SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 • KANSASCITY.COM
Kansas City Royals place Mike Minor on IL and shift to a five-man pitching rotation Veteran left-hander Mike Minor lands on IL with shoulder injury.
Out with shoulder issue The Royals placed Minor on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with left shoulder impingement syndrome, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.
Impact Minor's move to the IL explains why he was scratched prior to his scheduled start Wednesday against the Athletics for a previously unknown reason. Manager Mike Matheny hasn't commented on the severity of Minor's shoulder issue, but the veteran southpaw seems likely to be shut down for the season with just two and a half weeks left to go. Kansas City has been running out a six-man rotation lately, so Matheny may just scale back to five starters rather than immediately appointing a replacement for Minor.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Won't start Wednesday Minor isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Impact Minor was initially listed as the probable starter for Wednesday's matchup, but the team will push up Carlos Hernandez while Daniel Lynch takes the mound Wednesday. The Royals haven't given any indication that the change in rotation plans is due to an injury, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Minor start in the upcoming series against the Mariners.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Manaea expected to start for the Athletics against Royals
The Athletics will start Sean Manaea on Wednesday and the Royals are expected to counter with Mike MinorSEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Perez hits 43rd homer as Royals rally past Athletics, 10-7
Salvador Perez hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning, the Kansas City bullpen bailed out starter Jackson Kowar and the Royals rallied from an early six-run hole to bea...SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Strong effort wasted Wednesday Minor didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 9-8 loss to the Orioles, allowing five hits over six scoreless innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.
Impact The veteran southpaw was sharp over 90 pitches (60 strikes) and appeared headed for his ninth win of the year, and first since July 26, until the Royals' bullpen melted down and coughed up nine runs in the eighth inning. Minor at least came away with a quality start, his ninth of the season, and since the beginning of August he has a solid 4.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 28:4 K:BB through 33.1 innings.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Extends winless streak Minor (8-12) was tagged with the loss Thursday against Cleveland after allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out four across five innings.
Impact Minor stopped a run of five straight outings allowing at least three earned runs, but he also extended another negative stretch -- he's gone six straight starts without claiming a win while posting a 0-4 mark with a 4.98 ERA in that span. He has two quality starts over his last four appearances, though, but his post All-Star break numbers show a 4.27 ERA and a 43:8 K:BB through eight starts.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Minor expected to start for the Royals against the Indians
The Indians will start Triston McKenzie on Thursday while the Royals are expected to counter with Mike MinorSEPTEMBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Won't start Tuesday Minor, who was initially listed as the Royals' scheduled starter for Tuesday's game against Cleveland, won't take the hill in the series opener, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star...
Impact Instead, Jakob Junis was called up from Triple-A Omaha to pick up the start in the Royals' first game of the week. The Royals' decision to bring up Junis doesn't necessarily mean Minor is set to miss time or is being bumped from the rotation. Kansas City may just be looking to keep its six-man rotation intact after Brad Keller (lat) was placed on the injured list last weekend. If that's the case, Minor might end up moving back one day in the pitching schedule to start Wednesday's contest.
AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Minor scheduled to start as Kansas City hosts Cleveland
The Indians will start Zach Plesac on Tuesday and the Royals are expected to counter with Mike MinorAUGUST 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Logs quality start Minor pitched six innings against Houston on Wednesday, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three. He did not factor in the decision.
Impact The southpaw gave up four extra-base hits -- including two home runs -- but toughed out his fourth quality start over his past seven outings. Minor induced only six swinging strikes and collected just three punchouts in the no-decision. He has yielded exactly three runs in each of his past three outings but has failed to pick up a win over that span. Minor will carry a 5.30 ERA into his next start, which is likely to come at home against Cleveland next week.
AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
No-decision versus Astros Minor allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out four in 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus Houston on Thursday.
Impact The southpaw got through five innings with little trouble, but three straight one-out hits in the sixth, including a pair of RBI doubles, were enough to force manager Mike Matheny to go to his bullpen. Minor kept the ball in the yard Thursday for the first time in his last four starts. He's been inconsistent for much of the year with a 5.34 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 139:40 K:BB across 141.2 innings in 25 starts. He carries an 8-11 record into his next start, tentatively set for a rematch in Houston next week.
AUGUST 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Díaz hit in 10th propels Astros to 6-3 win over Royals
Aledmys Díaz singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 6-3, avoiding a four-game sweepAUGUST 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Handed third straight loss Minor (8-11) allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over six innings Friday, striking out seven and taking the loss against St. Louis.
Impact The summer struggles continue for Minor as he's now 2-7 with a 6.84 ERA over his last nine outings. Most of the damage against him Friday came in the fourth inning when Nolan Arenado and Tyler O'Neill each launched solo homers. He's now allowed multiple home runs in three straight starts. Minor's season ERA actually dropped slightly from 5.39 to 5.35 alongside a 135:40 K:BB through 136.1 frames. The veteran southpaw is lined up to face Houston at home next week.
AUGUST 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Minor expected to start as Kansas City hosts St. Louis
The Royals will send Mike Minor to the mound Friday and the Cardinals will give Jack Flaherty the startAUGUST 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Yields four runs in loss Minor (8-10) allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings Friday, striking out seven and taking a loss against St. Louis.
Impact Minor got off to a rough start, coughing up a solo shot to Paul Goldschmidt in the first inning and an RBI single to Paul DeJong in the second. He gave up two more runs in the outing, including another solo homer by Tyler O'Neill. Minor has now allowed eight runs through 12 innings while taking a pair of losses in his last two starts. The 33-year-old southpaw will carry a 5.39 ERA into next week's projected home start against the Yankees.
AUGUST 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Covers seven frames in loss Minor (8-9) took the loss Saturday at Toronto after allowing four runs on five hits with six strikeouts and a walk across seven innings.
Impact The veteran left-hander pitched well, but George Springer took him deep twice to account for three of Toronto's runs. Minor had won his previous two starts but never had a chance of continuing the streak with Kansas City mustering zero runs on only three hits. He has a 5.31 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 121:37 K:BB over 125.1 innings through 22 starts this season.
AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Solid in Monday's win Minor (8-8) allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out seven in six innings to earn the win over the White Sox on Monday.
Impact It was a second straight win for Minor since the All-Star break, which he entered on a four-start losing streak. The southpaw hasn't seen good results this year, as he owns a 5.32 ERA and 1.28 WHIP across 118.1 innings, but his FIP sits at 4.08, indicating he's had some bad luck. He projects to take the mound again versus Toronto this weekend.
JULY 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Minor expected to start for Kansas City against Chicago
The Royals will send Mike Minor to the mound Monday and the White Sox plan to give Dallas Keuchel the startJULY 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rebounds for seventh win Minor (7-8) earned the win Tuesday after holding the Brewers to two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out five across six innings.
Impact Minor was due for a bounce-back performance after coming into Tuesday's contest on a four-game losing streak, surrendering at least four runs in each of those games. This time around, the southpaw held the Brewers in check with the only damage coming from a two-run single by Manny Pina in somewhat of a shaky second inning. Across 112.1 frames, Minor has put together a 5.45 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. The 33-year-old lines up for a Sunday start against Detroit.
JULY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Lasts four innings Saturday Minor (6-8) was tagged with the loss Saturday against Cleveland after allowing six runs on nine hits and a walk while fanning two across four innings.
Impact Minor has dropped four decisions in a row and has given up at least four runs in each of those contests while posting an 11:8 K:BB across 20 innings in that span. The 10.80 ERA he owns during that four-game stretch is the best example of how woeful he's looked of late, a span in which both his 5.0 K/9 and his 3.6 BB/9 have been below average as well. To make things even more complicated, Minor has given up a homer in three straight outings and in seven of his last eight starts.
JULY 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Falls apart in seventh inning Minor (6-7) allowed four runs on three hits and three walks with six strikeouts in six-plus innings, taking the loss versus Cincinnati on Monday.
Impact Minor had a solid showing through six innings, but he allowed a solo home run to Nick Castellanos to begin the seventh. The southpaw then walked Tyler Stephenson and Joey Votto before Kyle Zimmer allowed the go-ahead three-run blast to Eugenio Suarez, with the decisive runs tacked onto Minor's line. This was the 33-year-old's third straight loss, and he's given up 18 runs in 16 innings in that span despite yielding just two long balls. For the year, Minor has a 5.36 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 101:32 K:BB in 102.1 innings across 18 starts. He lines up to face Cleveland this weekend in his last start before the All-Star break.
JULY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Reds get to Mike Minor quickly in seventh and Kansas City Royals lose series opener Mike Minor did not record an out in the pivotal seventh inning as the Royals lost the series opener to the Reds
JULY 6, 2021 • KANSASCITY.COM
Bounced by Boston Minor (6-6) took the loss Wednesday as the Royals fell 6-2 to the Red Sox, coughing up five runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out one.
Impact A three-run blast by J.D. Martinez in the third inning was the big blow, digging Kansas City a hole its offense couldn't climb out of. Minor will be happy to put June behind him after posting a 6.44 ERA and 1.7 HR/9 through six starts on the month.
JULY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Lit up by Rangers Minor (6-5) gave up nine runs on 11 hits and two walks with just two strikeouts in five-plus innings, taking the loss Friday versus Texas.
Impact Minor was responsible for both of Texas' rallies in the contest. The home team racked up four runs in the fourth inning and another five in the sixth -- Carlos Hernandez allowed one inherited runner to score after Minor was taken out of the game. The southpaw has alternated between good and bad outings in his last six starts, but Friday was by far one of his worst all year. He has a 5.12 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 94:27 K:BB across 91.1 innings. The 33-year-old is projected for a difficult road start in Boston next week.
JUNE 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
