The Kansas City Royals look to close out a successful homestand on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.
The Royals enjoyed good starting pitching and timely hitting to win five of their first seven games following the All-Star break before dropping a 9-4 decision to the Cubs on Saturday.
Three Kansas City starting pitchers rank among the American League’s top 15 in ERA, including Sunday’s scheduled starter Cole Ragans (7-6, 3.23 ERA)
Ragans is 1-0 with a 3.24 ERA in three appearances — one start — against the Cubs. He allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out nine in a 4-3 win over the Cubs on Aug. 18, 2023.
The left-hander won his last two starts overall, most recently yielding three runs on six hits in six innings in a 10-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.
Offensively for Kansas City, Adam Frazier has contributed timely hits, including a two-run bloop single in Friday’s 6-0 win.
“Just trying to hit the ball hard somewhere,” Frazier said. “Trying to get on base for Bobby (Witt Jr.). If I can do that it’s going to help our offense a ton.”
Frazier reached safely in seven of 10 starts since July 10 and on Friday recorded his first multi-RBI game since May 10.
Hunter Renfroe has eight RBIs in eight games since the All-Star break.
Adopting a steady batting stance helped Renfroe improve his offensive performance.
“He’s been pretty good for a while now,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He’s been pretty solid for us.”
“I’ve been pretty consistent with what I’ve been doing,” Renfroe said. “I’m going to make sure I see the ball, keep my head as steady as possible and make sure I’m not doing too much movement.”
He is hitting .300 in 48 games since his batting average reached a season low .140 on May 11.
“Just trying to be as still as possible,” Renfroe said. “Keep the bat on the shoulder. Right now, this is working for me, so continue to do that, see the ball well and try to swing at strikes.”
Looking for their first series win since sweeping the Baltimore Orioles on July 9-11, the Cubs will send right-hander Javier Assad (4-3, 3.15 ERA) to the mound for his first career outing against the Royals.
Assad walked six in 3 1/3 innings in his most recent start versus the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, a 3-1 Cubs win in which he didn’t figure in the decision. However, he is winless in nine starts since tossing six shutout innings against the Atlanta Braves on May 15.
Prior to Saturday’s win, Chicago acquired right-hander Nate Pearson from the Toronto Blue Jays for prospects Yohendrick Pinango and Josh Rivera.
Pearson is 7-4 with a 5.21 ERA in parts of four seasons with the Blue Jays, primarily out of the bullpen. He is 0-1 with two saves and a 5.63 ERA in 41 relief appearances this season.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell expressed enthusiasm about the trade.
“We’re excited to acquire what we think is a really talented arm,” he said. “… We’re excited to get to work with him.”
Pearson’s expected role with his new club is not immediately apparent.
“He’ll be an out-getter,” Counsell said. “He’s still kind of figuring out his way in the big leagues and trying to figure out his path to being really good, but we think all the ingredients are there and we’re getting a guy who’s getting better.”
–Field Level Media