The Kansas City Royals may be struggling, but don’t tell that to Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Blake Snell.
Even before his breakout 2018 campaign, Blake Snell was a solid pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. Although he struggled with his command at times, Snell showed the signs that he could emerge as an ace even before last season, when he finally tapped into that potential to become one of the top pitchers in the American League.
At least, Snell is one of the top pitchers in the American League if he is not facing the Kansas City Royals. Although this team is far from their heyday of 2014-15, they have managed to make Snell’s life miserable throughout his career.
Blake Snell has a 7.27 career ERA against the Royals in four starts, his highest ERA against any team he has faced more than once. He has a 2.88 ERA against all other teams.
— Royals Review (@royalsreview) May 1, 2019
The only other team that has battered Snell to that level? The Pittsburgh Pirates, who have faced him exactly once in his career. In that outing, Snell allowed six runs on four hits and five walks over five innings.
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Even then, that performance pales to how the Royals have treated Snell during his career. Heading into Wednesday’s contest, Kansas City had a .333/.377/.544 batting line in 61 plate appearances. The Royals .921 OPS heading into the second game of their doubleheader was the highest against Snell thus far in his career.
Wednesday certainly did not help those numbers. In just three innings, Snell allowed seven runs on six hits, including two doubles and a homer, and three walks. Kelvin Gutierrez belted that home run, the first of his career. Yet, considering how the Royals have battered him in the past, Wednesday was just another day at the park.
Every player has that one player or team that is their kryptonite. Bob Uecker infamously hammered Sandy Koufax when he faced the Hall of Fame lefty, really the only pitcher that Eucker could hit in his career. For Snell, the Kansas City Royals are that franchise, a team that is just somehow dialed in when he steps foot on the mound.
Blake Snell may be the defending AL Cy Young Award winner, but that does not matter to the Kansas City Royals. The Tampa Bay Rays lefty is simply no match for their offense.