Chicago @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 14, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 1, Kansas City 6
The Kansas City Royals are on the move.
The struggling Royals won their first game under new manager Ned Yost, who took over for Trey Hillman after the front office decision on Thursday to replace the team's third-year manager.
It’s a modest start to say the least, but considering the Royals' recent history - any positive sign should not be taken lightly.
Consider that the franchise’s four worst career winning percentages by a manager have been the last four appointees. Hillman falls in the class after posting a 151-207 mark (.422).
So a 1-0 start should not be taken lightly.
Kansas City will go for its second straight win Saturday against the Chicago White Sox when Luke Hochevar (3-1, 5.65 ERA) faces Jake Peavy (2-2, 5.57 ERA).
The Royals have some offensive talent in David DeJesus, Jose Guillen, Alberto Callaspo and Billy Butler. Kansas City is in the top five of several offensive categories, except the most important one – runs scored.
Yost’s managerial background comes from the Milwaukee franchise where he had several very good offensive teams.
The pitching is where the troubles are found. Hillman came to Kansas City known as a pitcher-friendly manager after winning a Japanese League title with a strong pitching staff.
The Royals are last in the American League in ERA and that can be an albatross around any manager’s neck. If Yost is going to get Kansas City righted, the pitchers have to make huge strides.
It starts with Hochevar, a former No. 1 pick who has never found his niche at the big-league level.
Kansas City, which boasts a modest winning streak after a seven-game losing streak that ended up being Hillman’s demise, is 13-23 on the season. Therefore, the first order of business is getting back to .500.
On the other side of the diamond, Peavy seems to be turning it around just in time to end the glory days in Kansas City.
His last two starts have been what the White Sox expected when they traded for him last August - even though he wasn’t 100 percent healthy at the time.
Over his last two starts, the right-hander has allowed just two earned runs in 15 innings with 17 strikeouts.
In other words, the Jake of old and not the one who had an ERA of 7.85 in his first five starts of the season.