Kansas City Royals: Starting rotation candidates for 2018 season

STARTING ROTATION CANDIDATES – NATE KARNS

Remember Nate Karns? He’s the guy that the Royals traded Jarrod Dyson for and we barely knew him in 2017. That’s because Karns was injured before the midway point of the season and wasn’t heard from much again after that.

Karns started just eight games last season (appearing in a game as a reliever as well) and ended his 2017 season with a 2-2 record, 4.17 ERA, 1.191 WHIP, 51 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 45.1 innings thrown. The biggest issue with Karns throughout his career is that he has struggled to stay healthy and we saw that firsthand in 2017.

The hope is that Karns is healthy and ready to go in 2018. If so, he’d be a fourth or fifth starter in the rotation with the possibility of pitching out of the bullpen. I liked what I saw from Karns in some of his starts last season, but health is going to be a big question mark with him.

If Karns can stay healthy all through 2018, then that’s a great place to start for the former Seattle Mariner. The Royals could really use his services this year.