How the KC Royals lauded Bobby Witt Jr., Michael Wacha for their hot August nights

Kansas City Royals veterans Bobby Witt Jr. and Michael Wacha put together a good month of August.

The duo’s dependable play over the past month helped spark the Royals to a 15-13 record and ascension in the American League Central Division standings.

On Monday, the Royals honored the pair with a special team award.

Witt was selected as the Royals Player of the Month. He posted a .310 batting average with 35 hits, 10 home runs and a 1.051 OPS (on-base plus slugging) in Auguest.

As Witt anchored the Royals’ offense, Wacha served as the linchpin for their starting rotation. He’s the Royals Pitcher of the Month after recording a 3.19 ERA in 31 August innings.

It’s Wacha’s first monthly team award this season. He went 3-0 in five starts and recorded four consecutive quality starts in that span. His August highlights included a season-high nine-strikeout game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Wacha, 33, is one win shy of 100 career victories. He would be the 19th active pitcher to reach the milestone.

On Monday, Wacha took the loss as the Royals fell 4-2 to the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. He allowed two earned runs as the Royals lost their sixth straight game.

The monthly award is Witt’s third this season. On Sunday in Houston, his home run against the Astros made him the first Royals player in club history with back-to-back 30-homer campaigns.

He’s just the second Royal with multiple 30-homer seasons, joining Danny Tartabull (1987 and 1991).

“Everything he does stands out,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Whether that is physical, mental, leadership qualities, all of those things, they’re remarkable. And we don’t take that for granted.”

Witt is closing in on his second straight 30/30 year, which would make him the first Royal with multiple 30-30 seasons. Last year he became the first Royal to record 30 or more homers and 30 or more stolen bases in a season, and he’s just two steals shy of repeating that milestone.

“We can’t take for granted what we are seeing out there,” Quatraro said.