2013 Kansas City Royals season

Offseason and spring training

During the offseason, the Kansas City Royals donated over $4 million in funds raised during the 2012 All-Star game for various projects in the Kansas City area communities, including building two baseball facilities for disabled children.[1][2]

Alex Gordon signed a $37.5 million four-year deal last season with the Royals. The team lost Eric Hosmer to the United States team for the World Baseball Classic.

Right-handed pitcher Zack Greinke, who won the 2009 AL Cy Young Award while with Kansas City, signed a $147 million six-year contract to join the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason but was slow during spring training with a sore elbow and the flu.[3]

Jeremy Guthrie signed a $25 million three-year deal in November 2012 to stay with the Royals after being their best starter during the year.[4] Guthrie will be the Royals' No. 3 starter. Former AL MVP, Miguel Tejada, made the team as a utility player with a $1.1 million one-year contract.[5]

During spring training in Surprise, Arizona, the Royals had the best record of any team and maintained first place throughout every game. They not only tied and then exceeded a franchise record (previously set 22 wins and 9 loses in 1999),[6] but also had more spring training wins than any other team in MLB history.[7]

The Royals were the only team losing less than 10 games other than the Baltimore Orioles (9 losses),[8] ending spring training with a 25–7–2 record.[9] Kansas City lost their first spring training game after 11 wins in a row,[10] the only unbeaten team in spring training at that point.[11]

Kansas City manager Ned Yost said "The key to our success this year is going to be our pitching staff, because we can catch the ball. If they're throwing strikes, we're going to be able to make plays and I think we're going to be able to score runs." Yost added, "It just gives you confidence going into the season knowing that everybody's ready, everybody's playing well."

The Royals left Arizona (Surprise Stadium) without any players having any serious injuries. This was in contrast to March 2012 when closer Joakim Soria needed season-ending Tommy John surgery and starting catcher Salvador Pérez required knee surgery which sidelined him until late June 2012.

Kansas City led the majors in team batting average, hits, doubles, runs scored and on-base percentage, clinching first place in the Cactus League standings. The Royals finished with a Cactus League-leading .335 batting average and 230 runs.

After improving their starting rotation, the Royals were considered a "sleeper team" entering the 2013 season. The Royals appeared poised to challenge the AL champion Detroit Tigers in the AL Central. Overall, the Royals increased their chances that they would contend in 2013.[12]

According to Foxs Sports, for the first time in more than two decades the Kansas City Royals may become relevant again.[13] Other projections predicted the Royals to finish in second, third or even fourth place in the American League Central.[14][15]

"There's a lot to like about this team", Royals manager Ned Yost said. "I think we've got a great defense. I think our starting pitching is going to be a focal point and a strong asset to our club. Our relief pitching has always been dynamite in my mind."

Signings

•Major League: Jeremy Guthrie, SP: three years, $25MM.

•Minor League: Blaine Boyer, Chad Tracy, Endy Chávez, Miguel Tejada, Xavier Nady, Willy Taveras, George Sherrill, Dan Wheeler, Brandon Wood and Anthony Ortega.

Trades and Claims

•Acquired SP James Shields, P Wade Davis and IF Elliot Johnson from the Tampa Bay Rays for OF Wil Myers, P Mike Montgomery, 3B Patrick Leonard and P Jake Odorizzi.

•Acquired P Luis Rico[16] and P Luis Santos from the Pittsburgh Pirates for P Vin Mazzaro and 1B Clint Robinson.

•Acquired SP Ervin Santana from the Los Angeles Angels for P Brandon Sisk.

•Claimed C George Kottaras off waivers from the Oakland Athletics.

•Claimed P Guillermo Moscoso off waivers from the Colorado Rockies.

•Claimed C Brett Hayes off waivers from the Miami Marlins.

•Claimed P Chris Volstad off waivers from the Chicago Cubs.

Notable Losses

•Wil Myers, Vin Mazzaro, Joakim Soria, Mike Montgomery, Brandon Sisk and Patrick Leonard.

April

In April, Jeremy Guthrie had the longest undefeated streak by a Royals pitcher over 13 starts since Kevin Appier in 1994-95.[17]

On April 5, Alex Gordon and Chris Getz each hit a bases-loaded triple, allowing the Royals to rally and beat the Philadelphia Phillies 13–4, spoiling the Phillies' home opener with a sellout crowd of 45,307 at Citizens Bank Park. The interleague matchup was a rare one between teams who first met in the 1980 World Series. The only other visit to Philadelphia by the Royals came in 2004. After getting a total of 17 hits in their first three games against the Chicago White Sox, the Royals had 19 against the Phillies. Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt and George Brett, rivals when the Phillies beat the Royals to win their first championship 33 years earlier, threw out the first pitches (along with SNL's Joe Piscopo). Wade Davis, acquired from Tampa Bay Rays along with James Shields, made his first start since 2011. He made 54 relief appearances for the Rays in 2012 after 58 starts from 2010-11.[18]

The Royals didn't commit an error in their first seven games (64 2/3 innings) for the first time in team history.[19] As of April 10, the Royals had won four straight games and six of seven games to move three games above .500 for the first time since May 12, 2011, when they were 20–17.[20] The Royals went on to sweep the Minnesota Twins at home at Kauffman Stadium.[21] However, on April 12 (after a day off), the Royals lost against the Toronto Blue Jays after committing three errors within the game, matching their season total at that time.[22]

Royals 1B Eric Hosmer had tightness in his right quadriceps and did not start for the second straight night on April 13.[23] Nonetheless, as a result of Alex Gordon driving in a run, the Royals avoided a three-game sweep by the Blue Jays, who had won six straight and eight of 10 against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium, including a four-game sweep in their only series in Kansas City from the previous season. Therefore, the Royals maintained first place in the ALC, but were tied with the Detroit Tigers after they defeated the Oakland Athletics.[24]

Impact of the Boston Marathon bombing

Although performing well, the Royals helped the Atlanta Braves win their 10th straight game with a 6–3 victory over KC on April 16. After both teams had a day off, players, managers and coaches for both teams wore No. 42 on their jerseys to honor Jackie Robinson. Like many teams, the Braves also held a moment of silence before the game for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing (April 15). Chris Getz, KC's No. 8 hitter, homered for the first time in nearly four years (on July 19, 2009 when he played for the Chicago White Sox). Jeff Francoeur, a former Braves RF, played his first game at Turner Field with Kansas City.[25] With Wade Davis pitching 7 scoreless innings, the Royals beat the Braves 1–0 on April 17 to end Atlanta's 10-game winning streak.[26]

The Royals had a scheduled weekend series against the Boston Red Sox between April 19–21. It was to be Boston's first home game since the bombings, the explosions occurring 45 minutes after they finished playing the Rays on April 15 while en route to play the Cleveland Indians. However, the Greater Boston area went on a city-wide lockdown in search of a suspect on the morning of April 19. Therefore, their first "homecoming game" of the weekend was postponed.[27][28][29][30] The Red Sox reported the decision was made "to support efforts of law enforcement officers." The Royals stayed at the Westin Copley Place Hotel near Copley Square, about a block from the marathon finish line. "We've been told not to go outside. We've been told the hotel has been locked down, although I've seen a handful of people moving around", Royals vice president Mike Swanson said. "The streets are just, wow. It's numbingly quiet for a noon hour in Boston." No make-up game was immediately scheduled.[31]

However, with the second suspect captured that same evening and Fenway Park under tight security, play resumed Saturday, April 20, with a win of 4–3 by Boston over the Royals. Following an emotional pregame ceremony, both teams honored the victims of the bombing tragedy by wearing special uniforms/logos. (The Red Sox wore white home jerseys with "Boston" on the front instead of the customary "Red Sox" while Kansas City players and staff wore a "B Strong" patch on the front of their jerseys, with the shirts being auctioned off for funds to support victims of the bombing.) [32] The Red Sox later announced Friday's (April, 19) game would be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Sunday (April, 21). The regularly scheduled game took place at 1:35 p.m., and a nightcap at 7 p.m.[33] Even with the loss, the Royals moved to first place since the Detroit Tigers also lost in the American League Central.

On April 21, Kansas City ended Boston's seven-game winning streak with a 4–2 win over the Red Sox in the opener of a day-night doubleheader. With tributes to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings still visibly clear, the Royals ended a season-opening streak of 16 games by Red Sox starters allowing three runs or less, tying an AL record achieved by the Oakland Athletics in 1978 and 1981. With the Detroit Tigers losing, the win kept the Royals secure in first place.[34] In the second game of the doubleheader, Kansas City narrowly beat Boston 5–4 in 10 innings to win the weekend series (and sweep the doubleheader), as a result of Lorenzo Cain walking with two outs and the bases loaded in the 10th inning. With both wins against the Red Sox on April 21, Kansas City remained in first place in the AL Central as did Boston in the AL East.[35] A disappointing ending to an emotional weekend for the Red Sox, Ervin Santana (2-1) pitched seven strong innings, Kelvin Herrera (2–2) got the win and Greg Holland pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save in five opportunities. Billy Butler homered in the eighth inning of the night game (clearing the Green Monster).[36] The Royals also recalled LHP Will Smith from Triple-A Omaha.[37]

Remaining in first place

On April 25, Alex Gordon's grand slam (clearing the 420-foot marker on the wall in center field) highlighted a five-run 10th inning for Kansas City, who rallied against the Detroit Tigers bullpen for an 8–3 win, keeping the Royals in first place (ALC). Billy Butler had three hits on the day and improved to 23 for 55 (.418) off Justin Verlander, the best mark of anyone with at least 30 at-bats against the Detroit pitcher. Tim Collins (1–0) pitched a scoreless ninth for the Royals and got the win. This followed a game the previous day, which the Royals narrowly lost against Detroit (having only played two out of six days due to postponed games and having no batting practice prior to the game on April 24 as a result of bad weather). Overall, the Royals went 4–3 at Atlanta, Boston and Detroit. Kansas City did not play a home game since April 14. They played seven road games in 11 days. "This was a phenomenal road trip for us", said right-hander James Shields, who pitched eight solid innings on April 25. "We're going to look back at this road trip, and I think it's going to be a pretty crucial road trip."

On April 28, in the opener of a doubleheader caused by a rainout two days earlier, Jeremy Guthrie (3–0) allowed six hits over 6 2/3 innings for his 16th consecutive start without a loss. That matched the Kansas City record set by Paul Splittorff from August 13, 1977 – April 22, 1978. The Royals went on to beat the Indians 9–0, with a memorable 500th career hit from Alcides Escobar being a home run (370 feet) and a right center home run by Alex Gordon (438 feet),

May

After spending most of April in first place (AL Central), the Royals ended the month with a 14–10 record (7–4 at home), a half game behind the Detroit Tigers as of April 30 (an improvement from their 6–15 mark going into May a year ago). However, on May 1, the Royals moved back into first place (15–10), due to the Tigers losing to the Minnesota Twins and then the Royals later beating the Tampa Bay Rays (giving them a .600 percentage). Unfortunately, it was not to last, as the Royals would go 8-20 for the month, their worst May record since 2006 (8-21).

Record vs. opponents

Updated for games through September 29, 2013

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Omaha, Idaho Falls