The Kansas City Royals’ Whit Merrifield, and his ability to handle the pressure of a long hitting streak, has impressed his manager, Ned Yost. His approach has been so inspiring that Yost says he is changing the way he approaches some of baseball’s traditions.
“I really admire the way he is able to embrace this,” Yost said prior to Thursday’s game. “I really admire the way he was able to embrace the end of last year when he was trying to lead baseball in hits and stolen bases.
“It’s so foreign to me, because I’ve always been like: ‘We don’t talk about that.’ If Whit were a pitcher and he had a no-hitter at the end of the eighth inning, he would run into the dugout: ‘Hey guys, I’ve got a no-hitter. C’mon, let’s go. I need three more outs.’”
Merrifield’s Royals-record 31-game hit streak ended in a defeat to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, but his chance to start anew will come Friday in the opener of a three-game series at home against the Cleveland Indians.
“I admire the fact that he’s able to look it square in the eye and not blink,” Yost said. “I’m really impressed. He’s really changed my thinking on it. If a person wants to embrace it, let’s all embrace it.”
Merrifield had his chances Thursday but came up empty, going 0-for-6 in a 10-inning defeat to the Mariners. He led off the game with a fly out to right, and he ended the game with a fly out to center. But he was more interested in talking about how nothing seems to be going the Royals’ way during a 10-game losing streak.
“Other teams just can’t seem to do any wrong right now,” Merrifield said. “It’s wild. … It’s crazy to see what’s happening.”
The Royals will try to reverse fortune once again. Right-hander Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 7.71 ERA) will take the mound for Cleveland, which comes into the game with an 8-4 record and in first place in the American League Central.
Carrasco is 11-6 lifetime against the Royals with a 3.48 ERA in 24 appearances (19 starts). The win total matches his most against a single team.
The Indians have allowed only 35 runs in 12 games, tied for the second fewest in baseball.
A stingy Indians staff will pit the focus squarely on Royals starter Brad Keller to keep Friday’s game close. Keller (1-1, 2.84) has fared well with a quality start in each of his first three outings, even though he only has an Opening Day victory over the Chicago White Sox to show for it.
In his rookie season a year ago, Keller gave the Indians fits, posting a 1.65 ERA over four appearances (two starts) and 16 1/3 innings.
The Royals’ biggest problem continues to be the bullpen. Through 12 games, the Royals have been outscored 46-24 over the final four innings.
“We’re going to have to find ways to continue to battle our way through it,” Yost said. “(We’ve) just gotta keep battling our way through it. I thought we had it today.”
Merrifield was philosophical about the ending of his hitting streak.
“Baseball is hard,” he said. “If it’s going to end, that’s how you want it to end, feeling like you made some good swings and it just didn’t happen. You didn’t get screwed by a call or you get walked a lot. I was content with where I was and felt good about my day.”