Major League Baseball

Can an average Kansas City Royals rotation contend?

Published Jul. 22, 2015 11:04 a.m. ET

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By Liam McGuire

The Kansas City Royals sit comfortably at 56-36, which is the best record in the American League. That record hasn’t come with a little bit of adversity in the pitching rotation.

The team announced on Tuesday they’re optioning opening day starter Yordano Ventura as the corresponding move to Jason Vargas coming off the DL. The move may be shocking, but it’s not surprising. Entering the season as the clubs bona fide ace, the 24-year-old has faced about every problem a pitcher can have with injuries and attitude issues that have caused him to miss some action. When he has been healthy, he hasn’t pitched like the ace he was in 2014. This season, he’s posted a 4-7 record with a 5.19 ERA in 14 starts.

Royals starters have stumbled their way to a 4.32 ERA which ranks 24th in the MLB – which is a far cry from their team 3.60 ERA in 2014.

On paper, the move leaves the Royals rotation a little thin. Free agents Edinson Volquez (two-year $20 million) and Chris Young (one-year, $675,000) have both posted eight wins with ERA’s at 3.28 and 3.03 respectively. Behind those two is where things get shaky.

Danny Duffy has been okay in 13 starts, dropping his ERA by a full run in the last three weeks, with an average 4.24 ERA and a solid 4.39 FIP. Innings-eater Jeremy Guthrie, who’s in the last year of a three-year deal, has posted a solid 7-5 record but he’s been tuned up posting a 5.36 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Returning from injury is Jason Vargas, who will likely continue to be his reliable self, but he’s been sidelined for over a month, so whether he comes in and makes an immediate impact is questionable.

One of Kansas City’s offseason splurges was taking a flier (two-year $8.5 million) on the talented but oft-injured Kris Medlen, who’s set to come off the DL soon. Armed with one of the best changeups in the game, Medlen can be a serious contributor to the rotation – but asking him to do anything more than stay healthy is a tall task considering he’s only made one appearance in the last two seasons.

Ventura has ace stuff, and none of the current Royals possess his repertoire. Right now, the club has a handful of reliable starters, but is that good enough to contend?

Thankfully, Royals pitching can get by being unspectacular. The club’s bullpen is outstanding, posting a 2.22 ERA which is best in the MLB. While Greg Holland has struggled compared to his outstanding 2014, he’s still posted 21 saves against 3 blown saves, with a 1.32 WHIP and a 3.34 ERA. Setup man Wade Davis has been the best reliever in baseball, allowing only two runs all season while posting video game numbers with a 0.44 ERA. Kelvin Herrera and Ryan Madson have both posted sub-one WHIPs, with ERAs that hover around two. Basically, when you get to the Royals bullpen, they’re hard to beat.

If the club can continue to get solid, not necessarily outstanding contributions from its starters, than they should maintain their success. Would it help them to go out and try to acquire an ace like Cole Hamels or David Price? Absolutely, but that could be said about every team in the MLB. Kansas City certainly has the assets to do so. Who knows, maybe Ventura returns to ace form after a stint in the minors, the Royals add an ace and the rotation becomes a strength. It will be fascinating to see how things unfold.

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