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KC Royals: Chris Young Pitching Well For Royals

By Tyler Wornell

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Chris Young may have been the losing pitcher in his most recent outing for the KC Royals, but he didn’t deserve to be.

Young, who is sporting a 2.64 ERA on the season, held the Twins to just one run in 5.1 innings and struck out two in a rather solid outing. The offense decided not to show up though, as they managed only four hits in the game.

Young is now 7-4 since taking over a spot in the rotation after Jason Vargas was placed on the DL over a month ago. Injuries from Danny Duffy and Yordano Ventura have allowed Young to stay in the rotation for longer than anticipated, and he has sailed high above expectations.

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The fact that the Royals are still in first place despite having placed three of their five starters on the DL in the past two months is a testament to the depth that Dayton Moore has established on the roster. Young has done his part in place of Vargas, and Joe Blanton has come through for the most part in place of Yordano Ventura.

For now, Chris Young has earned a spot in the starting rotation. Even after Vargas returns from the DL, the Royals are better off pitching Young until he gives them a reason not to.

While Duffy has made his return to the rotation and Ventura is scheduled to return fairly soon, according to Andy McCullough of The Kansas City Star, a large question mark still looms over Vargas. He hasn’t performed well this year, and isn’t anywhere near the pitcher he was last season. An offseason acquisition in 2013, Vargas was arguably the biggest surprise in 2014.

Unfortunately for Vargas, his injury might mean an indefinite bullpen stint. Young has performed well above expectations, and right now I think a healthy Young is much better than an unhealthy Vargas. All signs point to Vargas most likely going to need Tommy John surgery, and we know he’s been unstable this year.

Heading into the All-Star Break, the Royals need consistency and quality pitching. Young offers both of those in the rotation, and it would be a mistake for Ned Yost to return Vargas to the rotation when he is activated from the DL.

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Young has been somewhat of a savior for this team, establishing some of that consistency that they so desperately need at a crucial time. While he isn’t the hardest throwing pitcher, he pitches with confidence, mixes pitches well, and knows how to create outs. He’s a smart pitcher with a veteran presence this rotation could use.

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With the trade deadline a month away, it’s easy to say the Royals could trade a couple prospects for a rent-a-pitcher, much like they did in 2012 with James Shields. The difference this time is that the Royals are in first place, are true contenders, and actually have more pieces than one might believe.

Ventura returning to the rotation means increased stability, assuming he can return to his 2014 level. Duffy had a solid first outing following his return from the DL, and hopes are he can continue to improve. While this rotation certainly has it’s problems, it’s on its way to returning to some state of normalcy.

For now, Chris Young has earned a spot in the starting rotation. Even after Vargas returns from the DL, the Royals are better off pitching Young until he gives them a reason not to. We know what he can provide for the Royals, and we won’t exactly know what for sure Vargas will provide post-injury. Young is the safest bet, and that’s what the Royals can afford.

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