Kansas City Royals find explanation for Jakob Junis struggles

Kansas City Royals pitcher Jakob Junis was a revelation at the start of the season. Now, the Royals may have an explanation as to what went wrong.

During the first six weeks of the season, the Kansas City Royals appeared to have found another piece to their starting rotation. Jakob Junis was a revelation, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.18 ERA and a 0.993 WHiP. In his 45.1 innings over seven starts, Junis struck out 38 batters while issuing only nine walks. Yes, his ten homers allowed were troubling, but as he had limited baserunners, that was something the Royals could live with.

However, those last ten starts have been markedly different. Junis has posted a 1-8 record, with a 6.71 ERA and a 1.527 WHiP. While his strikeout to walk rate was still solid, with 54 strikeouts and 19 walks in 56.1 innings, Junis was getting hit hard. Now, the Royals may have an explanation as to what happened, as he has been placed on the disabled list with lower back inflammation.

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The Royals certainly have to, at the very least, hope that is the answer. After Junis’ impressive seven starts to begin the season, the opposition has produced an OPS 190 points higher over his last ten games. Those balls that have been put into play have been finding safety more frequently, as his batting average on balls in play against rose by 145 points. Something has not been right with the young righty for the past two months.

Depending on how Junis returns could be a major factor in determining how he is viewed by the franchise. Based on his start to 2018, and his solid showing last year, he appeared to be a future part of the rotation, a decent middle of the rotation arm that could provide relatively worry free innings. His fly ball tendencies would not be that much of a problem in Kauffman Stadium.

This ten game stretch puts that future in some doubt. While the Royals entire pitching staff has struggled, Junis’ issues have been a disappointment. Depending on how long he is on the disabled list, he would have time to turn around his season, and to strengthen the previous perception that he can be a part of the Royals future.

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The Kansas City Royals have placed Jakob Junis on the disabled list, giving hope that his recent struggles are injury related, instead of a sign of his actual ability.