KC Royals: Five Reasons They Won’t Return To World Series

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

1.) Starting pitching

The Kansas City Royals’ rotation will be the reason they won’t make it back to the World Series. The rotation will likely consist of Johnny Cueto, Yordano Ventura, Edinson Volquez, and Kris Medlen. Lefty Danny Duffy could have been a possible fourth guy in the rotation, but he was recently demoted to the bullpen.

Ventura has been up and down all season, and fans never know what they’re going to get from the young starter.

Cueto has been mostly down since coming to Kansas City in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds in July. He pitched a complete game in one of his earlier outings with the Royals but then went on to post five sub-par starts. Still, Cueto wasn’t brought to Kansas City to be anything less than a number one pitcher in the rotation.

Ventura has been up and down all season, and fans never know what they’re going to get from the young starter. Volquez has also looked shaky at times, allowing five earned runs twice in July and a six-run outing in early September.

Medlen is another question mark in the rotation.

I just don’t have any confidence in this rotation heading into the postseason, and I think it’ll be the main reason the Kansas City Royals don’t return to the World Series.

Next: What else?