Royals Rumblings – News for May 7, 2025

Comebacks are fun, no matter how easy the opponent makes them.

David Lesky reacts to Monday’s series opener against the Chicago White Sox.

But in this one, they got great pitching, just enough offense and one defensive play that I may be thinking about for a long time. And if you doubt that, I can still picture a double play started by Alcides Escobar in Houston very early in the 2016 season that was incredible. So yeah, I’ll probably be thinking about the play Vinnie Pasquantino and Daniel Lynch IV teamed up to make in the eighth inning for a bit. This wasn’t as incredible as the Escobar play, but it was pretty fun to watch.

Craig Brown highlights the dichotomy between the Kansas City Royals’ victories on Sunday and Monday.

A day after flexing their offensive muscle on the road in Baltimore, hitting 10 home runs in the course of two games, including a franchise-record seven in Sunday’s win, the Royals returned to the comforts of home and settled back into their familiar offensive flow. The ball stayed in the yard, the bats strung together the bare minimum of hits to cash in three baserunners and they relied on the return of Cole Ragans and four relievers to shut out the hapless Chicago White Sox. The 3-0 victory was the Royals 12th in their last 14 games. The shutout was their fifth in their last 10 games. No team is hotter than your Kansas City Royals.

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden pitches a pricey reunion with slugger Jorge Soler. [$]

Royals acquire OF/DH Jorge Soler from Angels for RHP Ben Kudrna

Soler played for the Kansas City Royals from 2017 to July 2021, a stretch that included leading the AL with 48 homers in 2019. Over a 12-year career, he has 162-game averages of 31 homers and 32 doubles. He’s maintained that this season with six homers and seven doubles in 131 plate appearances, though his .731 OPS is below his .792 career mark. A below-average defender in the outfield, Soler is best used as a designated hitter. The Royals entered Saturday ranked last in the majors in home runs with 15. To put that in perspective, 28 teams had hit 25 homers, 18 teams had hit 30 and the Yankees led the league with 54. OK, so the Royals then proceeded to club three homers on Saturday and a franchise-record seven long balls on Sunday, but I think they need to acquire power to get back to the postseason and Soler would be a good trade target.

Check out the Royals’ prospects earning league honors.

Jaylon Thompson details Kansas City’s comeback victory against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.

Burke allowed one run across 6 1/3 innings. Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel drilled a solo home run in the sixth inning to cut into a two-run deficit. The Royals kept fighting from behind. In the eighth inning, Perez hit an RBI double. Next, Maikel Garcia nearly tied it with a line drive that was snared by White Sox shortstop Jacob Amaya. Then, KC grabbed what it needed to in the ninth.

The Athletic’s new power rankings has a newcomer’s return as Kansas City’s most impactful in-season move. [$]

Most impactful in-season move: Activating Mark Canha from the IL

Despite a slow start, it’s been a relatively stable season in Kansas City thus far, from a roster-construction standpoint. It took a little digging, but I think I found something: The Royals were 4-3 with Canha in the lineup before he went on the IL. By the time he got back, they were 8-14 and utterly languishing near the bottom of the AL Central standings. Then on April 19, Canha returned, and lo and behold: The Royals are now 20-16. Canha has been worth 0.0 bWAR for the season in 15 games played. I don’t fully understand how WAR is calculated, but I think I have some pretty convincing circumstantial evidence here (the best kind) to indicate that the calculations are wrong.

Kansas City Star’s Joseph Hernandez seeks out the almighty deal in Kauffman Stadium.

$25 isn’t a lot of money, but it feels like it on an attraction like Dollar Dog Night. It’s only the hot dogs that are $1; everything else is priced normally, like $14.99 for a 24 ounce beer, $7.69 for bottled water, $9.99 for a souvenir agua fresca at Palacana or $7.99 for french fries. But if you’re still looking to save some money and get a drink, fans can find value menus in sections 120, 135, 201, 213, 242, 405, 417 and 422, featuring cheaper options of popular stadium foods, including $3 sodas and $5 beer cans. They also offer $4 hot dogs, which I didn’t check if they were offering on this night. The concession stands with value deals are marked with menus behind the staff with the items.

2024 Royals draftee Kyle DeGrout had a stellar professional debut in ACL action on Monday.

Kansas City’s top prospect Jac Caglianone remains hot with his first professional multi-home run game on Tuesday.

FanGraphs’ Davy Andrews looks at just how the strike zone has changed in 2025.

RotoGraphs still has Royals catcher Salvador Perez as an underperforming trade target in fantasy leagues.

Is Cole Ragans a $100 million man? ESPN’s Jeff Passan looks at the coming years of mega-contracts.

CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder doubts Mike Elias’ efforts to turn around the Baltimore Orioles after a stuttering start to the season.

Should the Chicago Cubs call up a promising pitching prospect with Shota Imanaga landing on the IL?

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Teoscar Hernandez has been placed on the 10-day IL with hamstring tightness.

The Seattle Mariners claim former Texas Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras off waivers.

The New York Yankees designated veteran pitcher Carlos Carrasco for assignment.

A fan filed a nine-digit lawsuit for Shedeur Sanders’ slide in the NFL Draft.

Horse racing will be without a Triple Crown candidate this year as Sovereignty withdraws from the Preakness.

Are the NBA playoffs more exciting this year?

Sliding mitts becoming baseball’s fashion statement rather than newest tool.

WNBA megastar Caitlin Clark draws record eyes upon return to alma mater.

Inter Milan reaches Champions League final after 4-3 victory over Barcelona.

“He wanted to have a carnival”: Boy orders more than 70,000 lollipops via Amazon and mother’s phone.

High schoolers showcase “principled, respectful disagreement over important issues” in Ethics Bowl.

Today’s song of the day is Upbringing by Noah Thompson.