KCKingdom
Fansided

Kansas City Royals: Five things to watch during 2019 Opening Day

By Leigh Oleszczak

Jets fly over during the playing of the national anthem before a game between the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox on Thursday, March 29, 2018, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images)
Jets fly over during the playing of the national anthem before a game between the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox on Thursday, March 29, 2018, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Brad Keller of the Kansas City Royals (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
Brad Keller of the Kansas City Royals (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

NUMBER 2 – IS KELLER STELLAR?

Twenty-three year old Brad Keller is getting the nod to start on Opening Day and it’s an exciting time for Royals fans! Danny Duffy has gotten the Opening Day start the last two seasons, but this year, it was Keller’s job to lose.

Keller was awesome as a rookie in 2018, throwing 140.1 innings and posting an ERA of 3.08 and WHIP of 1.304 in 41 total games and 20 starts. The rookie started the season off as a reliever, but was eventually moved to the rotation due to injuries that occurred to some of the starters.

Keller was effective last year, but will anyone be surprised if he’s not as on point in 2019? He’s just 23 years old and this will be his first full season pitching in the rotation. Even if he does struggle on Opening Day, that doesn’t mean fans should panic.

Hopefully Keller mows down the White Sox and can get throw the batting order three times before being pulled in favor of a reliever.

Home/Kansas City Royals