Royals Rumblings – News for August 14, 2025

While they still won the series, the Royals felt they let the sweep get away from them:

“Every game is critical, obviously,” Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel said. “We are at that time of the year. We are hoping to get hot and win a lot of games. It’s a big homestand coming up and we just gotta keep rolling.”

The Royals fell short in an 8-7 loss to the Nationals on Wednesday, sliding another half-game behind the Yankees in the wild-card chase. For KC (60-61), the deficit could grow further, as the Yankees faced the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

“We had a really nice opportunity today to come out and start this homestand with a sweep …” Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said. “At the end of the day, we won the series. So that’s a net positive. Just stings a little bit when the game goes like that to finish out the series.”

With Michael Lorenzen returning from injury, the Royals are reshuffling their pitching staff:

“Just trying to put the best rotation out there right now and also give us the best chance to match up out of the ‘pen and give us a little depth,” Quatraro said of Falter’s transition to the bullpen.

Bergert and Falter were two of the pitchers the Royals acquired at the Trade Deadline, with Bergert (and righty Stephen Kolek, who is in Triple-A) coming from the Padres and Falter from the Pirates. Both immediately slotted into the Royals’ rotation because of the three starters on the injured list at the time in Lorenzen, Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic.

Kevin O’Brien at the Royals Reporter looks at Kansas City’s baserunning woes struggles this season compared to last:

The most significant difference from this season’s squad is Maikel, who created 7.6 total baserunning runs last year. That is an 8.3-run difference from 2025, which demonstrates how far Garcia has slid on the basepaths, a primary strength of his in 2024.

The Venezuelan infielder was not just good at gaining extra bases on hits (2.6 run value), but he was sensational on stolen bases. His 5.1 stolen base run value was not only the best mark on the team, but it was 1.4 runs better than Dairon Blanco, who had the second-best mark, and 4.5 runs better than Witt, who had the third-best mark.

Salvador Perez and other catchers dished on the physical grind of the position:

To Langeliers, for example, the worst place to be hit is the top of the knee, just above the edge of the shin guard. Hearing his fellow catcher’s testimony, Perez rolled up his right pant leg to reveal a large, dark bruise in the middle of a tattoo on his thigh.

“I got one,” Perez proclaimed.

He’d suffered it two days earlier, and although the pain had faded, the mark remained from an impact that Huff likened to taking a punch — without consent or preparation.

In defiance of his father, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is swinging significantly less this season.

The Pohlads won’t sell the Minnesota Twins after all.

Milwaukee has run their win streak to 12 games.

How much trouble are the New York Yankees and Mets in after their recent struggles?

Rookie Cade Horton has brought stability to a depleted Cubs rotation.

After not being granted time, White Sox prospect George Wolkow swung the bat with one hand and hit a single.

Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya was carted off the field in last night’s win.

Dodgers right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart is headed to the IL with a shoulder injury.

Houston left-handed pitcher Josh Hader is headed to the IL with a shoulder injury.

Shohei Ohtani and his agent are facing a lawsuit over allegedly sabotaging a real estate deal in Hawaii.

Is it animal abuse to dress up a dog for money outside an MLB ballpark? ($)

The NFL is quietly becoming a media juggernaut.