It is an “evaluation season”, according to the Royals front office, so last week I evaluated how the position players have done so far this year. This week, I evaluate the pitchers, divided into starters and relievers. Overall, Royals pitchers have a 5.30 ERA, the third-worst in baseball, on pace for the worst ERA by a Royals pitching staff since 2006. Despite calls to “raid the zone” in spring training, Royals pitchers have the sixth-worst walk rate, and a higher rate than they had in 2022. Pitchers are organized by innings pitched.
Starters
Jordan Lyles didn’t bring high expectations when he signed a two-year, $17 million deal last winter.