Royals Rumblings - News for August 27, 2019

Royals Rumblings - News for August 27, 2019

So Alex Gordon pitched last night. That was a thing that happened.

Danny Duffy will return to the rotation this weekend, writes Lynn Worthy.

While the Royals haven’t listed probable starters past Thursday’s series finale against the A’s, Duffy came through Sunday’s minor-league rehab assignment with flying colors and rejoined the club in Kansas City on Monday. He’d be on regular rest if the Royals chose to slot him into the rotation on Friday.

“I was able to work a lot of things in that I wanted to see against hitters,” said Duffy, who threw two simulated outings before progressing to a rehab start. “It’s been three weeks, so it was very beneficial, and I was able to see a lot of things that I was doing wrong and a couple of things that I can do better.”

Jeffrey Flanagan also reports Adalberto Mondesi is close to returning.

“There’s no reason to rush him and have to make a roster move before Sept. 1,” Yost said.

Yost reported that Mondesi has had no setbacks with his shoulder so far in his rehab assignment. But Mondesi is under orders not to make any more diving attempts in the field -- he sustained his injury diving head-first trying to catch a popup -- or on the bases the rest of the season.

Brad Keller is fine with an innings limit this season, writes Flanagan.

Royals manager Ned Yost said on Sunday that right-hander Brad Keller will not log any more than 100 pitches per game for the rest of 2019.

“We’re not going to push him past that,” Yost said. “I would say 100 will be the max.”

Yost already has indicated that the organization is going to limit Keller’s innings down the stretch.

Will Leitch looks at the most underrated player on each team.

Royals -- Brad Keller, RHP

Remember last year, when we all considered Keller a bit of a fluke? He hasn’t been quite as good as he was in 2018 … but he’s been close.

Keith Law writes about a few Royals prospects like Jonathan Bowlan and Kyle Isbel.

Jonathan Bowlan has been a huge breakout guy for the Royals this year, as the Royals’ second-rounder from last year out of the University of Memphis dominated low-A (a level for which he was probably too advanced) and has continued to pitch well in high-A, with 71 strikeouts and just 10 walks so far for Wilmington in 72 innings. The stuff doesn’t match the performance, though, as Bowlan was just 90-94 with many of his pitches flat and a bunch of fringe-average secondary pitches in his breaking ball (which varied from curveball shape at 79-82 to more slider-like at 83-85) and changeup at 84-85. He’s huge at 6-foot-6 and a listed weight of 262 pounds, with a clean delivery that keeps him online to the plate, although he might have some more room to stride longer and get more extension. I just didn’t see any swing-and-miss pitch here for when he gets to higher levels.

Cullen Jekel at KC Kingdom looks at free agent pitching options for the Royals.

Royals pitching prospect Foster Griffin is named to the All-Pacific Coast League team.

The Mets’ playoff prospects may hinge on their bullpen.

A look at pitch-framing park factors.

Vince Naimoli, the original owner of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, dies at age 81.

David Ortiz hires a private investigator to look into his shooting.

13 draft prospects who impressed scouts this summer.

Miami actually has a rich baseball history.

A Louisiana team wins the Little League World Series.

Would you want to try food from all 30 ballparks?

Tennis pioneer Althea Gibson finally gets her due with a statue at Flushing Meadows.

Soccer player Carli Lloyd gets an offer to kick field goals in a preseason NFL game.

KFC is testing meatless wings and chicken nuggets.

Let’s pick apart the trailer for Rise of Skywalker.

Eddie Murphy will host Saturday Night Live for the first time in 35 years.

Your song of the day is The Smithereens with A Girl Like You.