James McArthur

McArthur entered a tie game to begin the bottom of the ninth and gave up a single and a game-winning double with two outs. It would have been a scoreless inning in most ballparks, but not in Houston with its Crawford Boxes. McArthur figures to be the favorite for saves in Kansas City for however long Lucas Erceg is out.

This was an absolutely horrible play for the Royals, since after the ball bounced away from Erceg, his late throw to first base resulted in a collision at first and an apparent wrist or arm injury for Vinnie Pasquantino. Plus, the Royals didn't get any outs in a tie game in the eighth, when they almost surely would have gotten one if Erceg hadn't touched the ball at all. At least Erceg's injury didn't look overly seriously. James McArthur will likely be the favorite for saves if Erceg misses any time.

McArthur did deserve to lose the closer's gig to Lucas Erceg, but he's been stellar since that happened, pitching 9 2/3 scoreless innings with a 13/1 K/BB in 9 2/3 innings over his last nine appearances. It's lowered his ERA from 5.32 to 4.36.

A double play and a strikeout bailed him out of the inning. Still, it's telling that McArthur was used in the sixth tonight. Lucas Erceg is clearly the favorite for saves in the Kansas City pen right now, so McArthur isn't worth rostering in mixed leagues.