Kansas City Royals: Five storylines to watch in 2019

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jakob Junis gets a pat on the head from second baseman Whit Merrifield as third baseman Mike Moustakas and catcher Drew Butera look on while Junis waits to be relieved in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, May 6, 2018, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images) /

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Relief pitcher Kevin McCarthy #61 of the Kansas City Royals (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

ROYALS STORYLINES TO WATCH IN 2019

NUMBER 3 – WILL THE BULLPEN GET BETTER?

One of the Royals’ biggest weaknesses a season ago was at one point their greatest strength. I’m talking, of course, about the bullpen, which ended the season with an ERA of 5.04, good for second to last in Major League Baseball.

There weren’t many highlights to the Royals bullpen, especially late in the year. Kelvin Herrera was traded to the Nationals at the deadline while Brad Keller, who started the year in the bullpen, was moved into the rotation.

Near the end of the season, Wily Peralta looked okay as a closer and guys like Tim Hill and Kevin McCarthy showed promise. In order for the Royals to get back to what they once were, their bullpen will have to perform much better.

There’s potential in the pen this year with newcomers like Conner Greene and Arnaldo Hernandez as well as recently promoted Josh Staumont. Royals fans have been patiently awaiting Staumont’s call-up and 2019 should finally be when we get to see the pitcher in action.

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