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Kansas City Royals: Mystery Fifth Starter Revealed

By Charles Lam

Jul 15, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Brian Flynn (33) pitches in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Detroit won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 15, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Brian Flynn (33) pitches in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Detroit won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Kansas City Royals chose a fifth starter today. It will be left-handed pitcher, Brian Flynn. The lefty looked good as a relief pitcher. Will he transition well as a starter?

Brian Flynn played 13 games as a reliever for the Kansas City Royals. He pitched 26 1/3 innings for a 2.39 earned run average (ERA).He’s got a fielding independent pitching (FIP) stat line of 3.16.

His strikeout per nine (SO/9) sits at 8.5 while walks are down to 2.7 per nine (BB/9) for a 3.13 strikeout to walk ratio (SO/BB). He’s also achieved a 1.025 walks hits divided by innings pitched (WHIP).

Royals beat reporter for the Kansas City Star, Rustin Dodd, released the news on Twitter.

Those are great numbers for the 26-year-old. One thing to be aware of is he hasn’t started a game in two years in the big leagues. All of his starts came in the National League for the Miami Marlins. He didn’t perform well as a starter for Miami either.

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Flynn played for the Miami Marlins back in 2013 and 2014 seasons. He started five total games but had little success in the role allowing 8.50 ERA in four starts in 2013 and a 9.00 ERA in a start and a relief appearance in 2014.

This season for the Kansas City Royals has been his best big league season by far. While in Miami, Flynn pitched a total of 25 innings. He’s already eclipsed that number as a Royal by 1 1/3 innings.

The transistion from a starter to a relief pitcher might have been the difference stat wise and maybe even mentally. Although some players don’t find their talents until later in their respective careers.

Flynn could be a late bloomer. He may have needed a change of scenery and a new pitching coach to unlock his potential.  Royals pitching coach, Dave Eiland, may have been the guy to help Flynn with issues he had in Miami and now the Kansas City Royals are reaping the benefits.

Flynn’s kept the ball down in his most recent appearances. In his last three games, Flynn has allowed zero earned runs against him. While accumulating seven strikeouts in five innings pitched. Dropping his ERA from 3.00 to 2.39. He’s walked one batter in the last 10 1/3 innings pitched for the Royals.

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Flynn will replace Dillon Gee as the fifth starter. Gee looked good mainly as a reliever for the Kansas City Royals. The former New York Met, pitched 57 solid innings for the Royals. He achieved a 4.11 ERA with a 7.7 SO/9 and a 3.2 BB/9 for a decent 2.45 SO/BB.

As a starter, Gee carried a 5.87 ERA in five games going 2-3 during the stretch. His WHIP rose .371 points as a starter to 1.783. He struck out more batters at a 10.2 SO/9 as a starter, 4.1 strikeouts more per nine. Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep the runners on base, allowing almost three earned runs more as a starter.

As a reliever Gee’s numbers looked better. In 13 games as a relief pitcher, Gee’s allowed 2.91 ERA and acquired a 1.412 WHIP in 34 innings as a bullpen guy. Those are much better numbers and the Royals and the fans should be happy he’s going back to the bullpen.

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Hopefully Flynn will pitch as well as a starter as he’s been pitching as a reliever. The Kansas City Royals are desperate for a somewhat consistent fifth starter. The left-handed aspect of Flynn will help the Royals mix and match starters more effectively now the team has two lefties in the starting rotation.

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