Year Two of the Matt Quatraro tenure. Time to take a step up this year. Active in free agency and trades this offseason. A new look pitching rotation and bullpen. Will the young players take the leap up offensively? Bobby Witt extension? New stadium? Will Vinny recover from injury? Salvy taking aim at the Royals record book? Will Cole Ragans turn into the best Royals starting pitcher since Greinke 1.0?
Free Agents/Trades Acquisitions
Seth Lugo, SP
Michael Wacha, SP
Kyle Wright, SP
Hunter Renfroe, OF/DH
Will Smith, RP
Chris Stratton, RP
Nick Anderson, RP
Adam Frazier, 2B
Garrett Hampson, INF/OF
Matt Sauer, RP [Reply]
Originally Posted by RockChalk:
.500 ball over the next 38 games gets us to 88 wins. Think that's enough to snag a WC spot?
It should, that means Boston would have to go 23-16 for 88 wins, which is doable, but they have 3 each vs the Yankees and Orioles plus Twins and Houston (which starts today). But they also have Toronto, CWS, and Detroit.
Seattle is even more of a question mark, because they "only" have 37 games left and will have to go 24-13 the rest of the way. For 88 wins. [Reply]
In four starts for Omaha, St. Joe native Noah Cameron has had 4 quality starts, 1-0 record, 1.07 ERA, 25.1 IP, 30 Ks, 3 ER, 17 H, 4 BB. I also see him on facebook taking pictures with various people making the trip from St. Joe to watch him play. [Reply]
John Schreiber
8/19/2024 P Activated (The Kansas City Royals activated RHP John Schreiber from the 15-day injured list.)
Carlos Hernández
8/19/2024 P Sent to Minors (The Kansas City Royals optioned RHP Carlos Hernández to the minors.) [Reply]
They need to keep that momentum going. The next 15-20 games will definitely determine whether they can squeeze into the playoffs. It's do or die time. [Reply]
Even Vegas knows that the Royals are making the playoffs....currently at -400 that they will and +300 that they won't. Never would I have thought that at the beginning of the season. [Reply]
The next 20 games after the Angels series are BRUTAL. 20 straight games against 1st place teams (minus 3 against Minny, who we always struggle with).
If we can take care of business against the Angels these next 2 games, we will go into that stretch 17 games over .500.
BEST case scenario, IMO, is we somehow make it out of there .500 (10-10). That would put us at 82 wins, still 17 games over .500, with 15 games to go and a favorable schedule to grab a playoff spot (possibly division title).
More realistically, I could see us going 8-12 or 7-13 against these teams. That would put us at 79 or 80 wins with 15 left. Still in a strong position to grab a playoff spot, but likely Wild Card.
If we bomb out and go something like 5-15 or 4-16, we're likely having to win at a .800 clip the rest of the way (12-3) just to grab a playoff spot.
So, after the Angels series, the GOAL should be to go .500 over the next 20. Anything beyond that would be absolute gravy and unexpected.
So if this Royals team can manage that 10-10 or better . . . . . folks, start setting aside money for your playoff tickets. It will be all but guaranteed at that point.
Noah Cameron made Baseball America's hot prospect list.
9. Noah Cameron, LHP, Royals
Team: Triple-A Omaha (International)
Age: 25
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.71, 12.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 13 SO, 1 HR
The Scoop: The 2021 seventh-rounder out of Central Arkansas has been a find for the Royals. Cameron pitched his way up to Triple-A this season after a strong start with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Last week, Cameron turned in two gems against Louisville, going six-plus innings each time out, limiting hard contact and generating whiffs. Cameron mixes a low-90s four-seamer with cut, a low-80s changeup and a low-80s curveball with good depth. It’s a good changeup from a higher arm slot that creates deception from the left side. Cameron could fit a variety of roles as a spot starter or a lefthanded reliever for the Royals in September. His upside is limited but he has enough deception and feel to pitch to fill a role. (GP) [Reply]
Cameron is a candidate for September but the active roster only gets expanded by 2 now from 26 to 28. Think it's more likely they go with a vet, someone who's been up before.
So which two Royals are likely to get the call up first come September?
I think Q likes his offensive mix and bench, so it's likely going to be 2 pitchers. The only offensive guy I think they would consider is Loftin, but when you have Hampson and Isbel he seems a bit redundant.
So they're likely choosing from Cameron, Hernandez, Lynch and Marsh. [Reply]
