Kansas City Royals: Opening Day starters over past decade

2018 OPENING DAY STARTER – DANNY DUFFY

And most recently, there’s Danny Duffy.

In 2017, with Shields, Ventura, and Volquez gone, and Chen, Hochevar, Greinke, and Meche long gone, Yost went with just his second southpaw to start Opening Day. In 26 starts and 42 appearances the previous season, Duffy was electric, going 12-3 with a 3.51 ERA, 123 ERA+, and 3.83 FIP in 179.2 innings pitched.

On April 3, 2017, he squared off against ex-Royal Ervin Santana in Minnesota. Duffy pitched well, lasting six innings while allowing one earned run on three hits and three walks. In the process, he struck out eight Twins.

But things started ominously in a year in which the Royals dipped back below .500, finishing 80-82. Reliever Matt Strahm gave up four earned runs in just 1/3 innings pitched as the Royals lost, 7-1.

For the year, Duffy finished 9-10  with a 3.81 ERA over 24 games started with, 130 strikeouts, a 117 ERA+, 3.46 FIP, and 1.257 WHIP. Overall, a solid season, and enough to earn him the honor to once again begin the season in 2018.

That Opening Day went less well–for Duffy, for the Royals. The season as a whole went terribly–for Duffy, for the Royals.

In a 14-7 clobbering at the hands of the White Sox, Duffy lasted just four innings while giving up five earned runs on seven hits (three of which left the park) while walking two and striking out five. The bullpen didn’t fare any better, giving up nine earned runs in five innings. All told, the White Sox knocked six home runs, three of them by third baseman Matt Davidson.

In the end, the Royals finished 58-104, their worst record since going 56-106 in 2005. Individually, Duffy’s numbers plummeted from 2017 as he finished 8-12 with a 4.88 ERA, 88 ERA+, 4.70 FIP, and 1.49 WHIP in 155 innings pitched.