Royals' Bobby Witt: Extends hit streak to 12 games
Rotowire
Witt went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Tigers
Witt singled and scored in the fourth inning before adding a solo homer in the sixth. The shortstop has now hit safely in 12 straight games and 18 of 20 in August, batting .351 with four homers, 11 RBI, 18 runs scored and six steals this month. On the season, he's slashing .298/.354/.506 with 19 long balls, 71 RBI, 84 runs scored and 34 steals across 559 plate appearances.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Logs quality start in loss
Rotowire
Wacha (8-10) took the loss against the Tigers on Saturday, allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts over six innings.
Wacha gave up a run in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings but still turned in a quality start on a season-high 108 pitches. It was the first time the 34-year-old allowed more than two earned runs since July 5, and he's now pitched into the sixth frame in seven straight outings. He'll take a 3.39 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 108:38 K:BB across 148.2 innings into a home rematch with the Tigers next weekend.
The Royals placed Falter on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to a left bicep contusion.
Falter surrendered four runs in two innings of relief Friday, and he'll hit the injured list a day later due to a bruised bicep on his throwing arm. The 28-year-old has an 11.25 ERA in 12 innings since being traded to the Royals near the deadline. Jonathan Bowlan was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move.
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Royals' Jonathan Bowlan: Joining 26-man roster
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Bowlan from Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.
Bowlan rejoins the big-league bullpen after three weeks at Omaha, filling the spot vacated by Bailey Falter (bicep), who was placed on the 15-day injured list. Bowlan has a 4.73 ERA and a 24:11 K:BB across 26.2 innings for the Royals this season.
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Royals' Bailey Falter: Roughed up out of bullpen
Rotowire
Falter (7-7) took the loss Friday against Detroit, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out two over two innings.
Falter was roughed up in relief Friday, giving up three runs without recording an out in the seventh inning and ultimately yielding four runs across two frames. Since joining Kansas City, the left-hander has labored, allowing nine earned runs over eight innings in two starts before being shifted to the bullpen. That move hasn't stabilized things either, as he's surrendered six earned runs in four innings of relief.
Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino: Homers in fifth straight
Rotowire
Pasquantino went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 7-5 loss to the Tigers.
Pasquantino extended his home-run streak to five games with a two-run blast off Will Vest in the ninth. It was the first baseman's seventh homer in 10 contests, and he's now racked up 13 extra-base hits and 24 RBI so far in August. For the season, he's slashing .263/.324/.475 with 27 homers, 89 RBI, 54 runs scored and a steal in what's shaping up to be a career year.
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Royals' Ryan Bergert: Solid in no-decision
Rotowire
Bergert did not factor into the decision in Friday's 7-5 loss to the Tigers, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Bergert generated 12 whiffs on 90 pitches and left with a 3-1 lead before Angel Zerpa immediately allowed a game-tying homer. The 25-year-old has impressed in four starts with the Royals, pitching into the sixth inning and yielding two earned runs or fewer in each outing. He'll carry a 2.79 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 56:24 K:BB across 58 innings this season into a road matchup with the White Sox next week.
Royals' Jac Caglianone: Hitting well on rehab assignment
Rotowire
Caglianone (hamstring) has gone 14-for-34 with three home runs and a 5:2 K:BB over his first eight rehab contests with Triple-A Omaha.
He's made six starts in right field, as well as one apiece at first base and designated hitter. Caglianone appears ready for activation from the 10-day injured list, but the Royals haven't indicated when exactly that transaction will take place. The rookie has been shelved since late July with a strained left hamstring.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Early stages of throwing program
Rotowire
Cruz (shoulder) is throwing from about 75 feet and is in the beginning stages of his throwing progression, MLB.com reports.
Cruz was placed on the injured list Aug. 3 with right shoulder tendinitis and, per manager Matt Quatraro, is still in the early stages of his rehab. While no firm return date has been set, the slow pace of his recovery suggests the 26-year-old is more likely to return sometime in September than by the end of August.
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Royals' Angel Zerpa: Earns fifth win
Rotowire
Zerpa (5-1) earned the win in Thursday's 6-4 victory over the Rangers. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out one over 1.2 innings.
The left-hander entered in relief of Michael Lorenzen with the bases loaded and one out in a tie game in the fifth inning Thursday and induced an inning-ending double play before tossing a perfect sixth frame. Zerpa has been on a roll, stringing together seven straight scoreless outings and posting a 2.43 ERA over 29.2 innings across his past 30 appearances.
Estevez earned the save in Thursday's 6-4 win over the Rangers, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Estevez has now converted eight straight save chances while allowing just four earned runs across his last 14 innings. The right-hander leads the majors with 33 saves this season while posting a 2.72 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP and 47 strikeouts across 56.1 innings.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Can't make it through five
Rotowire
Lorenzen didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Rangers, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits and a walk across 4.1 innings. He struck out six.
While Lorenzen's final line could've looked much worse, the right-hander still failed to make it through the fifth inning after throwing 89 pitches. Overall, it was a step backwards for Lorenzen after he held the White Sox scoreless across four innings in his previous outing, which was his first following a month-long stint on the IL. Lorenzen sports a 4.50 ERA through 20 starts (108 innings) this season with a 1.34 WHIP and 94:32 K:BB.
Rave is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.
Rave was included in the lineup for each of the Royals' last four games -- all against right-handed starters -- and went a collective 1-for-12 at the plate, bringing his average down to .205 for the season. The left-handed-hitting outfielder will head to the bench Thursday while southpaw Patrick Corbin takes the hill for Texas, and Rave could soon be at risk of losing out on more opportunities to play against right-handed pitching with rookie Jac Caglianone (hamstring) on track to return from the injured list as soon as this weekend.
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Royals' Adam Frazier: Stepping out of lineup Thursday
Rotowire
Frazier is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.
The left-handed-hitting Frazier had started in each of the Royals' last 10 games while occupying four different spots (designated hitter, second base, third base and left field), but he'll take a seat for the series finale as Texas sends a lefty (Patrick Corbin) to the bump. Kansas City could get another impact bat in Jac Caglianone (hamstring) back from the injured list this weekend, but Frazier's versatility and solid production since being acquired from the Pirates over the All-Star break (.301/.333/.434 slash line in 26 games) should allow him to retain a near-everyday role.
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