Game thread XXXIV - Rangers at Royals

The Royals are in the midst of another winning streak. Can they keep it going?

One of the most fun things about covering the Royals this year has been discussing the milestones they’re hitting as compared to when they hit them last year. Here’s my favorite so far.

With last night’s victory, on May 3, the Royals achieved their third winning streak of at least three straight games. They first achieved that feat last year on...September 22 in game 153.

For those of you playing at home, yes, they only had three such winning streaks all season. They were all in the second half, and though all went for more than three games they were far too little, too late.

Just something to think about when you get sad because they lost two out of three to the Tigers in Detroit or something.

Anyway, they have a chance to take the winning streak to four tonight when Michael Wacha takes the mound to face Dane Dunning of the Texas Rangers. Wacha has been the Royals’ worst starter this year, but he’s mostly been good enough.

Dunning has had serious control issues right up until his last start when he pitched 5.1 innings and allowed only a single run against the Cincinnati Reds while striking out 10 and walking none. Before that, he’d walked 16 in 27.1 innings across five starts. Last year he faced the Royals in 6.1 innings across two relief appearances and didn’t allow a run. As a starter, he has fared worse against Kansas City in his career, but those were also two to four years ago, so they may not have much bearing other than also showing the same lack of control he’s exhibited this season.

If the Royals can be patient, they should get some baserunners and some opportunities to do some damage. Let’s hope they can.

Lineups

Manager Matt Quatraro continues to be very quick with his lineup adjustments. Michael Massey has been hitting much better than anyone else in the bottom of the lineup, so he’s batting fifth. It seems less than ideal that the bottom four constitute the designated hitter and all three outfielders. Generally, your corner outfielders should be decent hitters and that just hasn’t been the case for the Royals, this year.