Wacha, Royals struggle in first lopsided loss of '24

KANSAS CITY – The Royals certainly have seen their fair share of comebacks and big innings so far this season, but the pitching couldn’t stabilize enough Saturday night to give the offense a chance.

Michael Wacha allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings, and the Rangers kept pummeling late in the Royals’ 15-4 loss at Kauffman Stadium.

After allowing one run or fewer in three consecutive games, the Royals allowed double-digit runs on Saturday for the first time in their 34th game in 2024. To once again put in perspective how different the pitching staff is from last year, the Royals allowed double-digit runs seven times in their first 33 games of 2023 and 16 times over the course of the season.

In ‘24, it’s easier to say Saturday was an off night. The Royals’ run differential took a hit, going from +56 -- best in baseball, entering the night -- to +45, which now is tied for second-best in baseball and further shows how different this team is to begin the year.

Still, the Royals have already proven they can bounce back from tough losses, and they’ll get a chance to do so Sunday afternoon in the series finale.

“Just where we’re at as a team, there’s a mindset and confidence that when you lose, it’s more of a fluke, that it’s just a bad game” second baseman Michael Massey said after recording a three-hit night. “We didn’t play well, and [the Rangers] did. Got some breaks their way. But I feel like the mindset is more, ‘Hey, go get two of three tomorrow.’”

The Rangers jumped on Wacha early and never let up, forcing him out of the game after allowing a two-out, two-run single to Nathaniel Lowe in the fourth inning. Reliever Tyler Duffey allowed one inherited runner to score before getting out of it.

“It’s a frustrating one for sure,” Wacha said. “Felt like I didn’t really set the tone the way a starting pitcher tries to do for their club that night. Feel like I got in some bad counts and was forced to throw it over the plate. They found the barrel. Whenever I did execute, it seemed like they were still able to find holes at times. Just a frustrating one, for sure.”

The Rangers took 13 swings on Wacha’s changeup and whiffed six times (46%), but they also hit it hard when he made mistakes, avering a 92.5 mph exit velocity on it.

Entering Saturday, hitters were averaging .419 against Wacha’s fastball this year. The Rangers took eight fastballs for called strikes but also jumped on it when Wacha brought it into the zone to try to get back in counts. He said he wasn’t staying in “attack mode” throughout his outing and fell behind with “non-competitive pitches.”

“Whenever I throw the fastball in those counts, they’re ready for it,” Wacha said. “I’m not getting the swing and miss I’d like to get. But that comes with being in better counts. Staying on the attack. And being able to have a good mix where I’m throwing strikes with all my pitches.”

The Royals’ rotation has been one of the best in baseball thus far, but it’s been surprising that Wacha has been the weakest link with a 5.50 ERA in seven starts. Wacha’s two quality starts this year both came against the White Sox, against whom he’s allowed two runs in 13 innings. In his other five starts, he has a 7.66 ERA.

Up until Saturday, though, he had largely given the Royals innings no matter the result and helped the bullpen. Not so on Saturday, with Wacha retiring just 11 of the 21 batters he faced and needing 77 pitches to get 11 outs.

The Royals were waiting to see how Saturday played out to determine Sunday’s starter, and they’ll turn to lefty Daniel Lynch IV, who has made six starts in Triple-A Omaha this year, because of Saturday’s workload on the bullpen.

“Putting too much pressure on those guys in the ‘pen to cover my stuff out there,” Wacha said. “It’s not a good feeling, for sure. … I’m positive things will turn around. Just continue to work to get back to where I need to be.”

The Royals’ bullpen couldn’t keep up with Texas’ offense; Colin Selby allowed three runs (two earned) in the seventh, and Matt Sauer allowed five runs in the ninth.

“[Sauer has] good stuff,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “We just have to figure out, whether it’s locations or usages or deception, something to help him get a little more swing and miss.”