4 key things to watch after KC Royals make 2 big roster cuts

The KC Royals tied the Angels 8-8 Wednesday night. That only-in-spring-training result notwithstanding, they've won 13 Cactus League games and lost 11 with five exhibition games left to play. But only the regular season counts, and that begins March 28 when Opening Day starter Cole Ragans throws the first pitch of the club's 2024 campaign.

Don't think, though, that those five games are meaningless. They're not. The Royals still have questions to answer and issues to resolve before the season begins, and manager Matt Quatraro, his coaches, and general manager J.J. Picollo will rely in part on data points those contests provide to finalize Kansas City's 26-man Opening Day roster.

The Royals took care of some personnel business after Wednesday evening's game, but in the process left open a burning rotation question — who will be their fifth starter?

Who's the final starter after KC cut Daniel Lynch IV and Anthony Veneziano?

The club announced it's sending Lynch and Veneziano to Triple-A Omaha. Lynch was clearly in the running for the fifth rotation spot and, considering his 2.77 ERA in five games, seemed well-positioned to land it. Veneziano wasn't as close — he pitched for the Royals late last season, but had given up seven runs, seven hits, and walked four in 6.1 innings this spring.

The moves probably improve Jordan Lyles' chances to retain his starting job, although Alec Marsh, who's struck out 17 and yielded only three runs (1.93 ERA), and has a 0.86 WHIP, could edge him out. And Lyles, troubled by a back issue this spring, has pitched only twice.

Deciding between Lyles and Marsh, or perhaps a third candidate, won't be easy.

Moving on to three other issues confronting the Royals...

What's happening at second base?

Until quite recently, second base wasn't a huge issue for the Royals. Michael Massey, who's owned the position almost since the day he broke into the majors two seasons ago, was doing precisely what he needed to do to keep his job — despite continuing concerns about his bat, Massey's average was .300 after he went 1-for-3 against Oakland March 10. But his average has plunged 67 points to .233 since then, and his OBP unfortunately matches that troublesome average.

Add to that the health issue that made news Tuesday. What the team characterized as back tightness kept him out of that night's game against the Giants and Wednesday's with the Angels, and he's not engaged with actual baseball activity as of this writing.

So, where does Massey stand a week before the season starts? As far as positional decisions go, his back will probably force a change at the keystone before his hitting does. As we've previously projected, only an epic meltdown at the plate this spring would have moved the Royals to make a change at second, and Massey hasn't had that.

But if Massey's back doesn't improve, look for Adam Frazier to start Opening Day, unless his veteran status gives way to Nick Loftin's sizzling bat — after filling in for Massey at second base Tuesday night and going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and his second homer of the spring, and playing second again and getting another hit Wednesday, the versatile infielder who MLB Pipeline says is the club's second-best prospect is slashing .343/.452/543 in 14 games.

The next thing to watch?

Is there a reason not to put Nick Pratto on the Opening Day roster?

Pratto, who hasn't hit nearly as well in the majors as he did in the minors, presents the Royal brain trust with perhaps its most difficult decision of the spring. Simply put, he's forcing the club's hand, and its top decision-makers may have to work hard to justify sending him back to Triple-A.

If that's what they do.

Few, if any, players are making as solid a case to break camp with the big club as Pratto. He hit his third homer of the spring Tuesday night; that and the single he added boosted his Cactus League line to .412/.474/.765. He has more RBI (10) than any other Royal and is tied with Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez for the club home run lead. Spring training numbers, yes, but he's maintained that kind of excellent hitting all spring.

So it is that keeping him off the Opening Day roster won't be easy. His bat is too hot to ignore and suggests he can still be a force at the plate. He's a defensively-gifted first baseman, can hold his own if need be in the outfield corners and can, of course, take his turns at designated hitter.

Will Quatraro and Picollo find a place for him? That's what they have to figure out in the next few days.

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