Kansas City Royals cannot keep letting Chris Young start

Aug 14, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Chris Young (32) and catcher Drew Butera (9) celebrate the win against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 11-4. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

The Kansas City Royals aren’t in the best place so far this season, sitting five games back in the division and eight games under .500. With that said, however, the team still can’t justify throwing Chris Young on the mound in a starting role.

With Ian Kennedy on the disabled list, the Kansas City Royals are in a bit of a tough spot every fifth game. Sure, they have several guys in their bullpen who could double as a starter here and there, but their solution is to continually have Chris Young be the fifth starter when a guy in the rotation goes down.

This can’t be the Royals’ solution anymore. Chris Young is terrible and has been ever since he re-signed with the team after helping them win a World Series in 2015. Young has had few decent appearances since inking that two-year extension yet any time someone in the rotation is injured, he automatically gets the nod to start.

Chris Young is not the only option out of the bullpen who can be a starter every now and then. Mike Minor used to be a decent starter with the Atlanta Braves, Travis Wood has spent time as a starter, and don’t forget there is this thing called the minor leagues… Why not Miguel Almonte or Jake Junis in a spot start role?

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I get that Young has the experience and whatnot, but any time he’s the scheduled starter, the Royals are basically waving a white flag and surrendering that game. When you’re eight games under .500 and trying to fight for anything positive to happen this season, why roll out a starter who is basically an automatic loss for the club?

The Royals know that Chris Young can barely make it past four innings of work these days. He’s getting older and is a fly ball pitcher, which isn’t a good combination in Major League Baseball.

Young got blasted for four runs off of seven hits on Tuesday night and only made it through three innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. Were it not for a nostalgic Royals comeback, Young would have easily been the reason that his team lost the game.

The Kansas City Royals need to realize that Chris Young isn’t good anymore. He’s in the last year of his contract and they don’t have to cater to him. Yes, he helped this team win a World Series, but so did Christian Colon, and look where he’s at these days (too soon?).

For the sake of the Royals chances at winning on Sunday afternoon, please don’t give Chris Young the start. It’ll be an automatic loss for the team and for the fans.

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