Kansas City Royals: From the penthouse to the outhouse

Let’s travel back in time to the far distant point of…May 1. On that day, the Kansas City Royals had a 16-9 record, holding the best record in the American League. It appeared as though their rebuild was nearing an end, with a revamped lineup and bullpen making the Royals relevant once again. Maybe they were not a playoff team just yet, but they appeared to be on the cusp.

Approximately two weeks later, everything has changed. The Royals still have 16 wins, having lost 11 consecutive games since that point, being swept by three consecutive divisional opponents, including the lowly Tigers. They have plummeted from the penthouse of the American League to near the bottom of the league, tied with the Angels for the 11th worst record in the AL.

Kansas City Royals have come apart in May

It is easy to see where things have come undone for the Royals. The offense, which had performed so well in the first month of the season, has scored just 41 runs in May. They have put together a mediocre .232/.310/.377 batting line on the month, hitting just ten homers.

That lack of offense could have been overcome if the pitching stepped up. Instead, Royals pitchers have posted a 6.33 ERA for the month, the worst in baseball. While the pitching staff could be considered fairly unlucky in that span, as they posted a 4.46 FIP for the month and have a mere 59.3% strand rate – also the lowest in the majors in that span, the same cannot be said for the bullpen.

The Royals bullpen reunion had done well for most of April, but that has not been the case this month. Their relief corps has posted a 6.07 ERA, 25th in the majors, while walking 4.6 batters per nine innings and allowing homers on 20% of their fly balls.

This losing streak will not last forever. However, the Royals face the White Sox this weekend, and could have the ignoble feat of having been swept by each of their divisional foes in a four series span. Unless the Royals suddenly break out of their malaise, and the bats get going and the pitching staff reverts to the form they displayed in April, this could be another long weekend.

The Kansas City Royals were the kings of the American League not too long ago. An 11 game losing streak has sent them from the penthouse to the outhouse.