The boys are playing some ball.
Jaylon Thompson writes about the Royals taking a series on the road in Toronto.
“It was a really good ballgame,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said in his postgame news conference on FanDuel Sports Kansas City. “Both pitchers were battling and neither one of them had their best command, I don’t think. It was kind of dragging through there, but minimizing damage and our bullpen was outstanding to keep us where they were.”
Anne Rogers also writes about the big win.
“Any time you can beat a team in front of you, just to prove it against the best in their ballpark is a nice thing,” Vinnie Pasquantino said. “And we got another series ahead of us with similar things. We’re at .500 right now, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.
“I feel like we’re ready for it.”
Michael Rosen at Fangraphs likes what the Royals did at the trade deadline.
Pre-deadline, the Royals’ outfield was a group is among the worst in the league. Both corners merited inclusion in Jay Jaffe’s Replacement-Level Killer series. Collectively, their outfielders are posting a 61 wRC+ this season, good for -2.6 WAR. Even a replacement-level outfielder would give the club a serious boost; Yastrzemski is decidedly above that level, particularly if he’s shielded from lefties (81 career wRC+ against same-handed pitching, 10 wRC+ this season.)
Because of the Randal Grichuk acquisition from a few days ago, that should be eminently possible. I’d be surprised if Yastrzemski faced a single left-hander pitcher with Grichuk now in the fold; together, they ought to form something like a 115ish wRC+ platoon while doing a respectable job in right field. Given what Kansas City has gotten from that spot so far, it is an incredible upgrade, up there with the most impactful of the entire deadline, though that’s perhaps more of a comment on who Yastrzemski is replacing than Yastrzemski himself.
Anne Rogers writes that Michael Massey has suffered a setback in his rehab.
Massey’s back flared up on him again a couple of days ago, manager Matt Quatraro said Saturday, leading the Royals to return the 27-year-old from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha. Massey will head to Kansas City and be evaluated by team doctors there to determine the next steps and a timeline to get back on the field.
“Some days, it just flips, and he’s fine to go and power through it like he’s done most of his career,” Quatraro said. “And other times, it takes a little bit longer. So we won’t have any idea until he gets seen and gets a day or two off.”
Caleb Moody at Kings of Kauffman writes about who deseves a promotion with the Royals.
Atlanta’s Eli White homers twice at Bristol Motor Speedway, and the game sets an MLB attendance record.
But rain on Saturday postponed the game, causing headaches for fans.
Benches clear between the Astros and Red Sox after an intentional balk.
The Dodgers break an 18-inning scoreless streak to beat the Rays.
Boston’s Tanner Houck will undergo Tommy John surgery.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is picked off on a pop up for another baserunning gaffe.
The Marlins become the first team to go from 16 games under .500 to the .500 mark since 2014.
Julio Rodriguez becomes the first player to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in each of his first four seasons.
Brewers rookie phenom Jacob Misiorowski goes on the Injured List with a tibia contusion.
First baseman Christian Walker was reportedly discussed in the Astros/Twins Carlos Correa deal.
How the Twins fire sale shook up baseball.
A look back at the minor league towns this year’s Hall of Fame class once played for.
Investors buy the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun with plans to move the team to Boston in 2027.
It is transfer season in soccer, here are the latest rumors.
Age verification is coming to the internet.
What do TSA bag scanners actually see?
The best Adam Sandler movies, ranked.
Your song of the day is The Dandy Warhols with Get Off.