KC Royals Fantasy: Week 8 Roster Review

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.

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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.