Detroit Tigers star Spencer Torkelson alleged Kansas City Royals pitcher Jordan Lyles used a sticky substance during his start, and suggested that he desperately need it.
Games between AL Central rivals have been far from appointment television/streaming this season, considering that every team is either slightly above .500 or has losing records. But on Monday, there was some drama in Kansas City during the Royals' game against the Detroit Tigers.
In the game, Royals starting pitcher Jordan Lyles had a solid outing, pitching six full innings allowing zero earned runs and just three hits, while striking out four batters. But, the Royals ended up losing the game 3-2. Despite the result, fans on social media began pointing out something while watching the Bally Sports broadcast. Lyles was spotted in the dugout, and it appeared as though he had a sticky substance on his left wrist. Whether he did or didn't was a debate, but umpires didn't spot it.
One day after the game, Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson said that it did look like Lyles had a sticky substance on his left wrist. Torkelson then took a savage shot at the pitcher, saying, "He's 1-11. He can have it. Take it." The quote comes courtesy of Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
Spencer Torkelson takes a savage shot at Jordan Lyles with sticky substance allegation
Wow, Torkelson dropping the elbow from the top rope.
As has been the case since cracking down on Spider Tack and other sticky substances, MLB umpires check the pitcher's hands, glove, and hat to ensure that there isn't a sticky substance on them. If they were to find it, the pitcher would be thrown out of the game and receive an automatic 10-game suspension.
Umpires didn't find any substance on Lyles and thus was allowed to continue pitching. Torkelson said he doesn't "know how they missed it," but says that umpires can miss it at times.
"Yeah, there's definitely something there," Torkelson said, h/t Detroit Free Press. "But that hasn't gone away. Guys are still doing that. He just happened to not get caught. There's nothing we can do about it now. It's like, if you can do it and not get caught, I guess more power to him."
This year, Lyles recorded a 6.05 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, 73 strikeouts, and 31 walks over 102.2 innings pitched (18 starts). His only win of the season arrived on June 24 against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he recorded two strikeouts and one walk while allowing four earned runs on eight hits in six full innings.
As for Torkelson, he recorded a .232 batting average, a .310 on-base percentage, a .416 slugging percentage, 14 home runs, 48 runs scored, 51 RBI, 82 hits, 96 strikeouts, and 38 walks in 353 at-bats through 92 games.