
Chicago Cubs: RP Brayan Bello was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: hamstring strain. He's expected to miss about 5 weeks.
Friday, April 11th , 2036
St. Louis Cardinals: RF Bryce Eldridge diagnosed with a sprained thumb, will miss 4 weeks.
Thursday, April 10th , 2036
Texas Rangers: RP Jack Mahoney diagnosed with forearm inflammation, will miss 4 weeks.
Boston Red Sox: LF Roman Anthony diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, will miss 7 weeks.
Texas Rangers: RP Jon Young diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, will miss 13-14 months.
Toronto Blue Jays: SP Jeff Williamson diagnosed with a partially torn labrum, will miss 3 months.
Seattle Mariners: LF Jamie Mathews diagnosed with a strained lat, will miss 5 weeks.
Tuesday, April 8th , 2036
New York Yankees: RF Jackson Chourio diagnosed with a concussion, will miss 6-7 months.
Tampa Bay Rays: LF Dave Morrison diagnosed with knee tendinitis, will miss 4 weeks.
Philadelphia Phillies: SP J.J. Paniagua diagnosed with rotator cuff inflammation, will miss 3 months.
New York Yankees: 2B Matt Shaw was injured being hit by a pitch. The Diagnosis: fractured wrist. He's expected to miss about 5-6 weeks.
Tampa Bay Rays: RF Josh Hays was injured while throwing the ball. The Diagnosis: elbow inflammation. He's expected to miss about 6-7 weeks.
Monday, April 7th , 2036
Chicago White Sox: 3B Juan Borja diagnosed with a torn posterior cruciate ligament, will miss 9-10 months.
Sunday, April 6th , 2036
Milwaukee Brewers: SP Jevin Howard diagnosed with a torn meniscus, will miss 4 months.
Friday, April 4th , 2036
Arizona Diamondbacks: RF Jimmy Goodman diagnosed with an oblique strain, will miss 7 weeks.
Wednesday, April 2nd , 2036
St. Louis Cardinals: SS Masyn Winn diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, will miss 7 months.
Chicago White Sox: RF Juan Soreni was injured while throwing the ball. The Diagnosis: herniated disc (neck). He's expected to miss about 6 weeks.