In the microcosm of one game, Rich Hill’s Kansas City Royals debut likely won’t matter much in the long run. Through no real fault of his own, the Royals dropped Tuesday’s contest, undone by a litany of defensive miscues, bad luck, and more misfortune against a strong Chicago Cubs squad.
But how will fans remember Hill’s role in that loss? In retrospect, none of the blame should fall on the 45-year-old lefty, who allowed just one earned run over five innings. It wasn’t a career-defining start—but it exceeded expectations all the same.
But the next man up conversation never stops in MLB.