The Royals are still listing Wednesday’s starter as TBA, but the nod will likely go to former Reds right-hander Homer Bailey, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports. Bailey threw in a minor league game late last week and built up to 6 1/3 innings, and he was already in the team’s clubhouse over the weekend. Flanagan further tweets that the Royals have at least discussed the possibility of pursuing recently released Marlins right-hander Dan Straily or recently designated Reds lefty Brandon Finnegan (a former Royals first-round pick), but neither move is likely to come to fruition. The organization, it would seem, is committed to giving Bailey a look with its lone open 40-man roster spot. It’s hard to imagine that a team in the Royals’ position couldn’t clear some additional 40-man room should they see fit, so perhaps the organization simply isn’t that interested in either Straily or Finnegan.
More from the division…
- The Twins organization announced the Opening Day rosters for its Triple-A club Monday, revealing that left-hander Stephen Gonsalves is opening the season on the injured list due to a left flexor/pronator strain. Infielder Nick Gordon is also opening the season on the IL due to acute gastritis (inflammation of his stomach lining). Both Gonsalves and Gordon entered the 2018 season ranked among baseball’s 100 best prospects, though neither elevated his status last season. Gonsalves did make his MLB debut, though he was tagged for a 6.57 ERA in a small sample of four starts. The 24-year-old Gonsalves impressed with a 2.96 ERA and nearly a strikeout per frame in 100 1/3 Triple-A innings, but his 4.9 BB/9 mark there was the worst of his career. Still, he’s an important depth piece should the Twins lose a starter to injury, making his recovery timeline (which has yet to be announced) worth monitoring for Twins fans. As for Gordon, he obliterated Double-A pitching for 42 games before posting a disastrous .212/.262/.283 slash in 99 Triple-A games (his first exposure to that level of pitching).
- Jon Jay began the season on the injured list due to a hip strain and discomfort in his back, and Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the veteran outfielder “doesn’t appear close to a return” to the White Sox. Manager Rick Renteria indicated over the weekend that Jay will be reevaluated when the team is back in Chicago. There’s also at least some degree of concern surrounding a velocity drop for righty Nate Jones. While Jones maintains that he doesn’t feel any discomfort in his right arm — he missed much of 2018 due to a pronator strain — his early results have been troubling (both in Spring Training and the regular season). Jones averaged 97.2 mph on his heater in each of the past two seasons but has sat at 94.9 mph so far in his first two outings of the 2019 campaign.
Hope Homer pitches well for Kansas City
Had a 0.00 ERA while with the Dodgers.
He actually had no ERA. not 0
Wednesday’s starter TBA – Try Bailey Again…
Why? They let in Homer Glumplich.
No Jay means too much Leury Garcia. At least let Anderson be the free swinging lead-off and bury the former to bottom of the order with platoon mate Engel.
Wow…one hour in and no Jon Jay/Manny Machado comment!
Until you showed up.
They don’t need Jon Jay. Nobody needs Jon Jay.
Try Anderson in centerfield.
Sanchez to short.
Bring up Madrigal to play 2B.
Play the kids.
Madrigal is far from ready. They need to let him develop power in the minors, or else all he’ll ever be is a weak singles hitter.
He will 100% be up in Sept.
We only need a singles hitter.
Do you expect him to win the HR title at his size?!
Madrigal will never hit for power and he shouldn’t even think about trying. Singles, doubles, situational hitting and GG defense at 2B.
Yolmer should play 2 or 3 days per week !
Anderson was one of the best defensive SS by the end of last season. Moving him makes no sense.
Twins fans – Why isn’t Willians Astudillo in the lineup everyday? It seems like that guy always produces.
Astudillo’s track record in MiLB isn’t fantastic. Can’t hit, can’t run, can’t field would be the best way to put it.
He’s made some adjustments and suddenly his power game is playing up so he might be passable as a hitter at this point. Topping that, it’s exciting to see a guy actually putting the ball into play and he’s a fan favorite because he’s ridiculously awkward and helps fans believe they could also maybe play the game somehow.
All that said, his style of play and history suggests he’s much more likely the next Danny Santana for the Twins than he is the next superstar.
I don’t know his history but I see that he hit .355 last year, over .300 during Spring Training, and went 2/2 last night (first game he played). Crazy. I’m a believer in the Tortuga.
Currently, and this is a fun fact, Astudillo has the highest batting average ever in history for a player (minimum 100 PAs). He never strikes out and never walks, and is a big-bodied guy who probably has no real defensive value, but he’s a fun guy to root for.
Willians Austidillo’s MiLB BA over 9 seasons…..306
Nelson Cruz MiLB BA over 11 seasons….318
Jonathan Schoop MiLB BA over 7 seasons….268
Marwin Gonzalez MiLB BA over 8 seasons … .260
What are you talking about?
Finally the Reds have castoffs … instead of them getting others
Yep blowing money on Roark and Gray is def better than blowing money on equally bad Bailey and Finnegan.
Think Finnegan should get a look from the Brewers maybe trade Nate Orf for him
Why is Cave in the line-up over Austidillo?