Kansas City Royals: Opening Day starters over past decade

Opening Day is just around the corner, and the Kansas City Royals tabbed Brad Keller to make the start against the Chicago White Sox. In tabbing Keller, the Royals go with youth and upside.

In fact, Brad Keller‘s start pushes Danny Duffy out of the Opening Day start for the first time since 2016. That season, Edinson Volquez took the mount as the Kansas City Royals began their defense of their first World Series championship in 30 years.

Things are drastically different three years later.

Instead of coming off the high of winning it all, Keller leads a team that finished 58-104 last season, the second worst record in the Majors. Unlike last year’s Opening Day lineup, gone are the familiar faces of Mike Moustakas (traded, and eventually re-signed by, Milwaukee) and Salvador Perez (out with Tommy John surgery).

If history is any indicator, expect Keller to pitch solidly against the White Sox next Thursday afternoon, but the Royals to lose the game. Still, Keller could wind up with a solid year-long campaign.

Taking a look at the last ten seasons, the Royals haven’t played too well in Game One, often providing little offensive support with the bullpen doing its best to sabotage things. And yet, for the entire season, Opening Day starting pitchers present more of a mixed bag of results.

Here’s a look at those eight pitchers who started Opening Day for the Royals from 2009-2018, how they pitched that day, and how the rest of the season went for them and the team.