Ranking the 5 performances from Kansas City Royals starting pitchers this season

The Kansas City Royals have a remarkably different starting rotation this season. The Royals added veterans Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha to the pitching staff. They are joined by Cole Ragans, Brady Singer and Alec Marsh.

Singer was the lone returnee from the 2023 opening day rotation. However, the new additions have been as advertised so far.

Royals starters have produced a 1.74 ERA in 31 innings this season. They have registered 33 strikeouts and issued seven walks. Meanwhile, opponents have a .139 batting average through five games.

The Royals are 2-3 through five games. Marsh turned in a stellar outing against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday. He earned his first win as a starting pitcher in the Royals’ 4-1 victory from Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

“It’s fantastic,” Marsh said of the starters’ success. “I’m not trying to put that pressure on myself with these guys going out there and (going) six, seven innings. Brady punching out 10. I was just trying to go out there and do my thing and I’m just pumped we got the win today.”

Let’s recap and rank the five starts this week...

1. Brady Singer leads Royals to first win

The Royals needed a win against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. KC had dropped two games to begin the 2024 season. It was on Singer to avoid a season-opening sweep to an American League Central rival.

Singer stepped up in a big way. He registered 10 strikeouts across seven innings as the Royals cruised to a 11-0 win.

Singer showed command of his sinker and slider. He also sprinkled in his new sweeper and four-seam fastball. Every pitch was effective in keeping the Twins at bay. The Royals also provided Singer with a ton of run support.

It was the first Royals win of the year. Singer, who settled into the No. 3 spot in the rotation, earns the top spot here given the circumstances surrounding his start.

2. Alec Marsh shuts down Baltimore Orioles

Marsh was simply dominant against the reigning AL East champs. He shined against young MLB stars such as Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman. The Orioles had two hits against Marsh.

That’s significant.

Prior to Tuesday’s game, the Orioles had outscored teams by 16 runs. Marsh held the Orioles down with multiple pitches. He got Henderson swinging with his sweeper to begin the game. Then, he started to mix in his changeup and breaking balls.

“It was good,” Marsh said of his changeup. “I threw it a lot tonight, which I hadn’t thrown it much in spring training. So I was really, really excited about that. Watching Wacha throw his changeup and how good his is, that’s something that needs to be good for me, too. So, having the trust in it tonight was really good.”

3. Seth Lugo throws six scoreless against Twins

It’s hard to nitpick Lugo’s start against the Twins. He was superb in his first start with the Royals as he lived up to the offseason hype.

Lugo worked all quadrants of the strike zone. He pitched efficiently and skirted potential danger with veteran experience.

Lugo allowed two hits and registered four strikeouts. He protected a one-run lead before departing the game. The Royals bullpen surrendered five late runs as Lugo earned a no-decision.

4. Cole Ragans shines on opening day

Ragans checked several boxes against the Twins. He looked like the same pitcher that took the Royals and the American League by storm last season.

Despite the loss, Ragans showed why he was chosen as the opening day starter. He allowed two runs, three walks and registered nine strikeouts. He dueled with Twins starter Pablo Lopez and held his own.

Ragans surrendered a home run to Twins standout Royce Lewis. However, he produced a quality start in front of a robust crowd at Kauffman Stadium.

5. Michael Wacha allows three against Orioles

Wacha drew the tough assignment in the series opener against the Orioles. He kept the Royals in the game and gave the team a chance to win. Wacha allowed three runs and struck out five batters in five innings.

He would likely want a changeup to Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle back. In the fourth inning, Mountcastle hit a two-run home run that leveled the game.

Otherwise, Wacha showed the stability needed in the rotation. He slides into the fifth spot in the rankings only due to the strength of his teammates’ outings.