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The Kansas Metropolis Royals are comfortable to have Michael Massey return to motion, even when solely as a hitter as an alternative of his common position at second base.
The Royals defeated the visiting Cleveland Guardians twice to open a four-game collection that continues Saturday afternoon.
Massey missed the primary 19 video games of the season with a again damage. He returned to play 29 video games after which sat out 27 extra video games with a sprained ligament in his decrease again 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 as a chosen hitter or pinch hitter, with the membership being cautious about returning him to the sphere.
“We will take heed to him,” Royals supervisor Matt Quatraro stated. “If it does not work, if he isn’t feeling properly, we’re not going to maintain pushing as a result of we actually respect his bat in there.”
Massey, who typically bats fifth behind Salvador Perez, has a .283 common and 6 residence runs. The Royals have a 22-11 report when Massey performs, however with out him they’re 24-27.
When Adam Frazier ended up on the injured record this week with a proper thumb pressure, Maikel Garcia moved as much as second, whereas prospect CJ Alexander moved up from the minors to 3rd.
“Maikel is an excellent infielder,” Quatraro stated. “He is a shortstop by commerce, in order that’s a extra pure transition than what he did final yr to get third. He’ll undoubtedly get third once more in some unspecified time in the future, however we do not need to make it a each day prevalence.” forwards and backwards.”
Alexander sat out Friday after going 0-for-6 in every of his first two Main League video games, with rookie infielder Nick Loftin beginning at third base. Loftin went 0-for-2 with two hits as Kansas Metropolis received 10-3, one evening after beating Cleveland 2-1.
The Royals will ship left-hander Cole Ragans (5-5, 3.03 ERA) to the mound on Saturday to face right-hander Tanner Bibee (6-2, 3.50) of the Guardians.
Ragans has only one win in his previous six begins, and that got here in his most up-to-date outing. He struck out 11 in six innings, permitting a run on 4 hits and three walks as he defeated the Miami Marlins on Monday.
In his lone look in opposition to Cleveland, Ragans took a loss after giving up 4 runs (three of them earned) on six hits in 5 innings on September 25, 2022, whereas pitching for the Texas Rangers.
Bibee has made two begins in opposition to the Royals, coming away with no choices each instances regardless of 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 yr. He has received 4 of his previous six begins and posted a 2.86 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings throughout that span. Bibee received Monday in Baltimore, yielding two runs (one earned) in six innings whereas hanging out seven.
“Tanner was excellent once more,” stated Guardians supervisor Stephen Vogt. “He does this time and time once more. He stored making pitches and grinding by means of sixes. Tanner picked us up and bought us a top quality begin.”
Cleveland’s pitching employees might quickly get a lift. The membership signed left-hander Matthew Boyd to a serious league deal — pending a medical — and right-hander Gavin Williams (proper elbow points) might return from the injured record.
Boyd needed to endure Tommy John surgical procedure after making 15 begins for Detroit final yr. 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 season.
Williams made 16 begins as a rookie in 2023 and completed with a 3.29 ERA. He has been on the 60-day injured record since spring coaching, however he accomplished his sixth rehab begin on Thursday, hanging out six in 4 innings of one-run ball for Triple-A Columbus.
“He bought 80 pitches,” Vogt stated. “Clearly we’ll must decide within the coming days. We’re nonetheless determining what we’ll do.”
–Area stage media