Rotation still a work in progress for Royals

KANSAS CITY -- Royals manager Mike Matheny is looking for potential starters, whether in a stretched-out role or as openers.

Matheny¡¯s quest continues after disappointing outings from right-hander Glenn Sparkman and Jorge López on Tuesday in a 15-6 exhibition loss to the Astros at Kauffman Stadium.

Sparkman and L¨®pez were both starters last season, but they were converted to bullpen roles in Spring Training. Yet as the Royals¡¯ rotation -- missing Brad Keller and Jakob Junis -- keeps getting thinner, Sparkman and L¨®pez may be called upon to log starts early this season.

Neither launched themselves into first conversations about the rotation on Tuesday. Sparkman went 1 2/3 innings and struggled with command. He walked three and gave up two hits and three runs (two earned).

L¨®pez replaced Sparkman with the bases loaded and two outs in the second inning. L¨®pez promptly hit the next two batters he faced, forcing in two runs. He also walked a hitter in the third.

¡°One of those days for both of them,¡± Matheny said. ¡°It was a step back after so many positives this camp. For L¨®pez, he hit a couple of guys, but we put him in a bad spot. He started making some good pitches after that.¡±

Matheny was not particularly pleased with his entire staff Tuesday. The Royals walked seven and hit three batters.

¡°We learned that if you throw 50 percent strikes on the first ball,¡± Matheny said, ¡°you¡¯re constantly flipping the count against you. And you throw 200-plus pitches. It doesn¡¯t look good. That¡¯s what we learned. You walk seven guys and hit three guys, that¡¯s not how you want to look.

¡°Bad counts put Houston on the aggressive all day. We have to fix that.¡±

The highlight offensively for the Royals was super-utility man and switch-hitter Erick Mejia, a non-roster invitee who continued his strong bid to make the 30-man roster.

Mejia has impressed Matheny all camp, and he did so again Tuesday, smacking a two-run single.

Bobby Witt Jr., the Royals¡¯ No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline, had two more hits, including an RBI double, and a stellar defensive play in the eighth, closing up a sizzling Kansas City portion of Summer Camp.

Up next
Right-hander Jesse Hahn will get the start for the Royals in their final exhibition game at St. Louis on Wednesday at 3:05 p.m. CT, live on MLB.TV. Hahn, who missed all of 2018 because of arm issues, appeared in six games for Kansas City last September and had a 13.50 ERA. In five Spring Training games, Hahn had a 12.60 ERA. With Keller and Junis unavailable for the rotation when the regular season starts, Hahn -- who is out of options -- may be a candidate to fill in.