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KC Royals Fantasy Heroes: Lorenzo Cain Defies Pundits

By John Viril

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The KC Royals slogged their way to a 2-2 tie against the White Sox in Chicago, before umpires suspended the game in the 8th inning due to rain. Lorenzo Cain and Paulo Orlando were the only Kansas City Royals with more than one hit on the day.

The KC Royals and White Sox are scheduled to finish Friday’s suspended game before the beginning of their Saturday game. With rain expected to continue to fall on Saturday, the Royals might not get all four scheduled games in this weekend.

LORENZO CAIN

Lorenzo Cain keeps defying the pundits who expected him to regress in 2015 after his outstanding 2014 season.

Most analysts looked at his .380 BABIP (Batting average balls in play) from 2014, and said that it was unsustainable. Well, Cain has a .420 BABIP through his first 16 games of 2015.

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Though the speedy Lorenzo Cain does have a high career BABIP of .348, I do agree he will not keep up his torrid pace.

But, other metrics have improved this season that might indicate improved skills at the plate. Lorenzo Cain’s walk rate has jumped from 4.8% last season to 8.6% this season. Meanwhile, his strikeout rate has dropped from 21.5% in 2014, to 11.4% in 2015.

While neither of these rates can be said to have “stabilized” since Lorenzo Cain only has 70 plate appearances this season, the change bears watching.

Combined with Lorenzo Cain’s improved isolated power of .203 (batting average minus slugging percentage),  he is rapidly becoming a viable fantasy starter for something other than steals.

Lorenzo Cain is red hot. If you have him on your roster, or he is still available in your league, he merits a spot in your lineup.

AT THE PLATE

Through eight innings on Friday, the Kansas City Royals stroked 8 hits, drew 1 walk, and scored 2 runs.

Salvador Perez made a damaging base-running mistake in the 4th inning after following Alex Gordon‘s walk with a single. As Gordon raced to 3rd base, Perez attempted to take second and ended up an easy out when the cutoff man threw to second rather than third.

Instead of first and third with no outs, the KC Royals were left with Alex Gordon at third with one out. Though Paulo Orlando drove in Gordon with a single, Perez’s blunder could have cost KC a big inning.

Paulo Orlando went 3 for 3 with 2 singles, 1 double, 1 run scored, and 1 RBI (4). Amazingly, none of his hits went for a triple.

The only other Royal to get more than one hit was Lorenzo Cain, who finished the day 2 for 3 with 2 singles.

ON THE MOUND

Danny Duffy pitched a rather short, but effective outing. Duffy lasted 5.1 innings, allowing 6 hits, 1 walk, 1 unearned run, 0 earned runs, with 3 strikeout.

Duffy left the game in the 6th inning, with the KC Royals leading 2-1. He got a no-decision.

Jason Frasor entered in the 6th inning and gave up a sacrifice fly that tied the game at 2-2. He did not record an out.

Chris Young took over from Frasor in the 6th. He pitched 1.2 innings, allowing 0 hits, 1 walk, and 0 runs with 3 strikeouts.

Umpires suspended the game after eight innings due to rain.

UP NEXT

The Kansas City Royals and White Sox will finish the suspended game two of the series before Saturday’s scheduled game three. Edinson Volquez (2-1, 1.99 ERA) will start for the KC Royals, with John Danks (0-2, 6.06 ERA) taking the mound for the White Sox. Game time is April 25, 1:10 PM CST at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.

Next: The Next Phase Of Winning For KC Royals

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