KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There are positive developments for the Kansas City Royals this season if you want to look hard enough for them.
The Kansas City Royals starters’ earned-run average heading into Thursday was 2.59 — the fourth-best mark in baseball. In addition, KC’s catchers have taken much-needed strides with pitch framing, and following an offseason emphasis, the team’s first-pitch strike percentage is way up from a year ago.
None of it matters much right now, though. Not with KC’s bats remaining this inconsistent, the latest example coming in Thursday afternoon’s 6-3 home loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in the finale of a four-game series at Kauffman Stadium.