Final Score: CLE 6 | KC 2
Record: 1-2
Winning/Losing Pitcher:
W: Tanner Bibee (1-0 | 0.00 ERA)
L: Michael Wacha (0-1 | 2.25 ERA)
Key Highlights
This one was a bit rocky, and kind of a representation of what it looked like the whole series against Cleveland. Both pitching and hitting were inconsistent, making it a wild one. The first inning Jonathan India started it off with a single, then got thrown out in a strike-em out, throw-em out double play, after replay. We got a Vinnie triple, which was fun, but after that it was quiet for a while. Then to the pitching side, where Michael Wacha was not terrible, but also not necessarily great. He did his job and kept you in the game, but also had 87 pitches in only four innings out there. The biggest issue? Walks. He ended up walking four in the process and had some long counts. Which credit to the Guardians, but it was a lot of missing spots. This one is not entirely on him though, because other than the one run he gave up on a sacrifice fly, he was able to pitch out of it.
The bullpen was a different story though. Sam Long gave up another home run to Kyle Manzardo, and Chris Stratton surrendered a homer to Gabriel Arias. Followed by another run given up because of walking people on base. Something that happened a lot with Stratton last year and it seems it’s going to take a lot for that to be stopped this year. After another run added by Cleveland via a Daniel Schneeman solo homer, making the score now 6-0 Guardians. It was bleak in this one let’s be honest. Even when the Royals ended up trying to get even, it was the eighth inning. Way too late to get it going when down by six, and something this offense needs to break out of after their slow start.
They had a bit of a rally going though, with Bobby Witt Jr. having an RBI single, then a Vinnie Pasquantino walk to load the bases with nobody out. Nobody out. Then two strikeouts in a row made the situation even more bleak. Worst part? It was your four/five hitters in Salvador Perez and Michael Massey. You just have to come through there. I understand Salvy’s not always going to come up big in the clutch, but when the Captain falls short, the rest of the crew has to go to bat for him. It just shows the glaring hole that was a problem at the end of last year, some more experienced thump in the middle of the lineup. Michael Massey is great, but you have to come through in those moments. Especially on a fastball center cut and you miss it. Although, I truly believe Massey can rebound with just more experience. Hunter Renfroe walked to make it a 6-2 game, but it wasn’t enough and the offense just fell short again. Not saying I expect this team to come back from a 6-0 deficit every time. But they had every opportunity to at least make this thing a ballgame at one point but they got in their own way. I still believe that they can make their way out of it, but it’s gonna take the bottom of this lineup to do it. More production from Massey, Melendez, and Isbel will be immense. You got to step it up in the big leagues on a team with some serious playoff aspirations.
This one was closing down when it got a little spicy. Emmanuel Clase ends up hitting Jonathan India in the jaw/side of helmet, after throwing up and in on the pitch previously. This is my peace on this: It’s a four run game in a non save situation, you just came up and in on the pitch before, and you blew a save in the first game of the season after blowing your teams chance in the playoffs to end your season. Seems a little fishy to me, and unacceptable in every way if you compete in Major League Baseball. I refuse to believe someone with a 0.61 ERA on the season last year, and the “reliever that deserves the Cy Young” lost control on the same pitch in the same at bat, against a player that was added to a AL Central rival. Too many things line up for it to be accidental. Here’s what Vinnie P. had to say after the fact:
Thankfully, it seems India will be okay, after some careful imaging. And I hope that this lights a fire under the Royals for their next series. They need something to motivate them, and in 2015, a little spite didn’t hurt. No timeline has been set on India, so hopefully it’s just a couple days for him to be out. The schedule doesn’t get any easier from here, with April being a bit tough. So it’s important to bounce back and get back to what makes you so successful: great starting pitching and a “keep the line moving” offense.
Summary of the Next Game:
The Royals head to Milwaukee for the Brewers Opening Day at American Family Park, formerly known as Miller Park. We get to see the 2025 season debut of Kris Bubic, and first start for him since early 2023. He wins the fifth starter spot out of spring after pitching out of the bullpen last season in his limited innings. Although limited, he was great out of the pen last year having a 2.67 ERA in just over 30 innings. The Brewers will send out young Elvin Rodriguez who you might remember from making a few starts with Detroit in 2022. He hasn’t pitched since 2023, and is an opener for the Brewers in this one since Milwaukee is beat up in the pitching department. Some injuries have taken over, so it’s a bullpen game for them. Hopefully the Royals can take advantage of that bullpen, and a tired one at that, after getting swept this weekend against the Yankees. Good for the Royals, their bullpen got rung up for over 12 runs in one game over the weekend. It’s a 1:10p start on a Monday which is odd, but it is Opening Day for them. So all we can hope for is the Royals spoiling the party. I like Kris Bubic in this one, so I think he gets it done. But if I’m wrong, I’ll never predict this stuff again. Anyway, we’ll see you then for some more Royals baseball.
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