Kansas City Royals Trade Deadline Overview
By David Hill
The Kansas City Royals, in the past few years, have focused on being able to get six solid innings from their starting rotation while using a stellar bullpen to close the game out. The bullpen has done their part, posting a major league best 2.66 ERA while ranking tenth with a .226 batting average against, providing that level of comfort that the Royals have come to expect at the end of the game.
Once again, the issue is the Royals starting rotation. Ian Kennedy has been about what was expected, posting a 4.19 ERA and a 1.237 WHiP, although he has given up 18 homers in 81.2 innings. He is, also, the only starter with an ERA+ better than 100, and he comes in at 105.
Chris Young has been a disaster this season, averaging over three home runs allowed per nine innings while posting a 5.61 ERA, which is actually a lot better than his 6.99 FIP. Edinson Volquez may have pitched the worst game in baseball history on Friday night, as his ERA jumped from a solid 4.12 to 5.15. Yordano Ventura still has not taken that step forward to be the ace the Royals need him to be, tantalising with his potential while struggling with the mental aspect of the game.
In a bit of a surprise, Danny Duffy, who started the year in the bullpen, has been the best starter for the Royals this year. He has posted a 3.54 ERA and a 1.082 WHiP, striking out 50 batters in 40.2 innings. However, he has struggled to last more than five innings, pitching into sixth in only half of his starts.
If the Royals are going to make another push for the postseason, they will need to fix their holes. But where should they start?
Next: The problem spots