The Kansas Metropolis Royals are glad to have Michael Massey again in motion, even when it is solely as a hitter as a substitute of his common function at second base.
The Royals have overwhelmed the visiting Cleveland Guardians twice to open a four-game sequence that continues Saturday afternoon.
Massey missed the primary 19 video games of the season attributable to a again harm. He returned to play 29 video games, then sat out 27 extra contests due to a decrease again ligament sprain earlier than returning on Monday.
The third-year participant was hitting .294 earlier than his newest absence. He’s simply 2-for-11 in 4 video games since his return, all because the designated hitter or a pinch hitter with the membership being cautious about returning him to the sector.
“We will hearken to him,” Royals supervisor Matt Quatraro mentioned. “If it is not working, if he would not really feel properly, then we cannot maintain pushing, as a result of we actually worth having his bat in there.”
Massey, who typically bats fifth behind Salvador Perez, has a .283 common and 6 homers. The Royals personal a 22-11 document when Massey performs, however they’re 24-27 with out him.
When Adam Frazier landed on the injured this week attributable to a proper thumb pressure, Maikel Garcia shifted to second with prospect CJ Alexander introduced up from the minors to play third.
“Maikel’s a very good infielder,” Quatraro mentioned. “He is a shortstop by commerce, in order that’s a extra pure transition than what he did final 12 months to study third. He will certainly play third once more in some unspecified time in the future, however we do not need to make it a day-to-day factor, forwards and backwards.”
Alexander sat out on Friday after going 0-for-6 in every of his first two main league video games, with rookie infielder Nick Loftin getting the beginning at third. Loftin went 0-for-2 with two walks as Kansas Metropolis gained 10-3, one night time after beating Cleveland 2-1.
The Royals will ship left-hander Cole Ragans (5-5, 3.03 ERA) to the mound on Saturday reverse Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee (6-2, 3.50).
Ragans has only one win in his previous six begins, and it got here in his most up-to-date look. He struck out 11 in six innings, permitting a run on 4 hits and three walks, whereas beating the Miami Marlins on Monday.
In his solely look in opposition to Cleveland, Ragans took a loss after surrendering 4 runs — three earned — on six singles in 5 innings on Sept. 25, 2022, whereas pitching for the Texas Rangers.
Bibee has made two begins in opposition to the Royals and got here away with no-decisions each occasions regardless of pitching to a 2.70 ERA. Most not too long ago, he allowed three runs — two earned — in five-plus innings with a stroll and 7 strikeouts, vs. Kansas Metropolis on June 6.
Cleveland is 13-3 in video games Bibee has pitched this 12 months. He gained 4 of his previous six begins, posting a 2.86 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings throughout that span. Bibee gained in Baltimore on Monday, yielding two runs — one earned — in six innings whereas putting out seven.
“Tanner was excellent once more,” Guardians supervisor Stephen Vogt mentioned. “He is doing this time and time once more. He saved making pitches and grinding via six. Tanner picked us up and turned in a top quality begin.”
Cleveland’s pitching workers might quickly get a lift. The membership signed left-hander Matthew Boyd to a serious league deal — pending a bodily — and right-hander Gavin Williams (proper elbow discomfort) may return from the injured checklist.
Boyd required Tommy John surgical procedure after he made 15 begins for Detroit final 12 months. He owns a 4.94 ERA over components of 9 seasons, however accidents have restricted him to a complete of 163 innings because the begin of the 2021 marketing campaign.
Williams made 16 begins as a rookie in 2023 and completed with a 3.29 ERA. He has been on the 60-day injured checklist since spring coaching, however he accomplished his sixth rehab begin on Thursday, putting out six in 4 innings of one-run ball for Triple-A Columbus.
“He made it via 80-something pitches,” Vogt mentioned. “Clearly, we’ll have a choice to make within the subsequent few days. We’re nonetheless sorting via what we will do.”
–Area Degree Media
