One more game left in July for the Royals. That's all, just one Tuesday night against the Indians at home after an off day Monday.
No team will be happier to flip the calendar to August then the Royals.
Kansas City will need to beat Cleveland on Tuesday to prevent from having their worst July in franchise history.
The Royals are 6-19 in July. Their worst July record was 7-20 in 2004. In July 2009, they were 7-19.
The Royals have not batted that badly in July. Their .279 average ranked third in the majors for the month through Sunday, while their 113 runs were tied for eighth. They ranked 24th with 19 home runs and 16th with a .416 slugging percentage.
However, the pitiful pitching can accept the lion's share for the pathetic July record. The team ERA is 5.69, the worst in the majors. The Royals have allowed the most home runs, 37; given up the most hits, 260; and rank next to last in walks plus hits per inning pitches, 1.54.
RHP Jonathan Broxton remains on the trading block, but clubs scouting him have had a scant chance to see him pitch. He has worked only once in the past 10 days -- a July 24 save at Anaheim -- as the Royals have had few ninth-inning leads lately. They have lost nine of 11 and 21 of 27. Broxton has pitched only five innings in July.
CF Jarrod Dyson went 1-for-2 with two runs while batting ninth Sunday. In the past 17 games, Royals' No. 9 hitters have hit .356 (21-for-59) with two home runs, four doubles, two triples, 12 RBI and 14 runs.
LHP Will Smith logged his third quality start Sunday at Seattle in six starts. It was the rookie's first career start without walking a batter. He got a no-decision, giving up three runs in six innings.
DH Billy Butler was selected the American League Player of the Week. This is the fourth career weekly honor for Butler, who hit .458 (11-for-24) with three doubles, one home run, five walks, six RBI and four runs on a seven-game West Coast trip. Butler's .551 on-base percentage for the week topped the AL, while he was tied for first in hits and second in batting average. He tied for third with 17 total bases and fourth with a .708 slugging percentage. In Thursday's loss at Seattle, Butler's two doubles were the only Kansas City hits. He had four consecutive multi-hit games on the trip.
RHP Jake Odorizzi, the Royals' top pitching prospect, improved to 8-1 and lowered his ERA to 3.01 with a victory Sunday night for Class AAA Omaha at Oklahoma City. He allowed one unearned run in 5 2/3 innings. He gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out five.
LHP Mike Montgomery, a top pitching prospect, picked up a victory Sunday night for Class AA Northwest Arkansas. Montgomery allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts over seven innings.
10 Consecutive losses by the Royals in day games.
"We need a day off, everybody needs a day off." Manager Ned Yost, after the Royals' 1-6 trip to Seattle and Anaheim.
