KC Royals: Yordano Ventura Picks Up Johnny Cueto

Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura mowed over the Detroit Tigers last night, and the timing was spot-on.

That’s five quality starts in a row for KC Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura, and the third consecutive start he’s picked up ace Johnny Cueto.

Ventura now has followed Cueto’s last three losses – 6 earned runs at Boston, 6 earned runs versus Baltimore, and 4 earned runs versus Detroit – with three gems of his own to correct the course for the Royals’ pitching staff.

In his last three starts, Ventura has allowed two earned runs in 19 innings and posted a 28/6 K/BB ratio.

Last night, Ventura fired seven innings against the Tigers, allowing one run and zero fly balls. He struck out 11 batters, the second consecutive outing he’s done so.

In his last five starts – a combined 32 innings and a 5-0 record – Ventura has an ERA of 1.13. He’s struck out 43 batters and allowed just one home run.

While it’s great to see Ventura string together quality outings, it’s even bigger to see him do it a night after the ace of the pitching staff struggled. (By Cueto standards, Cueto ‘struggled’ Tuesday night: six innings, four earned runs, zero walks.)

I’m not worried about Johnny Cueto. He’s healthy; he’s thrown 96 or more pitches in each of his six starts with the Kansas City Royals, and he’s still a 3.04 ERA, 1.03 WHIP pitcher on the season.

He’s an artist. He’s also undoubtedly the best starting pitcher on the team today.

But when Cueto does struggle, especially in a series-opener as he did Tuesday night, it’s on the rest of the pitching staff to find a way to recover.

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That’s the role Yordano Ventura has taken: Next man up.

In his last five starts – a combined 32 innings and a 5-0 record – Ventura has an ERA of 1.13. He’s struck out 43 batters and allowed just one home run. In those 32 innings, he’s allowed 20 measly hits in 117 at-bats. (Stats via Baseball-Reference)

He’s been a roller coaster this season, but this is definitely his peak so far. This is the best Ventura we’ve seen since late last season.

If the KC Royals are going to play well-into October against the best teams in Major League Baseball, Yordano Ventura has to be this Yordano. He has to be composed, consistent, throwing strikes and picking up the pitching staff.

His arm might be the single best on the team, that’s not news to anyone. He posted a 3.20 ERA in 31 regular-season starts last season.

IBut if he can pitch at this level for an extended period, when opposing hitters have seen him and studied him, it might be news to the rest of the league that the Kansas City Royals’ 24-year-old phenom isn’t just a pot of boiling water.

He might just be a pitcher – like Johnny Cueto.

Next: KC Royals: Ten Potential September Call-Ups

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