Royals Vs. Brewers Game 3 Lineups: Getz Back At Second Over Betancourt

The lineups have been released for Thursday night's season finale between the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers. Chris Getz gets is back at second base after Yuniesky Betancourt started game two of the three game series. Outside of that change, the Royals lineup remains the same.

Luke Hochever gets the start on the mound. He has struggled so far this season going 3-7 with an ERA of 6.57.

Here are the complete lineups for the Royals and the Brewers:

Milwaukee Brewers

LF Norichika Aoki
RF Nyjer Morgan
DH Ryan Braun
3B Aramis Ramirez
1B Cory Hart
C George Kottaras
2B Rickie Weeks
CF Carlos Gomez
SS Edwin Maysonet

SP Luke Hochever

Kansas City Royals

LF Gordon
2B Chris Getz
DH Billy Butler
1B Eric Hosmer
RF Jeff Francoeur
3B Mike Moustakas
SS Alcides Escobar
CF Jarrod Dyson
C Humberto Quintero

SP Shaum Marcum

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Royals Vs. Brewers: Game 3 Preview, TV Info And More

After a walk-off win in extra innings on Wednesday night, the Kansas City Royals are a game away from sweeping the Brewers, but they'll need Luke Hochevar to find his rhythm. Hochevar hasn't won a game in his last five starts, but has improved some in recent outings, according to his manager (quote courtesy of MLB.com)

"We constantly think about Luke Hochevar and what we need to do to get him to be consistently successful," Yost said. "We think that we need to get him to focus more on his core pitches. If he can do that, we think that's going to be the difference in him getting over the hump."

Date / Time: Thursday, June 14, 7:10 p.m. CT

Location: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

TV: Fox Sports KC

Radio: KCSP 610 AM

Probable Starters: Shaun Marcum (5-3) vs. Luke Hochevar (3-7)

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Brewers Vs. Royals Recap: Down To Their Last Out, KC Ties It In 9th; Wins It In 11th

The Kansas City Royals took the second game of their interleague series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night in dramatic fashion, winning 4-1 in 11 innings at Kauffman Stadium. It looked like the Royals might jump on Randy Wolf early, but the Brewers starter escaped the first inning allowing just one run. Alex Gordon led off the game with a double to left and came around to score on a groundout by Billy Butler.

Jonathan Sanchez had a solid outing for the Royals, scattering seven hits over five innings to hold the Brewers to just one run. But Milwaukee strung together four of those seven hits in the top of the third to tie it up. After Sanchez struck out Ryan Braun, it appeared he might dodge the bullet but Aramis Ramirez, of all people, reached base with a two-out infield single that plated Edwin Maysonet.

After three scoreless innings, the Brewers would finally break the 1-1 tie against Kelvin Herrera. This time, Braun delivered in the clutch -- singling up the middle to bring Maysonet home yet again. The Brew Crew then added what looked like some insurance in the top of ninth. Norichika Aoki led off with a double against Jose Mijares. Carlos Gomez tried to sacrifice Aoki over to third and a throwing error by catcher Brayan Pena opened up the 3-1 lead.

Down to their final out, the Royals would finally put together some offense after the seven-inning drought. After John Axford issued walks to Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar came through with a huge two-out triple to tie it all up at 3-3.

The Royals would not waste the ninth-inning comeback, pushing across the winning run via a walk-off walk in the bottom of the 11th. Kameron Loe came on in relief of Manny Parra and immediately surrendered a lead-off single to Billy Butler. After an Eric Hosmer walk, Jeff Francoeur loaded them up with a single to left that could not score the slow-footed Butler. But with three ducks on the pond, Mike Moustakas took a 3-1 pitch for ball four that brought home Butler for the series-clinching win.

The Royals will try to sweep the series in Game 3 on Thursday. Luke Hochevar will take the ball for Ned Yost while Shawn Marcum will be on the mound for Milwaukee.

Read more about the Royals at Royals Review. Head over to Brew Crew Ball for more on the Brewers. Baseball Nation is your source for news around Major League Baseball.

Kansas City Royals Vs. Milwaukee Brewers: Wednesday Night Lineups

Ned Yost's Kansas City Royals look for their second straight win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night, as interleague play continues. On Tuesday, the Royals were able to defeat the Brewers, despite the fact that former KC ace Zack Greinke started on the hill for Milwaukee.

On Wednesday, KC's bats will face off against lefty Randy Wolf -- quite the 180° from Greinke.

Both Yost and Ron Roneicke, who were both named to their respective league's All-Star coaching staffs on Wednesday, have announced starting lineups for Wednesday night's game, and they are as follows:

Milwaukee Brewers

RF Norichika Aoki
CF Carlos Gomez
LF Ryan Braun
DH Aramis Ramirez
1B Corey Hart
2B Rickie Weeks
3B Cody Ransom
C George Kottaras
SS Edwin Maysonet

SP Randy Wolf

Kansas City Royals

LF Alex Gordon
2B Yuniesky Betancourt
DH Billy Butler
1B Eric Hosmer
RF Jeff Francoeur
3B Mike Moustakas
SS Alcides Escobar
CF Jarrod Dyson
C Humberto Quintero

SP Jonathan Sanchez

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Royals Vs. Brewers: Game 2 Preview, TV Info And More

Struggling pitcher Jonathan Sanchez will return to the Kansas City rotation on Wednesday and get the start against Milwaukee. Sanchez was activated from the disabled list, and pushes Wednesday's originally scheduled starter, Luke Hochevar, to Thursday.

Wednesday night will be Sanchez's first start for the club since May 7. Two days later he was place on the DL with tendonitis in his biceps. Even before the injury, 2012 has been rough for Sanchez: In six starts, he has a 1-2 record with a 6.75 ERA, walked 22 batters and struck out just 18.

Date / Time: Wednesday, June 13, 7:10 p.m. CT

Location: Kaufman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

TV: Fox Sports KC

Radio: KCSP 610

Probable Starters: Randy Wolf (2-5) vs. Jonathan Sanchez (1-2)

Read more about the Royals at Royals Review. Head over to Brew Crew Ball for more on the Brewers. Baseball Nation is your source for news around Major League Baseball.

Royals Vs. Brewers: Late Billy Butler Hit Gives KC 2-1 Win

Billy Butler hit a one-out RBI-single in the bottom of the eighth and the Royals held on for a 2-1 on Tuesday night in Kansas City.

Royals pitcher Luis Mendoza took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but allowed an infield single and walk to lead off the inning and was pulled. The Brewers would score the tying run later in the inning.

Alex Gordon went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored, while Butler and Jeff Francoer each went 2-for-4. The Brewers were led by Rickie Weeks, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Former Royals pitcher Zack Greinke allowed six hits over seven innings for Milwaukee. Jonathan Broxton gave up two hits in the ninth, but held on for the save. The win ended a four-game losing streak for the Royals.

Kansas City Royals Trade Rumors: Jeff Francoeur On His Way Out?

The Kansas City Royals aren't necessarily in a rush to trade right fielder Jeff Francoeur, but with the emergence of minor league standout Will Myers has suddenly Francouer expendable.

Myers 22 home runs and 58 RBI between Double-A and Triple-A and is just another outstanding young prospect the Royals have under their wing.

CBSSports baseball insider had this on the idea of trading Francoeur:

Royals people have said they will be patient with Myers, so there's no rush to trade Francoeur, who's hitting .268 with five homers and 16 RBI. One potential issue/impediment to a trade is Francoeur's limited value. He was a midseason pickup of the Rangers two years ago but was making very little money at the time. Now he's in the first year of a two-year $13.5 million deal.

Read more about the Kansas City Royals at Royals Review. Check out Baseball Nation for additional news and notes around Major League Baseball.

Royals Vs. Brewers: Game 1 Lineups Announced

The lineups for the series opener Tuesday between the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers have been announced. This is Zack Greinke's first return to the Kansas City since leaving the team and the Royals would love to get on the winning track at the expense of an old teammate.

Take a look here at the lineups for both teams:

Kansas City Royals

1. Alex Gordon (L) LF
2. Chris Getz (L) 2B
3. Billy Butler (R) DH
4. Eric Hosmer (L) 1B
5. Jeff Francoeur (R) RF
6. Mike Moustakas (L) 3B
7. Alcides Escobar (R) SS
8. Jarrod Dyson (L) CF
9. Humberto Quintero (R) C

Milwaukee Brewers

1. Corey Hart (R) 1B
2. Norichika Aoki (L) RF
3. Ryan Braun (R) LF
4. Aramis Ramirez (R) 3B
5. Taylor Green (L) DH
6. Rickie Weeks (R) 2B
7. Cody Ransom (R) SS
8. Martin Maldonado (R) C
9. Nyjer Morgan (L) CF

Read more about the Royals at Royals Review. Head over to Brew Crew Ball for more on the Brewers. Baseball Nation is your source for news around Major League Baseball.

Kansas City Royals Continue Maddening Approach To Johnny Giavotella's Development

The Kansas City Royals continue to hold a revolving door of sorts at second base this season, and the latest move announced brings back a familiar face while sending down the man most believe will be the Royals second baseman of the future.

#Royals confirm move: 2B Chris Getz recalled from Class AAA Omaha; 2B Johnny Giavotella optioned to Omaha.

— Bob Dutton (@Royals_Report) June 12, 2012

The Royals have started four different players at second base this season. Getz has the most starts with 21. Yuniesky Betancourt follows with 14. Giavotella has a grand total of 9 starts for the Royals, while Irving Falu has 5.

It's a bit maddening to follow the Royals closely while wondering why the team continues to give Giavotella nothing more than a slight look at the Major League level. When Falu has over half as many starts as Giavotella and they rank third and fourth on the list, something is definitely wrong with the picture of development at the Major League level.

Whether it's Dayton Moore or Ned Yost making the call, it appears to be the wrong one from the outside. The team is going with a defensive approach in interleague play, and Getz is definitely the better option given that. But this year isn't just about success against the Brewers in one three-game set. Instead it's about figuring out what the team has for the long-term. Giving Giavotella a few innings here and there isn't going to tell them much of anything.

Read more about the Kansas City Royals at Royals Review. Head over to Brew Crew Ball for more on the Milwaukee Brewers. Baseball Nation is your source for news around Major League Baseball.

Zack Greinke: Royals Fans Were Always Really Good To Me

The Milwaukee Brewers visit the Kansas City Royals this week and today is game one of the interleague series between the two Central teams. However, today is definitely most meaningful of the games in the series due to the arrival of longtime Royals starter Zack Greinke for the first time since he was traded to the Brewers.

"I don't think I've been back since then," Greinke said. "It will be nice to see the city, and the fans were always really good to me. I don't know how they'll be when I go back, but while I was there, they were great to me. I could never say anything bad about them -- ever."

The Royals drafted Greinke in the first round of the 2002 MLB Draft and he pitched seven seasons in Kansas City before being traded for four prospects including Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar. He went 60-67 in his time in KC, including a Cy Young Award win in 2009 when he went 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA.

As for his return, the Brewers ace doesn't believe there will be any ill will or weird feelings on his part.

"I've thought about it," Greinke said. "I don't think it will be much different. The biggest difference will be being in the visitors' dugout, warming up in the visitors' bullpen. I've never thrown in the visitors' bullpen there. That will be strange."

Read more about the Kansas City Royals at Royals Review. Head over to Brew Crew Ball for more on the Milwaukee Brewers. Baseball Nation is your source for news around Major League Baseball.

Royals Vs. Brewers: Game 1 Preview, TV Info And More

Zach Greinke makes his first return to Kansas City when the Royals take on the Milwaukee Brewers.