Kansas City Royals: Five First Half MVP Candidates

Kansas City Royals pitcher Wade Davis (17) – Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

• bWAR: 2.2
• fWAR: 1.2
• Pitching: 4-1, 0.24 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 9 Saves, 11 Holds
• Defense: N/A

When you’re eighth inning guy is on the short list of MVP candidates, it means your team is either really good or really, really bad. The entire Kansas City Royals pitching staff has been chaos this season. Yordano Ventura has been a mess, Danny Duffy’s in and out of the rotation, Kelvin Herrera saw time off due to a suspension, Greg Holland has been banged up, and so on.

If he’s in the game, it’s to turn the lights out. Fastball, cutter, curve. You gotta go.

Wade Davis has been the one constant in the Royals bullpen this season. Exact same pitcher every day.

Davis’ stats with just one series left before the break: 0.24 ERA in 33 games, 19 hits allowed to 140 batters faced, 41 strikeouts in 37 innings, ONE earned run. I don’t even remember the one earned run, but I’m betting it was very well “earned” because nothing you get from the Undertaker is free.

Opponents trying to hit his cutter, lol:

(Source of link: Fangraphs.com)

Wader is a dominant reliever. He’s 6-foot-5, 220 pounds coming downhill, and he’ll railroad the middle of your order. If he’s in the game, it’s to turn the lights out. Fastball, cutter, curve. You gotta go.

Grade: 9 out of 10

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