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If the Royals want to salvage this homestand, they need to win this game that favors them in pitching matchups. The Royals send out Yordano Ventura and his 100 mph fastball, who has given the Royals a quality start in each of his last four outings. The Angels wanted to send out top pitching prospect Tyler Skaggs, obtained in the Mark Trumbo trade last winter, but he had a setback in his rehab assignment and will remain on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Enter Hector Santiago.
Santiago was also obtained in the Trumbo trade, although from the White Sox. He has struggled this year, bouncing between the rotation and bullpen and even having a stint in AAA. He is winless in nine starts with an 0-7 record, although he has an impressive 8 strikeouts per nine innings as a starting pitcher this year. His problem has been he is wild, with nearly 4 walks per nine innings. The southpaw has historically been tough on lefties, with those hitters posting a .648 OPS against, nearly 100 points lower than righties, so look for Jarrod Dyson to get a day off. Santiago has given up just one run in 10.1 innings of work in his career at Kauffman Stadium.
But did you see the balls flying last night? This ain't your daddy's Kauffman Stadium! Its a home-run extravaganza! YOU GET A HOME RUN! YOU GET A HOME RUN! YOU GET A HOME RUN!