Royals’ Playing Time Battles: Pitching

Starting Rotation

The top of the Royals rotation is set with Ian Kennedy, Yordano Ventura and Edinson Volquez taking the first three spots. After those two, the rotation gets a little fuzzy for the 4th and 5th spots. Unless an injury happens to one of the first three, I think five other pitchers may cycle into these final two spots: Kris Medlen, Danny Duffy, Chris Young, Kyle Zimmer and Miguel Almonte. I listed them in the order I think they will get a chance to start. Here is my take on how I think it will shake out for each pitcher.

Kris Medlen: The Royals signed him last year to fill this very role. I almost put him with the first three, but I see the Royals giving him some games off here and there to limit his post-Tommy John surgery workload. I guessing he makes between 25-30 starts if healthy.

Danny Duffy: Duffy should get a rotation spot to start the season, but he had problems keeping it last season. After he dominated in the bullpen in a few games last season, I could see him quickly moved to the bullpen if he struggles as a starter.

Chris Young: With every team needing around 10 starters in a season, Young will get plenty of starts. It just may not be right away. He performed well as a starter and reliever in the post-season so I see the Royals keeping him in the swingman/emergency starter role as long as possible.

Kyle Zimmer: Zimmer is probably the most talented pitcher of the five listed, but he just can’t stay healthy. If Zimmer is healthy, I could see him be the first replacement called up. I don’t expect him to break camp with the Royals since they will push back his call up to delay starting his service-time clock.

Miguel Almonte: Almonte had a disaster filled call up last year (6.23 ERA out of the bullpen). I expect him to pitch in AAA and get a call up if some of the starting staff get injured and/or sucks. I am not sure he is ready for the big leagues, but the Royals don’t have many other choices after trading five pitching prospects at last year’s trade deadline.

Bullpen

Wade Davis, a.k.a. the Cyborg, will be the closer. Ned Yost will likely go with the same pitcher in the 7th and 8th innings. Joakim Soria and Kelvin Herrera will each get one of those spots, but which one gets what role has not been set yet. I don’t have an inkling either way. I could see them want Soria in the 8th since he is the veteran. The 8th inning guy may get more chances and Soria is a little more fragile after having two Tommy John surgeries, so Herrera may get the nod. Also, Herrera did great in the 8th inning role late in the season and post season when Greg Holland got injured. I bet the positions will be set before spring training games start.

While I don’t expect Davis to lose his job by not pitching well, any pitcher can get injured. In deeper leagues, all closers-in-waiting can be valuable so whoever wins this battle will see their stock jump.

The next bullpen spot will in all likelihood be taken by Luke Hochevar. After the first four, the rest of the bullpen is really ups for grabs. Some of the next pitchers in line could be some of the starters like Duffy or Young. I wish there was a young, high-strikeout reliever on the horizon, but there just isn’t. The only pitchers I have some interest in tracking is Tim Collins and Brian Flynn. Both of them are coming back from Tommy John surgeries and their talent level is unknown.