KC Royals: Yordano Ventura Needs To Finish Like 2015

The KC Royals need to climb over five other teams to win an AL wild card spot, and overcome an eight game lead to overtake the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central in the season’s last 67 games. About the only way it happens is if Yordano Ventura finishes 2016 like he did 2015.

It’s no secret that the Kansas City Royals rotation has been a disaster in 2016. They’ve been bad pretty much any way you slice the statistics. The KC Royals 4.96 ERA is the sixth worst mark of any starting staff in baseball. Their cumulative 2.2 fWAR is only better than the horrible Cincinnati Reds starters. The rotation has been an abject failure in 2016.

For the Kansas City Royals to sneak into the playoffs, (most likely by earning a wild card) Yordano Ventura is going to have to dominate like he did in the last two months of 2015. After August 1, 2015, Yordano Ventura went 8-1 with a 3.26 ERA. That’s what the KC Royals need down the stretch to pair behind Danny Duffy.

Instead, Yordano Ventura wobbled on Saturday night allowing three runs in 5.0 innings. A ground ball ricocheted off his abdomen with two outs fifth inning to end his night. It was a disappointing finish after he dominated the Rangers through the first three innings, striking out four and holding them without a hit. However, Ventura walked  Jurickson Profar to open the fourth inning on four straight pitches, before Nomar Mazara slammed hit his 12th home run of the season to give Texas their first hit, and a 2-0 lead.

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Mazara also doubled in a run in the fifth inning to plate the third run against Ventura.

Just when you though Ventura looked ready to dominate a game, he fell apart. He’s not even consistently piling up quality starts and he still fails to do something as simple as follow through his pitches. KC Royals fans have to wonder where his head is at.

On the other hand, Danny Duffy teased the Kansas City Royals coaching staff for years before getting it together this season at age 27. Perhaps patience is what Ventura needs. But, the 2016 Kansas City Royals can’t afford to wait.

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They need to make a move soon, and Ventura is the guy with the biggest capacity to perform better than his current level.