NewsTejeda aims to remain on a tear
Kansas City (63-90) vs. Minnesota (79-73), 7:10 p.m. CT
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
09/25/09 12:02 AM ET
KANSAS CITY -- Who has the third-best ERA among Major League pitchers (20-inning minimum) during September?Two American League Cy Young Award candidates -- the Royals' Zack Greinke and the Mariners' Felix Hernandez -- are first and second with ERAs of 0.35 and 0.58. And third is Greinke's teammate, Robinson Tejeda, at 0.81. In fact, Tejeda ranks No. 1 with the lowest opponents batting average, .117.
Pretty impressive stuff for a guy who spent most of the season in the Royals' bullpen. But since making a start in place of injured Gil Meche on Sept. 4, Tejeda has made four starts with a 3-0 record. While giving up just two runs in 22 1/3 innings, he's registered 24 strikeouts.
Friday's series-opening start against the Twins could be another building block for Tejeda as he positions himself for a shot at the 2010 rotation. Meche, Brian Bannister and Kyle Davies are presumed finished for the season with shoulder problems, and who knows how things will line up behind Greinke next spring.
"For me to think about that right now is to think too far in advance," Tejeda said. "I'm just thinking about right now and the game I've got tomorrow and what I've got to do to win the game.
"I don't think if they're thinking about that or making a decision on that or not. I'm staying away from that right now. I just want to finish as strong as I can."
So manager Trey Hillman was asked if it seemed likely that Tejeda would be in the rotation hunt next spring at Surprise, Ariz.
"Yeah, it certainly does as long as he can maintain his health and continue to throw strikes," Hillman said. "There's no way he wouldn't be in a strong consideration if those things stay stable."
It was against the Twins on Aug. 13 at Minnesota that the hard-throwing Tejeda was unceremoniously yanked by Hillman after making six pitches -- all called balls. Not being able to hit the strike zone has always been a crack in Tejeda's armor, but after that, his season took a dramatic turn for the better -- a 0.60 ERA in four relief outings plus the four starts with 35 strikeouts and 12 walks in 30 innings.
His success, notably as a starter, has been addictive.
"It's something that I don't want to let go. I just want to keep doing my best the way I've been doing it," he said.
Pitching matchupKC: RHP Robinson Tejeda (4-1, 2.94 ERA)
Tejeda worked six innings on Sunday afternoon, allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts to pick up a victory in Kansas City's 2-1 squeaker over Chicago in the rubber match of a three-game set at U.S. Cellular Field. In four starts since moving from the bullpen -- where he made 29 appearances -- Tejeda has surrendered just two runs in 22 1/3 innings, good for a minuscule 0.81 ERA. Lifetime against the Twins, Tejeda is 1-1 with a 6.30 ERA in seven appearances (one start). MIN: RHP Carl Pavano (12-11, 4.82 ERA)
Pavano went for win No. 5 of the season against Detroit, but ended up not factoring into Minnesota's 6-2 comeback victory Saturday. Pavano did what he's done for the majority of the season: keeping damage to a minimum. The right-hander allowed just two runs, but he gave up 11 Tigers hits in seven innings. He was able to make big pitches when he needed them, including an inning-ending double play in the fifth with the bases loaded. Pavano is 2-3 with a 6.75 ERA this season against the Royals, but won his last outing against Kansas City on Aug. 23. Crown points
The Royals' 2009 Minor League Players and Pitchers of the Year will have a busy Friday. They will visit children at the Ronald McDonald House of Kansas City and Children's Mercy Hospital. Then comes a tour of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Before Friday night's game against the Twins, the players will have an autograph and question-and-answer session from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. CT near Gate A in the Outfield Experience. They will be recognized in a ceremony before the game. ... Friday night is the final night for the Royals Coat Drive. New or gently-used clean garments can be dropped off from 5-7:30 p.m. CT at the Outfield Experience or outside Gate B of Kauffman Stadium. The coats will be distributed to needy Kansas City area folks by the Johnson County Christmas Bureau. ... It's the last Fireworks Friday of the season. ... The first 20,000 fans at Saturday night's game against the Twins will receive a George Brett Hall of Fame figurine as the last of a four-piece set given away this season. ... Seven-year-old Regan Getman of Independence, Mo., was in the Buck O'Neil Seat on Thursday night. Born with a transposition of the great artery, she had surgery at Children's Mercy Hospital. Now a first-grader, she participates in dance and Girl Scouts. She represented the American Heart Association as a survivor of heart disease. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• FSKC-HD On radio
• KCSP 610 Up next
• Saturday: Royals (Lenny DiNardo, 0-1, 8.22) vs. Twins (Scott Baker, 13-9, 4.43), 6:10 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Royals (Zack Greinke, 15-8, 2.08) vs. Twins (Francisco Liriano, 5-12, 5.75), 1:10 p.m. CT
• Monday: Royals (Luke Hochevar, 7-11, 5.98) at Yankees (TBD), 6:05 p.m. CT
Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
