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Kansas City Royals: What we learned after Mike Matheny beat his old team

By Leigh Oleszczak

DETROIT, MI - JULY 30: Manager Mike Matheny #22 of the Kansas City Royals returns to the dugout after making a pitcher change against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 30, 2020, in Detroit, Michigan. The Royals defeated the Tigers 5-3. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JULY 30: Manager Mike Matheny #22 of the Kansas City Royals returns to the dugout after making a pitcher change against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 30, 2020, in Detroit, Michigan. The Royals defeated the Tigers 5-3. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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The Kansas City Royals evened their series against the St. Louis Cardinals, who used to be managed by Mike Matheny.

Before Mike Matheny was the manager of the Kansas City Royals, he spent seven seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and managed them in the 2013 World Series. After he was let over halfway through the 2018 season, he spent 2019 with the Royals organization before getting hired as their manager this offseason.

Even though the Cardinals are the better team between the two, Matheny and the Royals had the last laugh on Tuesday evening, winning it 5-4 and doing so behind a dominant effort from the bullpen.

The bullpen was asked to go over six innings and put up a scoreless effort.

Matt Harvey made his second start for the Royals and, well – He wasn’t very good. Harvey went just 2.2 innings, giving up four runs on five hits, walking two batters while striking out two. His ERA is now over 11 and it’s doubtful that Harvey is going to remain in the rotation when Jakob Junis is able to return.

The bullpen was phenomenal on Tuesday, pitching 6.1 scoreless innings in relief. Jake Newberry, Jesse Hahn, Ian Kennedy, Josh Staumont, Scott Barlow, and Trevor Rosenthal all pitched in this one and went at least one inning (Newberry pitched 1.1 innings). Matheny getting a win against his old team was cool to see, but Rosenthal also got to close things out and stick it to his old team a bit.

Ryan O’Hearn and Ryan McBroom led the way offensively, both plating two RBI a piece. McBroom is now hitting .288 and looking every bit that “secret weapon” that was speculated prior to the season.

Adalberto Mondesi hasn’t been doing his part with the bat, but his glove has been solid. He’s had a few big defensive plays as of late that haven’t shielded him from criticism, but have bailed him out at times.

The Royals and Cardinals will play one more game in St. Louis and it’ll decide who wins the series.

Winning this game wasn’t easy, but the bullpen held on and we’re starting to see something special forming with Staumont, Barlow, and Rosenthal. Yes, Rosenthal is likely going to be traded, but it has been fun to see glimpses of that 2014 and 2015 bullpen during this shortened season.

With this game in the books, the Kansas City Royals are halfway through their 2020 campaign and who would have thought we’d have made it this far in the season? It didn’t feel like the league would be able to go on past the first week, but now half of the season has taken place.

Thirty games down, 30 games to go!

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