6 days agoKansas City Royals pitcher
Kris Bubic had a solid final spring start in Tuesday's 3-1 win against the Rangers. Bubic pitched five innings, allowing one run on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts on 81 pitches. The 27-year-old had an excellent 2024 season out of the bullpen and earned the fifth rotation spot for the Royals this spring, going 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts in 21 2/3 IP. The spring statline doesn't instill a ton of confidence, but Bubic did have some fantasy appeal as a prospect several seasons ago and showed his skills last season. He may be worth keeping an eye on for fantasy managers in deep leagues to start the season. He will also be eligible as a relief pitcher, giving him some added appeal in points leagues.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoMLB.com's Anne Rogers writes that it appears to be shaping up as though Kansas City Royals left-hander
Kris Bubic will earn the final rotation spot out of spring training behind
Cole Ragans,
Seth Lugo,
Michael Wacha and
Michael Lorenzen. It means that Daniel Lynch could open the 2025 season out of the bullpen or as a starter at Triple-A Omaha. But the fact that Lynch has come out of the bullpen in Cactus League games this week gives insight to where the Royals might be leaning. Bubic has had a strong spring and most recently struck out five in 3 1/3 scoreless innings against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. He emerged as a high-leverage reliever late last year after having Tommy John surgery in 2023. His workload will surely be managed, but if he can transfer any of his strikeout stuff from last year to the rotation, he'll be useful in deep-mixed and AL-only affairs.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
1 month agoKansas City Royals left-handed pitcher
Kris Bubic is seen as the frontrunner for the fifth starter role. During his spring debut, Bubic tossed two innings and allowed one run. He tallied two punchouts. The 27-year-old made his 2024 debut in the second half due to undergoing Tommy John early in the 2023 season. Across 30 1/3 innings, Bubic posted a 2.67 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He tallied 39 punchouts and held a strong 4.1 percent walk rate. Bubic also generated an elite 1.81 xERA and a .191 xBA, which were both well above the average marks. In addition, Bubic has worked on adding a sinker to his pitch mix during spring training in hopes of performing better against lefties. Fantasy managers should consider targeting him in deeper AL-only formats if he earns the job. This would then push
Daniel Lynch IV and
Alec Marsh to a long relief role.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Anne Rogers
4 months agoThe Kansas City Royals plan to use left-hander
Kris Bubic as a starting pitcher next season, although he'll most likely be on an innings limit of around 140 to 150 in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. At the top of the rotation, the Royals are set heading into the 2025 campaign with veteran right-handers
Seth Lugo and
Michael Wacha and lefty
Cole Ragans.
Kyle Wright (shoulder), Daniel Lynch and
Noah Cameron are other options for KC's rotation. If the Royals add another pitcher this offseason, they would most likely be in more of a swing role, and it probably wouldn't come until later in the offseason. The 27-year-old Bubic had TJ surgery in April of 2023 and threw 30 1/3 relief innings late in 2024, finishing with a strong 2.67 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 39 K's and only five walks. The Royals have an opening in their rotation after trading
Brady Singer to the Reds.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal
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