Kansas City, MO. (AP) – It has been four long years since the Kansas City Royals opened a season at home.

They’ll certainly enjoy this one.

The American League champions will celebrate last season’s dramatic run to Game 7 of the World Series on Monday before facing the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. It is the first game in a 162-game odyssey that they hope will deliver them right back to the playoffs.

Kansas City snapped a 29-year postseason drought in a big way. After squeaking into the wild-card game, the Royals knocked out Oakland with an epic extra-inning comeback. Then, they swept all the way to the final game of the Fall Classic, where they were finally stopped by Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants.

”I just expect for us to go out and compete,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. ”I think we’re a much more experienced team. It’s a very confident team. These guys know that they can produce under the most intense situations, under the brightest spotlights, and that’s what playoff and World Series experience does for you. I’m excited to get started.”

So are the White Sox, who spent the offseason retooling just about everything in the hopes of catapulting from a fourth-place finish in the AL Central.

They signed right-hander Jeff Samardzija to boost their rotation and left-hander Zach Duke to help out in the ‘pen. They inked first baseman Adam LaRoche to provide some power, Melky Cabrera to solidify the outfield and right-hander David Robertson to close games.

Among many other moves that make the White Sox look nothing like they did six months ago.

”Everyone is settling in guys are getting used to each other on and off the field and I think we’re jelling together as a team,” said center fielder Adam Eaton, one of the notable holdovers. ”Hopefully that translates to wins in April.”

The Royals will send 23-year-old Yordano Ventura to the mound on opening day, and the touted flamethrower is sure to get quite the reception from a sellout crowd.

Sure, fans will remember his masterful performance in Game 6 of the World Series, when he shut down the Giants and kept Kansas City’s postseason hopes alive. But they are also sure to thank him for the long-term deal he signed Saturday, a $23 million, five-year pact that includes two option years and could keep Ventura pitching for the Royals for quite a while.

”For me he’s a complete package, a guy that I think is going to be very, very successful in major league baseball,” Yost said. ”There’s no telling what he’s going to be able to achieve.”

Samardzija will get the opening day nod for the White Sox, in part because ace left-hander Chris Sale is recovering from a fractured bone in his right foot. Samardzija started on opening day for the Cubs the past two seasons, holding Pittsburgh without a run each time.

The Royals will try to change his fortunes with a slightly different lineup than they trotted out a year ago. Designated hitter Billy Butler is gone, replaced by Kendrys Morales. Alex Rios is not in right field, signed to replace Nori Aoki and provided some pop.

Otherwise, the rest of the Royals return largely intact. That means a bunch of guys who put together a dream season a year ago will get to celebrate it in front of their home fans.

Right before they start trying to prove it wasn’t a fluke.

”We’re a real close team. Our team chemistry is off the charts,” Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said, ”and over the course of a year, 162 games, you really do need that. It’s a group of guys that are used to playing with each other. We feel like that’s an advantage and I think we can use that to help us throughout the season.”

— Associated Press —

HOUSTON (AP) — Kansas City’s Jason Vargas and Houston’s Collin McHugh both ended the spring with solid starts as the Royals beat the Astros 3-1 in the exhibition finale for both teams on Saturday.

Vargas didn’t allow a hit and struck out three in four innings in his best outing of the spring.

“He really did a nice job of commanding his pitches,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “His changeup was really, really good.”

It was a bounce-back performance from his last start when he yielded seven hits and five runs with four home runs in five innings. Vargas was good for the Royals last season, posting a career-best 3.71 ERA.

Vargas was happy to end the spring on a high note.

“It went well,” he said. “I got away with a few things, but anytime you can keep them off base it’s good. It’s always good for a positive mindset going into the season.”

McHugh allowed one hit and struck out three in four scoreless innings. He’s is coming off a solid season in which he went 11-9 and had a career-low 2.73 ERA.

“They had a pretty good mix of righties and lefties so I was able to throw all my pitches to both sides of the plate and work on some stuff,” McHugh said.

McHugh has worked this spring on developing his changeup and is happy with the results.

“It’s coming along,” he said. “I threw probably seven or eight of them, some good ones, some bad ones, but I think for the most part I’m getting a better feel for it.”

Christian Colon, the fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft who played 21 games for Kansas City as a rookie last season, tripled to start the eighth inning and scored on a single by Gabriel Noriega that made it 2-1. The Royals tacked on another run in that inning on an error.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Houston pitchers Brad Peacock, Josh Fields and Brett Oberholtzer will all start the season on the disabled list, but are making progress in their recoveries.

Peacock, who had hip surgery this offseason, will throw in a simulated game early next week in Florida before joining one of Houston’s affiliates for a start. Fields, who has a groin injury, will also throw in Florida before heading out on a rehabilitation assignment.

Oberholtzer is getting better, but still can’t throw because of a blister on his left index finger and is listed as day to day.

PRAISE FOR CORREA

Carlos Correa was reassigned to minor league camp last week, but the Astros still brought the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft to Houston for this weekend’s exhibition games. The 20-year-old shortstop rated as Houston’s top prospect will start the season at Double-A Corpus Christi. Though he isn’t quite ready for the majors, manager A.J. Hinch was impressed with his work with the big league club this spring.

“He had a great spring both in what he did on the field and how he interacted with the older players,” Hinch said. “He can’t go anywhere without being known and without the bull’s-eye on his chest as the No. 1 pick overall and a top prospect in the game. But he doesn’t let that deter him from his preparation and how he goes about his business. He’s a mature kid that has a ton of talent and a bright future ahead.”

UP NEXT

Royals: Work out Sunday in Kansas City before opening the season at home against the White Sox on Monday. Yordano Ventura, who signed a five-year, $23 million contract on Saturday, will oppose Jeff Samardzija in the opener.

Astros: Off on Sunday before hosting the Indians on Monday. Left-hander Dallas Keuchel will get his first career opening day start against 2014 AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber.

— Associated Press —

HOUSTON (AP) — Eric Hosmer and Brett Eibner hit homers on back-to-back pitches in the eighth inning to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 11-1 on Friday night.

The Royals were up by two before Hosmer’s fourth home run of the spring landed in the Crawford Boxes in left field to make it 4-0. Eibner, a pinch hitter, sent the next pitch from Pat Neshek onto the concourse in left-center for his sixth homer this spring.

Neshek, signed in the offseason to beef up Houston’s bullpen, had allowed just one run and four hits in his previous seven outings this spring. This time, he gave up three runs and three hits with a walk in one inning.

Evan Gattis, acquired in a trade with the Braves this offseason, upped his spring average to .417 with his second home run, a solo shot for Houston in the ninth inning.

Mike Moustakas had three hits, including an RBI double in Kansas City’s six-run ninth.

“I think the one thing offensively that stands out is Moose’s game,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He took an opportunity to lead off an inning with a bunt base hit and then had a double down the left-field line. Three base hits all the opposite way — pretty impressive.”

Lorenzo Cain continued his strong spring for the Royals with three hits and two RBIs to leave his average at .377 with one exhibition game remaining.

Chris Young, Jason Frasor and Kelvin Herrera each threw a scoreless inning for the Royals after starter Edinson Volquez left after four innings.

Houston manager A.J. Hinch wasn’t happy with his team’s performance, but looked at the bright side of it.

“We botched a few plays,” he said. “I guess we can attribute that to an ugly spring training game. You have to remember that this is still spring training, so we can flush it down the toilet.”

BLING BLING

The Royals will receive their American League championship rings Monday on opening day in Kansas City after reaching the World Series in their first trip to the postseason since 1985. The on-field ceremony will also include a video of last year’s playoff run before the Royals raise their AL pennant banner.

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER

Friday was the first game on new grass the Astros installed at Minute Maid Park in March. The new grass was bought in Georgia and moved to a farm in Alabama for care in July. The sod was grown to the Astros’ specifications and delivered and installed by the same team that grew and installed the grass used for this year’s Super Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Volquez allowed five hits and struck out seven in four scoreless innings, his best outing of the spring. Volquez, who signed a two-year deal with the Royals in December after pitching for the Pirates in 2014, had allowed two or more runs in four of his five starts.

“He executed all of his pitches,” Yost said. “He was consistently down in the zone all night. I thought he was great.”

Volquez was encouraged by his performance.

“All my pitches were there,” he said. “I’ve been making adjustments from my last starts and it carried over here.”

Astros: Scott Feldman yielded seven hits and two runs with four strikeouts in six innings, his longest outing of the spring. He hadn’t pitched more than 4 1/3 innings in his previous four starts.

“I felt like as the spring wore on, I was getting frustrated because I felt like something was a little out of whack,” Feldman said. “But I’ve been working on it between starts, working those things out with (pitching coach Brent Strom) and just trying to go out there and take it out to the game. (Friday) I felt like I’m right where I need to be and hope I feel like that during the season.”

Feldman will start Houston’s second game against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.

ASTROS MOVES

RHP Jandel Gustave, a Rule 5 draft selection, was returned to the Astros. He was drafted by Boston before being acquired by Kansas City and later claimed off waivers by San Diego. He will report to Double-A Corpus Christi.

UP NEXT

These teams wrap up their exhibition schedules Saturday when Kansas City’s Jason Vargas opposes Houston’s Collin McHugh.

— Associated Press —

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Clayton Kershaw and Yorduna Ventura each had their final outing in preparation for opening day, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals tied 4-4 Wednesday.

Kershaw, the 2014 National League MVP and Cy Young Award winner, threw 45 pitches while facing 11 batters and gave up one hit and an unearned run. He’ll next face the San Diego Padres on April 6.

“I was still a little bit all over the place,” Kershaw said. “I walked two guys in three innings. We don’t want to do that. And then had a couple of hard hit balls right at guys. Definitely, room for improvement, but physically I feel good and ready to go. That’s all you can ask for at this point.”

Kershaw had a 1.61 ERA this spring. He gave up just 15 hits and struck out 22 in 22 1/3 innings this spring.

Brett Eibner homered twice for the Royals, including a two-run shot in the ninth to tie it. Eibner tops the club with five home runs, but will begin the season in the minors.

Ventura, who threw seven no-hit innings against Seattle in his previous start, yielded two runs, one earned, and four hits in four innings.

Darwin Barney doubled and tripled for the Dodgers and scored on A.J. Ellis’ third inning double.

The Dodgers played seven ties, a club spring training record.

STARTING TIME

Dodgers: Kershaw will be making his fourth consecutive opening-day start. “Clayton looked like a guy who was gearing up for opening day,” catcher A.J. Ellis said. “It’s always a challenge with him, pitching when he knows he has an expiration date on his game. There’s really no reward at the end for him as far as wins and losses. You saw last year the way his spring regressed and then how he turned the corner on opening day. It’s something about the adrenaline and the competition rush that takes him to another level. He’s gotten to the point in his career, especially who he is and the stature that he has that spring training is probably not his favorite time of the year.”

Royals: Ventura, who will start the Royals’ opener Monday against the Chicago White Sox, threw 41 strikes in 61 pitches.

GREINKE’S MINOR WORK

RHP Zack Greinke threw 85 pitches and seven innings in a minor league intrasquad game. He allowed two runs, both on homers, and five hits, while striking out nine.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: OF Andre Ethier was struck in the right elbow by White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon Tuesday. X-rays were negative.

Royals: RHP Luke Hochevar, who had reconstructive elbow surgery during last spring, will begin the season on the disabled list. He will likely be ready by early May. He pitched a flawless inning Wednesday.

HIGHLAND PARK DAY

Kershaw and Royals RHP Chris Young, who gave up a home run to minor leaguer Travis Witherspoon in the seventh, are graduates of Dallas Highland Park High.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: A host of relievers will pitch against the Angels Thursday in Anaheim.

Royals: The Royals, who are off Thursday, will start RHP Edinson Volquez Friday against the Astros at Houston.

— Associated Press —

With the addition of 11 national TV appearances to FOX Sports Kansas City’s 150 regional telecasts, an all-time high 161 Kansas City Royals games are scheduled for television in 2015.

FOX Sports announced in March that it will carry 10 games as part of Major League Baseball’s national television package – six on FOX Sports 1 and four on FOX. The FOX Sports 1 slate includes the Royals’ first Saturday game, on April 11, an ALDS rematch with the Angels in Anaheim. FOX Sports 1 also selected the June 18 game vs. Milwaukee, which was previously scheduled for FOX Sports Kansas City. In its place, FOX Sports Kansas City picked up the July 29 game at Cleveland.

ESPN will televise the May 10 game at Detroit as part of its Sunday Night Baseball package.

The complete season schedule with telecasts is attached.  Game times and the television schedule are subject to change.

Last season, 156 Royals games were televised – 148 on FSKC, four on FOX Sports 1, three on FOX and one on ESPN. Viewership for Royals telecasts on FOX Sports Kansas City reached an all-time high in 2014, according to Nielsen Media Research.

— Royals Media Relations —

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Mike Moustakas hit a grand slam in a seven-run first inning as the Kansas City Royals outslugged the Texas Rangers 11-7 Monday.

Alex Gordon, who also homered, and Eric Hosmer each had three of the Royals’ 15 hits.

Rangers starter Lisalverto Bonilla retired only one of eight batters he faced before being pulled after 37 pitches. He allowed five hits, walked one, hit a batter and balked home a run.

“The inning kind of got away from Bonilla,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “He fell behind and his pitch count got up. It was inconsistency. The home run looked like it might have been middle-middle. It’s not an outing you’d want to see.”

Moustakas hit a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall after Hosmer singled, Alex Rios walked and Salvador Perez was hit by a pitch.

Gordon, who was held out of early games while rehabbing from December right wrist surgery, had only three singles in 24 at-bats, entering the game.

“Obviously, I got a late start,” Gordon said. “The numbers aren’t great, but you turn the page every day and realize this is spring training. I want to go out there and produce and perform and when that’s not happening, you’ve just got to come here the next day and try to figure it out.

“I’m trying to do as much as I can right now with the time I have to get ready for the season,” he added. “The whole point was to make the wrist feel normal again and that’s what it’s feeling like right now. I think our main focus was just to come back healthy.”

Adam Rosales, Leonys Martin, Jake Smolinski and Ryan Rua each hit solo home runs off Royals left-hander Jason Vargas.

Rua extended his hitting streak to 10 games, while Martin went 3 for 3 and has reached base safely in 11 straight games.

“Another outing to get ready for the season,” Vargas said. “Obviously, you don’t want to give up four home runs. It happened.”

TEPESCH OPTIONED

The Rangers optioned RHP Nick Tepesch to Triple-A Round Rock a day after yielding seven runs in 3 2/3 innings to the Dodgers. Tepesch, who made 22 starts last year, had a 10.38 ERA in five outings. RHP Nick Martinez earned the final rotation slot with a 0.84 ERA in 10 2/3 innings.

STARTING TIME

Rangers: RHP Jamey Wright is pitching his way back into bullpen consideration after throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Wright, who failed to retire any of the seven Brewers he faced on March 21, has allowed three hits and no runs over 4 2/3 innings in his past two appearances. “Jamey is a known guy,” Banister said. “He’s probably had more multiple innings in the last few years than quite possibly any other reliever.”

Royals: Vargas, who allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings, has one more exhibition start left, in Houston. Is he ready for the season? “Yeah, I ain’t got no choice, right?” Vargas said. “I don’t think if I wasn’t ready, there would be no excuse. They give you all the time to prepare.”

FREEMAN DEBUTS

Left-hander Sam Freeman, who was acquired in a trade with the Cardinals on Saturday, made his Rangers’ debut, allowing a run and three hits in one inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: SS Elvis Andrus was scratched with lower back stiffness. RHP Tanner Scheppers had a MRI Monday on his bothersome right ankle.

Royals: OF Terrance Gore, who was a pinch runner on the postseason roster, broke his jaw when he was hit by a pitch in a minor league game.

DETWILER WORKS

Left-hander Ross Detwiler, who will be in the Rangers rotation, threw 97 pitches in 6 1/3 innings in a minor league intrasquad game, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and a walk.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Jeremy Guthrie starts Tuesday against the Padres.

Rangers: LHP Derek Holland will face the Cubs at Surprise. In a split squad, Martinez will start against the Diamondbacks in Scottsdale.

— Associated Press —

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Edwin Jackson arrived at the ballpark in time for a solid spring start with the Chicago Cubs.

Jackson allowed one hit in 4 2/3 innings, and the Cubs hit three homers in a 7-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Jackson struck out three and walked one. He was hit hard in his previous outing after he had trouble finding Oakland’s spring ballpark.

Jackson is competing for the last spot in the Cubs’ rotation after going 6-15 with a 6.33 ERA last season.

“It’s not going to be judged off one start,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s something I don’t worry about. Like I’ve been saying from the beginning, just go out and be myself and at the end of the day, whatever is going to happen is going to happen. No need to worry about it, just go out pitch your game and let the pieces fall into place.”

Miguel Montero, Matt Szczur and Junior Lake homered for Chicago, and Tommy La Stella went 3 for 3 and scored a run.

Royals right-hander Edinson Volquez struck out eight in five-plus innings. He was charged with two runs and six hits.

“I think this is the best one of all of whole spring training,” Volquez said.

Montero went deep in the first. Lake connected in the eighth against Wade Davis, who did not surrender a home run in 72 innings last season. Szczur hit his fourth spring homer in Chicago’s four-run ninth off Royals closer Greg Holland.

BRYANT PLAYS LEFT

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, one of the top prospects in the majors, made his second spring training start in left field. The team wants its young players to be able to play more than one position.

“You never know the need will arise,” manager Joe Maddon said. “All of a sudden, you could have a need here, and he hasn’t played there.”

Bryant went 0 for 3 at the plate, striking out twice. His spring batting average dropped to .425.

STARTING TIME

Cubs: Jackson entered with a 7.59 ERA in 10 2/3 spring innings.

“Just a better job of making adjustments,” Jackson said. “Miggy (Montero) did a great job of controlling the game behind the plate, mixing up pitches. We also had some great defensive plays. It was a little bit of everything working in my favor today.”

Royals: Volquez said he is close to being where he wants to be to start the season.

“I don’t want to say 100 percent,” Volquez said. “I’m think I’m probably 90 percent.”

OUT AT HOME

Cubs second baseman Javier Baez threw out Jarrod Dyson and Alex Gordon at the plate in the third inning. Gordon tried to score from first on Kendrys Morales’ double.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: OF Chris Denorfia has not played since March 17 because of a hamstring injury.

Royals: RF Alex Rios returned to the lineup after missing three games with a right thumb issue.

BAD OVERALL DAY

The Royals managed just three hits, and key relievers Davis and Holland allowed a total of five runs and six hits in a combined 1 2/3 innings.

“My fantasy NACAR team did as bad as we did today,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “It was a bad day all the way around. My A driver is Jimmy Johnson, who normally runs good at Martinsville, but he finished 35th today.”

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks starts Monday against the Giants.

Royals: LHP Jason Vargas starts Monday against Texas.

— Associated Press —

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Felix Hernandez pitched two-hit ball for six innings in his longest outing of the spring Thursday as a split squad of Seattle Mariners lost to the Kansas City Royals 3-0.

Hernandez, the ace who led the AL with a 2.14 ERA last season, gave up one run. He struck out four and walked none.

“Changeup was nice, slider was good, fastball was unbelievable,” Hernandez said. “Got a lot of ground balls. It was good.”

Manager Lloyd McClendon thought so, too.

“Very good outing, one that I was anxious to see. It was very important to get him built up, get him up and down five or six times. He got the pitch count up where he needed to be,” McClendon said.

Hernandez retired the side in order in four of his six innings. A leadoff double by Christian Colon followed by a wild pitch and Jarrod Dyson’s sacrifice fly in the third produced the Royals’ run against Hernandez.

Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie shut out the Mariners on two hits for 5 2/3 innings. Closer Greg Holland relived and finished the sixth with a strikeout.

“It was good. Able to throw all my pitches for strikes and felt healthy and strong,” Guthrie said. “Kept it down for the most part.”

Ryan Jackson hit a two-run single with two outs in the eighth off reliever Danny Farquhar, who is in contention for a Seattle bullpen job.

Royals relievers Jason Frasor, Kelvin Herrera and Ryan Madson each pitched a scoreless inning.

Madson hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2011 because of complications from previous injuries.

“We’re really pleased with what he’s done so far. That’s been a really good find for us,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

BULLPEN BATTLE

The competition remains open for what might be six of seven bullpen spots on the Mariners’ opening-day roster, with right-handed closer Fernando Rodney the only sure thing. Two of the spots could be for left-handers with four more for right-handers. Charlie Furbush figures to be one lefty — he threw a scoreless inning Thursday. Veteran Joe Saunders and rookies Tyler Olson and David Rollins are competing to be the second lefty.

Olson continued to make his case Thursday, retiring the only batter he faced. He hasn’t allowed an earned run in eight spring appearances (9 2-/3 innings).

TRANSACTION

RHP Jandel Gustave was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres. Gustave, a former Rule 5 draft pick, was waived by the Royals earlier this week.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Guthrie is already slotted as the fifth starter in the rotation. He’ll get one more spring training outing in Arizona and will throw at some point when the Royals play in Houston before the regular season starts.

“It was his day,” Yost said. “He was just sharp. He was executing all his pitches. His changeup was just phenomenal. He was consistently down in the zone … Hernandez looked really, really good and Guthrie just matched him.”

Mariners: Hernandez is in line for one more start before he takes the ball on opening day. He finished his afternoon with some additional pitches in the bullpen.

“I feel I’m where I want to be,” Hernandez said. He’s looking forward to an opener in Seattle in front of the King’s Court, his legion of devoted fans that occupy sections at Safeco Field.

“Going to be fun. It’s been a while,” he said. “You’ve got to be pumped. But I’ll be calm.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Alex Rios is day-to-day with a bruised thumb.

UP NEXT

Royals: Opening day starter Yordano Ventura has a 10.29 spring ERA, but he allowed only a run on four hits in five innings on March 21. He starts Friday against Seattle.

Mariners: James Paxton continues to work his way back to regular-season form after an injury delayed his start to spring training. He’ll start vs. the Royals on Friday.

— Associated Press —

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Yordano Ventura has been picked to pitch on opening day for the AL champion Kansas City Royals against the Chicago White Sox.

The 23-year-old right-hander went 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA as a rookie last season and tossed seven scoreless innings to beat San Francisco in Game 6 of the World Series.

The announcement was made by Royals manager Ned Yost on Wednesday.

James Shields, the team’s No. 1 starter last year, signed with San Diego in the offseason.

Yost says left-hander Danny Duffy and right-hander Edinson Volquez will follow the hard-throwing Ventura in the rotation during the season-opening series against the White Sox at Kauffman Stadium.

Duffy was 9-12 with a 2.53 ERA last season. Kansas City signed Volquez to a two-year contract in December after he went 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA last season for Pittsburgh.

Yost says lefty Jason Vargas and right-hander Jeremy Guthrie will round out the rotation in that order.

— Associated Press —