Kansas City has been involved in three dugout-clearing incidents already this year, and while hot-tempered pitcher Yordano Ventura might be responsible for exacerbating tensions on the field, the Royals point to a different flashpoint for the bad blood: their own bruises. The Royals have been hit by far more pitches than any other AL Central team; in fact, two members of Kansas City's lineup had been plunked, entering Friday, as many times as any other team in the division.
"It's definitely going too far, I think, with all the hitting and stuff like that," said Lorenzo Cain, who has been hit four times this season, already equaling his total for the 2014 season. "I guess we are hunted."
"I feel like we've worn a lot of pitches this year. I'm not saying that's not part of the game, but when you take as many in the ribs or in the leg as we have, it raises eyebrows," pitcher Danny Duffy told Fox Sports. "I feel like there's a little bit more of a target on our back."
AL Central trends
Batters HBPHBP allowed
Royals 17White Sox 6
White Sox 5Twins 6
Twins 4Royals 5
Tigers 1Indians 4
Indians 1Tigers 3
AL HBP Leaders
Mike Moustakas, KC5
Alex Gordon, KC5
Rougned Odor, Tex5
Lorenzo Cain, KC4
