Triston McKenzie’s worst start of the season came against an opponent he had dominated up to this point, as the Kansas City Royals battered the 24-year-old right-hander for nine hits and seven earned runs to take Game 1 of their doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians.
McKenzie has been sensational on the mound in August and September after returning from a stint in Triple-A Columbus, but his command was not what it needed to be Monday against the Royals. That much was clear in the first inning, when Whit Merrifield singled on a four-seam fastball and Salvador Perez singled off a slider to put runners on first and second with no outs.