KC Royals: Ranking the Starting Pitchers

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Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Last year the KC Royals were able to thrive off of their starting pitchers, but this year hasn’t been the same. Only Edinson Volquez and Chris Young have been reliable starters for the Royals and would easily be the one and two choices if the playoffs started anytime soon.

Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie have both been pretty good, but injuries have kept Vargas sidelined for almost two months now (on and off) and Guthrie had one horrible (and I mean HORRIBLE) start. That one start bloated Guthrie’s ERA and has worried Royals fans ever since.

Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy have been disappointments this season. Ventura started off throwing fire, but injuries and attitude issues haven’t helped his 2015 campaign. Duffy has only had one decent start and many were actually relieved when it was announced that he was skipping his start.

Overall, the starting rotation hasn’t been as solid as it was last year and the rotation only lost one pitcher this off season in James Shields. Edinson Volquez was brought in to replace Shields and has been the best guy in the rotation. Chris Young wasn’t meant to be in the rotation, but boy are fans glad to have him there. He’s been the second best starter and almost pitched a no-hitter just last week.

Hopefully Ventura and Duffy can get back to their 2014 roots and be lights out. The Kansas City Royals will need both of them if they want to make a push for the playoffs again in 2015.

Next: Five Worst Royals All-Star Selections

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