Johnny Cueto will make Kansas City Royals debut Friday
The Kansas City Royals announced on Monday that newly-acquired Johnny Cueto will make his club debut on Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Royals will be on the road at Rogers Centre.
#Royals announce that newly acquired @JohnnyCueto will make his KC debut at Toronto on Friday evening.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 27, 2015
The Royals acquired Cueto on Sunday for a trio of left-handed pitchers, and he immediately jumped to the top of their rotation depth chart. Kansas City found itself needing pitching help with Jason Vargas out for the year and Yordano Ventura unable to have consistent success this season, and ultimately turned to the Cincinnati Reds ace to fill that void. The Royals are said to still be looking for help in other areas, and could even acquire another pitcher if the price is right, but Cueto figures to be the only major splash in their rotation before the trade deadline on Friday.
Cueto will look to continue the success he had on Saturday against Colorado, where he pitched eight shutout innings while striking out five and allowing just five total baserunners. The Royals will hope that, in addition to productive outings, Cueto will be able to pitch deep into ballgames. Kansas City has leaned heavily on its bullpen this year with starters unable to consistently pitch into the seventh or eighth innings.
Next: Kansas City Royals Acquire Johnny Cueto
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals