September 24, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, United States; Kansas City Royals outfielder Dairon Blanco (44) was arrested for attempting to steal during the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Caught on the base, he walked back to the dugout. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Two anemic offenses will try to find some life when the Kansas City Royals visit the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.
The Royals (83-74) won the series opener 1-0 on Tuesday night, scoring an unearned run in the 10th inning to snap a seven-game losing streak. This round ended 27 scoreless innings.
Kansas City wasn't done with its offensive struggles, however. The Royals allowed eight hits but went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Kansas City has scored five points in its last six games and is competing for an American League wild-card spot.
The Royals are tied with the Tigers (83-74) and two games ahead of the Minnesota Twins (81-76) for the final two spots in the AL playoffs. Detroit and Kansas City are four games behind the Baltimore Orioles (87-70) for a wild-card spot.
Washington (69-88) was eliminated for the second straight game and has scored 14 points in its past eight games.
Kansas City right-hander Michael Lorenzen (7-6, 3.43 ERA) is expected to return from the injured list and start Wednesday. Lorenzen, who strained his left hamstring on Aug. 27, has been outstanding since being acquired from the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline, going 2-0 in five starts since then. The ERA was 1.85.
His longest rehab start was 3 1/3 innings, so he'll likely be on a pitching restriction.
“No excuses, just do the best you can,” Lorenzen said. “I'll let (manager Matt Quatraro) decide how long he keeps me out there. Obviously, I'm going to try to do the best I can and give him as much playing time as I can.”
Lorenzen is 1-2 with a 5.35 ERA in 15 career games (four starts) against Washington.
He will be opposed by Washington rookie DJ Herz (4-8, 4.30 ERA). The southpaw will face the Royals for the first time in his career.
After winning back-to-back starts, Hurts was eliminated early by the New York Mets in his latest start on September 18, allowing seven runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings. 9 retired.
“When he's behind, he takes guys away. When he's ahead, he can't take guys away,” Nationals head coach Dave Martinez said. “It felt like everything was speeding up on him. I saw he was a little frustrated, so we took him out.”
The Royals won the first game of the series on Tuesday when automatic runner Kyle Isbell scored on a throwing error by shortstop Naseem Nunez in the 10th inning.
“We knew it was probably going to be a game like this that would get us back on track,” said Cole Ragans, who pitched six scoreless, five-hit innings as the first of five Kansas City pitchers.
The Nationals were shut out for the 17th time this season.
“It all comes down to one game. And execution, not being able to hit the ball,” Martinez said. “That's been a common theme over the past few weeks.”
Quatraro said Tuesday that the Royals will lose right-hander Hunter Harvey (back) for the remainder of the year. The reliever was drafted in a trade with the Nationals in July.
Washington recalled outfielder Stone Garrett from Triple-A Rochester and placed infielder Andres Chaparro on the paternity test list.
–Scene-level media