Kansas City Royals: Players to watch that no one is talking about

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PLAYERS TO WATCH THAT NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT – SAM GAVIGLIO

A lot of people might have forgotten about Sam Gaviglio, who was traded to the Royals in September last season. He’d throw just 12 innings throughout four games and started two of those games.

In the two starts for Gaviligio, he went five innings in both and allowed one run in one and two runs in the other. Not bad for a rookie pitcher. He also appeared in two games as a reliever, throwing an inning both times and surrendering a run in one of those games.

Baseball Reference projects Gaviligio to rotate as both a starter and reliever and totaling 90 innings throughout the year. Perhaps he starts as a relief pitcher and then someone gets hurt so he steps into the rotation. Whatever the case may be, he’s projected to end 2018 with a 5-5 record, 4.40 ERA, 1.356 WHIP, 75 strikeouts to 33 walks, and two saves.

Sam Gaviglio has the ability to be sort of like last year’s Scott Alexander and 2015’s Ryan Madson. He might not be the one you want closing things out, but he could be a pitcher who comes in to put out fires. The Royals will need a guy like that this season.