Kansas City Royals: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not for Week One

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

3. Yordano Ventura

About the only thing that slowed Yordano Ventura down this week were cramps. Forced to leave both of his starts early, first for a thumb cramp on Opening Day and then for a cramp in his calf yesterday, someone needs to make sure that Ventura is receiving enough potassium in his diet to stave off the cramping.

When he was on the mound, won both his starts, posting a 2.31 ERA and a 0.94 WHiP in his 11.2 innings of work. His control has been solid, as Ventura has allowed only three walks while striking out nine batters. In fact, aside from the cramping, the only concern has been that, of his eight hits allowed, two have left the yard.

A lot was expected of Yordano Ventura this season, as the Kansas City Royals had hoped that he was ready to be the staff ace with the departure of James Shields. Ventura certainly displayed the mental toughness to handle the job with his dominant outing in Game Six of the World Series last year, but there was still a question of whether or not he was ready. Through the first week, that question has been answered with a resounding yes.

If not for the cramping, Ventura could be higher on the list. He still comes in third, even with his abrupt exits.

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