AL Central Notes: KC Royals, Detroit Tigers lead standings
Following a loss by the Detroit Tigers and a win by the Kansas City Royals, the top spot in the AL Central is tied at 11-3 overall after 14 games into the season.
The Royals won by a 6-5 score over the Minnesota Twins, and the Tigers lost to the New York Yankees, 5-2, Tuesday night. The win by the Royals was their third consecutive.
Also in the AL Central on Tuesday, the Cleveland Indians defeated the Chicago White Sox, 6-2, sending both teams to a record of 5-8 on the season. The Twins are 5-9 overall after 14 games.
Looking at the Royals and Tigers, they are both 7-3 in their past 10 games, and each have winning record on the road, and at home with KC being 7-1 at home and 4-2 on the road. The Tigers are 6-2 at Comerica Park and 5-1 on the road.
Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press wrote the following about the loss to the Yankees Tuesday:
"“The Tigers fell behind from the outset, when left-hander Kyle Lobstein allowed a run on a Mark Teixeira double in the first inning after walking Brett Gardner, before steadying the ship from there and pitching six innings of one-run baseball.”"
As for the win by the Royals, the Kansas City Star, in their report of the one-run win by the reigning AL Champions, with Mike Moustakas having the clutch hit.
Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star wrote of that opposite field hitting Tuesday night:
"“Moustakas did not pull it into the teeth of a defensive shift. He did not loop his swing and lift a lifeless pop-up. He simply flicked the ball into left field for a go-ahead RBI single …”"
Both the Royals and Tigers are currently the class of the AL Central right now, and with the White Sox and Indians already 5.5 games back of the division leaders it will prove to be a tough division yet again.
Other AL Central Notes:
• The Twins are 2-3 in five games thus far this season against the Royals. Verses AL Central opponents before Wednesday’s game Minnesota is 5-9.
More from White Sox News
- The White Sox issued an update on Tony La Russa for the weekend
- 3 internal options for Tony La Russa’s replacement in 2023
- 3 White Sox free agents who won’t be back next year and why
- White Sox win after incredible ninth inning comeback over A’s
- White Sox: MLB will be impacted by brand new rule changes
• Lorenzo Cain leads the Royals with a .380 average in 13 games. Cain has 12 RBIs, 19 hits (two home runs) and has walked six times. Cain also has four stolen bases.
• The Tigers’ bullpen is 6-of-7 in save opportunities this season. Last year their bullpen was 41-of-57 when attempting a save.
• In 51 at-bats this season Jose Abreu is batting .275 with 14 hits (four home runs), nine RBIs and 11 strikeouts. In players with 20 or more at-bats this season Tyler Flowers leads the White Sox with a .286 average (28 at-bats).
• As their new starting catcher with Yan Gomes on the disabled list, Roberto Perez has a .231 average with six hits (two home runs) in 26 at-bats in 2015. He’s been hitless the past two games.
Pitching matchups (Wednesday, April 22)
• Indians: Corey Kluber (0-1, 2.49 ERA) vs. White Sox: Jeff Samardzija (0-1, 4.29 ERA)
• Yankees: Adam Warren (0-1, 4.82 ERA) vs. Tigers: David Price (1-0, 0.40 ERA)
• Twins: Mike Pelfrey (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Royals: Jeremy Guthrie (1-0, 5.54 ERA)
Next: Carlos Rodon makes MLB debut