OCTOBER 3, 2021 • MLB.COM
KANSAS CITY ROYALS 86-76 · 2ND IN AL CENTRAL
86-76 · 2ND IN AL CENTRAL
Jax settles in, finds groove against Royals KANSAS CITY -- While rookie starters Bailey Ober and Joe Ryan had relatively smooth transitions to the big league level this season, that fi...
Twins pitchers combine for three-hit shutout of Royals KANSAS CITY, Mo. — You never forget your first big league start, and in Griffin Jax's case, it came at Kauffman Stadium almost exactly three...
OCTOBER 3, 2021 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Jax sharp as Twins stop Perez, shut out Royals 4-0
Griffin Jax and a trio of relievers combined on a three-hitter and the Minnesota Twins blanked Salvador Perez and the Kansas City Royals 4-0OCTOBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jax returns to site of his first career start for final start of 2021 Twins face Royals lefty Kris Bubic, try to snap two-game skid
OCTOBER 2, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM
Kyle Isbel - Riding pine Saturday Isbel isn't starting Saturday's game against the Twins.
Impact Isbel will be out of the lineup for a third consecutive game after he went 2-for-13 with a double, three runs, an RBI and a stolen base across his last five appearances. Hunter Dozier will start in right field while Cam Gallagher starts behind the plate.
OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Nicky Lopez - Adds steal Friday Lopez went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks, a stolen base and two runs scored in Friday's 11-6 win over Minnesota.
Impact The shortstop has hit safely in 24 of his last 26 games, posting a scorching .352/.388/.463 slash line in that span. Lopez has finished strong in an impressive and unexpectedly successful 2021. He owns a .301/.366/.380 line with 22 stolen bases, two home runs, 43 RBI, 78 runs scored and six triples through 149 contests overall as Kansas City's everyday No. 2 hitter.
OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Whit Merrifield - Logs three hits Friday Merrifield went 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 11-6 win over Minnesota.
Impact Across his last nine games, the second baseman is batting .314 (11-for-35). Merrifield hasn't attempted a stolen base since Sept. 11, and he hasn't successfully notched a theft since Sept. 8. Without speed, the 32-year-old doesn't provide much else outside of solid batting average. He's slashing .279/.319/.397 with 40 steals, 10 home runs, 74 RBI and 97 runs scored across 711 plate appearances, and he's on track to play in every game for the third straight season.
OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Gabe Speier - Solid since call-up Speier has allowed three runs (one earned) in seven innings since he was promoted from Triple-A Omaha.
Impact The 26-year-old has been a little unlucky with errors, and his 1.29 WHIP is nothing to write home about, but he's been able to limit the damage in a small sample size. Speier has covered 20 innings across three big-league seasons, so he shouldn't be expected to see more than a low-leverage relief role entering next season.
OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Bubic scheduled to start for Kansas City against Minnesota
The Royals are expected to send Kris Bubic to the mound Saturday and the Twins will give Griffin Jax the startOCTOBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hunter Dozier - Knocks 16th homer Dozier went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base in Friday's 11-6 win over the Twins.
Impact Dozier knocked an RBI single in the third inning and followed it up with a solo shot in the fifth. He singled again and swiped second base in the sixth. The 30-year-old improved his season slash line to .218/.287/.399 with 49 extra-base hits, 55 runs scored and five steals.
OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Jon Heasley - Earns first MLB win Heasley (1-1) allowed four runs on six hits and a walk over 5.1 innings Friday, striking out one batter and earning a win over the Twins.
Impact The only damage against Heasley through the first five innings was an RBI double by Josh Donaldson in the fourth frame. He served up a solo homer to Ryan Jeffers in the sixth and was charged with another two runs after he was lifted from the game. The 24-year-old rookie produced a 4.91 ERA and a 6:3 K:BB through 14.2 innings in his first taste of MLB action.
OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Twins clinch last place in AL Central with 11-6 loss to Royals KANSAS CITY, MO. — Last place it is. And on merit, if Friday was any indication.
OCTOBER 2, 2021 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Perez hitless, rest of Royals bats busy; Twins finish last
Salvador Perez went hitless on a night when every other Royals starter had at least one hit, and Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 11-6OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Royals unload 15 hits, score 11 in opener win KANSAS CITY -- To kick off their final series of the 2021 regular season, the Royals got everybody in on the action. Kansas City knocked aro...
OCTOBER 2, 2021 • MLB.COM
Tyler Zuber - Optioned to Triple-A Zuber was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Impact Zuber was recalled Wednesday, and he allowed two runs on three hits and no walks in a relief inning against Cleveland on Thursday. He'll head back to the minors after catcher Sebastian Rivero was called up Friday.
OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Sebastian Rivero - Recalled by Royals Rivero was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Impact Rivero was sent down early last week, but he didn't appear in any minor-league games following his demotion. Since Salvador Perez has been serving as the designated hitter recently, the 22-year-old will provide additional depth behind the plate.
OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Kyle Isbel - Sits again Friday Isbel remains on the bench for Friday's game against the Twins.
Impact Isbel has now sat for two straight games after previously starting seven out of eight. He's looked good when in the lineup this season, hitting .274/.338/.438, but it will be Hunter Dozier who starts in right field Friday.
OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Angel Zerpa - Takes loss in MLB debut Zerpa (0-1) was tagged with the loss Thursday after allowing two runs (both unearned) on three hits and a walk while fanning four across five innings.
Impact The young left-hander made his big-league debut in the series finale and while he was tagged with the loss, he looked composed while tossing 44 of his 68 pitches for strikes. Zerpa posted a 2.59 ERA across eight starts at High-A Quad Cities and will probably start next season at Double-A, but this outing was certainly encouraging for his long-term outlook.
OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
No-hitters, walk-offs and Shohei Ohtani: When good things happen to bad teams
Before all the losing MLB teams go home for the winter, Jake Mintz remembers some of the good times they had this season.OCTOBER 1, 2021
Royals extend center fielder Michael A. Taylor: What his new contract says about their future Defense dictated this signing, especially because of the Royals' bevy of young starting pitchers. Can Taylor deliver more on offense, too?
OCTOBER 1, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Minnesota to visit Kansas City Friday
The Twins will start John Gant on Friday while the Royals have yet to announce who will take the moundOCTOBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Royals youngster Angel Zerpa shows uncommon level of comfort in debut The left-handed threw five innings and allowed just three hits in his debut.
OCTOBER 1, 2021 • KANSASCITY.COM
Zerpa (No. 18) flashes promise in MLB debut KANSAS CITY -- On Monday, Angel Zerpa turned 22 years old. On Wednesday, he found out he was being promoted to Kansas City to make his Major...
OCTOBER 1, 2021 • MLB.COM
Kansas City Royals drop final meeting of the season with the Indians 6-1 Salvador Perez was in the lineup despite a sore ankle, but the Royals offense scored just one run.
OCTOBER 1, 2021 • KANSASCITY.COM
Bieber 3 solid innings, Indians avoid 3-game sweep by Royals
Shane Bieber pitched three effective innings, Bradley Zimmer drove in three runs and the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 to avoid a three-game sweepOCTOBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
