Kansas City Royals vs Arizona Diamondbacks Picks and Predictions July 22nd 2024

D-backs, Royals look to prolong stout starting pitching

Both the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Kansas City Royals are riding high on exceptional starting pitching performances as they gear up for a three-game interleague series starting Monday in Kansas City.

Kansas City Royals: Stellar Pitching and Offensive Firepower

The Royals returned from the All-Star break with a dominant sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Outscoring their AL Central rivals 17-3, Kansas City’s starters allowed just one run over 23 innings.

Seth Lugo’s Masterclass

All-Star right-hander Seth Lugo capped the series with a complete game on Sunday, giving up only three hits in a 4-1 win. Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro praised Lugo’s efficiency and strike-throwing, noting the pitcher deserved the victory.

Supporting Cast: Singer and Wacha

Lugo’s performance followed strong outings by Brady Singer and Michael Wacha. Singer delivered seven shutout innings on Saturday, building on Wacha’s seven scoreless frames from Friday.

Bobby Witt Jr. Leads the Offense

Offensively, the Royals are led by star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., fresh from his first All-Star Game appearance. Witt went 9-for-11 against Chicago, raising his batting average to a team-leading .337. He is particularly formidable at home, batting .404 this season.

Cole Ragans on the Mound

The Royals will start 26-year-old left-hander Cole Ragans in the series opener against Arizona. Ragans, an All-Star, boasts a 6-6 record with a 3.16 ERA. In his last two starts, he has gone seven innings each time, allowing just three runs on nine hits combined.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Matching Kansas City’s Pitching Excellence

The Diamondbacks have also excelled with their starting pitchers, who allowed just one run over 17 2/3 innings in a series win against the Cubs in Chicago.

Brandon Pfaadt’s Dominant Performance

On Sunday, starter Brandon Pfaadt pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. Despite his strong performance, the Diamondbacks lost 2-1 in 10 innings after a late-game comeback by the Cubs.

Rookie Yilber Diaz Set to Start

Arizona will start rookie right-hander Yilber Diaz, who has a 1-0 record with a 1.50 ERA. The 23-year-old is making his third career start, having impressed in his first two outings by allowing just one run on four hits over six innings in each game.

Series Outlook

Both teams are entering this series with considerable momentum. The Royals are looking to extend their winning streak to four games, while the Diamondbacks have won six of their last eight. The matchup promises top-tier starting pitching and highlights from emerging stars like Bobby Witt Jr. and Yilber Diaz.

Fans can expect a series filled with strong pitching performances and key offensive contributions, setting the stage for an exciting interleague showdown.

Conclusion

The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Kansas City Royals are set to deliver an exciting series, driven by exceptional pitching and key offensive plays. With both teams in strong form, the interleague clash promises to be a highlight of the week for baseball fans.

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