Oakland Athletics vs Kansas City Royals Picks and Predictions June 19th 2024

Royals Try to Manage Workload of Salvador Perez Against A’s

As they continue their three-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night, the Kansas City Royals are keenly focused on controlling Salvador Perez’s workload, particularly in light of his recent knee issues. The Royals are confident that Perez’s new execution, including a two-hit night, is an indication of better what might be on the horizon.

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Managing Salvador Perez’s Health

Recent Performance and Injury Concerns

Salvador Perez, the Royals’ stalwart, contributed two singles in Tuesday’s game but has been battling knee pain. After taking Saturday off and serving as a designated hitter on Sunday, Perez had a break on Monday and hasn’t caught since Friday. In the series opener against Oakland, manager Matt Quatraro played Perez at first base to keep his .296 bat in the lineup without the strain of catching.

Roster Adjustments

In a strategic move to manage Perez’s health, the Royals opted to retain a third catcher, Austin Nola, on the roster, sending outfielder Drew Waters to Triple-A Omaha and promoting reliever Carlos Hernandez.

“We felt like it was important to continue to have Salvy get another day to see how he was going to be with his knee,” Quatraro explained. “He’s back in there at first (base), but we needed coverage with Nola, so we opted to send Waters out. Not an easy decision, but something we felt was best for the whole team right now.”

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Game Recap and Key Players

Series Opener

Despite Perez’s contributions and notable performances from Adam Frazier (double), Kyle Isbel (triple), and Nick Loftin (home run), the Royals fell short in a 7-5 loss to the Athletics. Loftin’s homer was his first in the majors, but the team struggled to capitalize on opportunities, going hitless with runners in scoring position.

Athletics’ Offense

The Athletics’ offense exploded against Royals starter Alec Marsh, scoring seven runs in three innings, marking their highest run total in a victory since June 1. This was a stark contrast to their previous performance against Kansas City, where they scored just nine runs in a three-game sweep last month.

Pitching Matchup

Luis Medina (Athletics)

• Record and ERA: 0-2, 5.87 ERA
• Season Performance: Medina has struggled this season, receiving minimal run support. In his three starts, the A’s have been outscored 16-3, with Medina getting only three runs of support.
• First Career Start Against Royals: Medina will face the Royals for the first time in his career, looking to turn around his and the team’s fortunes.

Cole Ragans (Royals)

• Record and ERA: 4-4, 3.14 ERA
• Recent Performance: Ragans has been in excellent form, with a 1.70 ERA over his last six games, striking out 45 batters in 37 innings. He threw seven shutout innings against the A’s on May 17, allowing just two hits.
• Career Against Athletics: Ragans is 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA in five career games (four starts) against the A’s, aiming to replicate his previous success.

Recent Roster Moves

Athletics’ Adjustments

The A’s made significant roster changes ahead of Tuesday’s game, promoting outfielder Lawrence Butler and infielder/outfielder Tyler Nevin from Triple-A Las Vegas, while designating J.D. Davis for assignment and demoting Seth Brown.

• Lawrence Butler and Tyler Nevin: Both players made immediate impacts, each contributing a double in the 11-hit attack.
• J.D. Davis and Seth Brown: Davis, who was hitting .236 with four homers and five RBIs, was designated for assignment. Brown, after struggling, accepted a demotion to Triple-A.

Quotes from Managers and Players

Royals Manager Matt Quatraro

On Perez’s workload: “We felt like it was important to continue to have Salvy get another day to see how he was going to be with his knee.”

Athletics Manager A.J. Hinch

On Skubal’s performance: “He was in attack mode like he always is and he wins a lot of those in-zone competitions. They just got to him the third time through (the lineup).”

Athletics GM David Forst

On the roster moves: “J.D. wasn’t swinging the bat the way he’s capable… He’ll (Brown) go down with the right mindset of earning his way back here.”

Conclusion

As the Royals look to manage Perez’s workload effectively and get back on track, and the Athletics aim to build on their offensive outburst, Wednesday’s game promises to be a compelling matchup. With both teams making strategic adjustments and featuring key pitching matchups, fans can expect an engaging and competitive contest.

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