Sixteen minutes after the first pitch here at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Royals pitching coach Cal Eldred popped out of the visiting dugout and walked to the mound. He sought to compose right-hander Brad Keller, who has been a rare source of buoyancy on a pitching staff with the worst earned run average in the major leagues.
But not lately.
Arguably the most positive development in the first half of the Royals’ season endured its second consecutive setback Friday, Keller failing to make it out of the third inning of a 9-6 loss to the White Sox.