KC Royals Fantasy: Week 8 Roster Review

The KC Royals play seven games this week without an off day. That’s good for fantasy players in weekly leagues who will get the maximum opportunities for points from their Royals players.

I’ve decided to start a new weekly feature here on Kings of Kauffman. Since I’m presuming that a lot of Kansas City Royals will tend to put players from their favorite team on their fantasy roster due to familiarity, I thought I would provide a quick primer for fantasy players who want to know who to play and who to sit when setting their roster for the week.

Since most leagues begin their weeks on Monday with Sunday the day to set rosters, expect this review to go up Saturday morning from now on (no late like it is tonight).

Here’s a list of the Kansas City Royals upcoming opponents:

The Kansas City Royals begin the week with three games on the road against Minnesota, before returning home for a four-game series against the White Sox. The Twins have the worst team ERA in the American League at 5.01 while the White Sox remain on top with a 3.23 team ERA.

Though the Twins rank dead last in the AL with a team ERA of 5.01, the KC Royals are scheduled to get their better starters with Ricky Nolasco (1-2, 4.74 ERA), Ervin Santana (1-2, 3.13 ERA) and Tyler Duffey (1-3, 3.30 ERA). The Twins relievers have been terrible with a 4.89 bullpen ERA, so the Kansas City Royals hitters can expect to do some damage if they can get into the pen.

More from KC Royals News

• Why the KC Royals might think about Eric Hosmer
• KC Royals Free Agent Hunt: Help from the Halos?
• KC Royals Hot Stove News: A pair of free agent deals!
• Grading the KC Royals: The good and bad of Nick Pratto
• KC Royals Hot Stove News: Trades, signings, more

Meanwhile, the KC Royals get Miguel Gonzalez (0-1, 4.57 ERA) Carlos Rodon (1-4, 4.73 ERA), Mat Latos (5-1, 4.00 ERA) and Chris Sale (9-0, 1.53  ERA) against the White Sox. Fortunately, the Kansas City Royals won’t see both Sale and Carlos Quintana in the same series.

On the other hand, the White Sox sport the second best bullpen ERA in the AL at 2.74 (behind the 2.57 ERA of the Royals).

While Ervin Santana and Chris Sale are tough, the other five starters are hittable. Twenty-five year old Tyler Duffey‘s ERA looks good, but he’s a young player getting his feet wet in the league. Nolasco, Rodon, and Gonzalez have all been giving up runs.

Overall, it appears KC Royals hitters are in for a slightly tougher than average week. I don’t think the competition is so brutal that you’d sit a KC Royal who was a regular in your lineup. But, the matchups aren’t so weak that you’d rush a bench player onto your active roster.

Next: KC Royals Hitters

Pitchers: Start’em

IAN KENNEDY gets two starts this week against the Twins on Monday and the White Sox on Saturday. He’s been the KC Royals best pitcher this season, with 4-3 record and 3.24 ERA and a 9.0 K/9.

If you’ve got him, play him because he’s going good and will get two starts. It pretty much doesn’t get better than this week if you have Ian Kennedy. Both starts come in big parks (Minnesota and Kansas City) that are good fits for his fly-ball style.

EDINSON VOLQUEZ is also scheduled to start twice this week. He faces the Twins on Tuesday and the White Sox on Sunday in KC. He’s 4-4, with a 3.79 ERA this season and a 7.1 K/9. He’s not been great, but he’s been the definition of steady. With two starts he’s likely to outscore one start aces this week, which makes it an easy decision to activate him.

WADE DAVIS is an automatic start if he’s on your fantasy relief staff. He’s the best reliever in baseball, and will rack up saves given all of the tight games the KC Royals play. Forget about his recent slide where he wasn’t getting save opportunities. The Kansas City Royals are winning again, which means Davis is putting up points.

Pitchers: Sit’em

CHRIS YOUNG and KRIS MEDLEN remain on the DL. Neither have been worth anything so far this season. Most players who had them on their rosters have already cut them loose. I can’t see any reason why I would keep either, even when they return from the DL.

More from KC Royals News

• Why the KC Royals might think about Eric Hosmer
• KC Royals Free Agent Hunt: Help from the Halos?
• KC Royals Hot Stove News: A pair of free agent deals!
• Grading the KC Royals: The good and bad of Nick Pratto
• KC Royals Hot Stove News: Trades, signings, more

DILLON GEE and DANNY DUFFY have both performed well in the KC Royals rotation, but are on strict pitch counts. Gee threw 92 pitches on Saturday, so might be ready for a full turn. But, he only pitches once this week. Even if Yost is willing to let him throw more than 100 pitches, he’s probably still going to use an early hook.

Meanwhile, Duffy is only up to 63 pitches in his last outing, and could fall short of five innings to get a win, much less the six needed for a quality start. Add in that he’s only scheduled to start once this week, and he’s not a good play if you have a solid alternative.

YORDANO VENTURA falls somewhere in between. He only pitches once this week, but we finally saw 99 mph gas from him in his start against the Red Sox on Tuesday. He starts Sunday and Friday against the White Sox, so will get two starts if your league’s week begins Sunday instead of Monday.

Next: Royals Report: 5 Things About Squeaker Over White Sox

Now, Ventura’s numbers aren’t that good at 4-2, 4.85 ERA. He’s got his hard stuff back, and he attacked hitters in his last outing despite giving up four runs to a brutal Boston lineup. If he’s starting twice for you, play him. If he’s only starting once, then you might sit him due to the tough opponent as long as you have a good substitute.