Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic will get the opportunity to earn a spot in the starting rotation. After recently serving as a bullpen arm, he has a shot. Bubic is a leading candidate for the starting rotation because of his experience. Heading into this season, he’s started 60 games in his career. He’s looking to capitalize on this opportunity to be a starter after not starting a game since 2023 due to an injury.
Kris Bubic’s Experience as a Starter Might Be Enough to Earn Rotation Spot
Bubic showed last year that he can be a good pitcher at the MLB level. He had a 2.67 ERA, 39 strikeouts, a FIP of 1.95, and a WHIP of 1.022. Bubic’s FIP suggests that he was unlucky last season and was more in line with an ERA lower than two. The potential that Bubic showed last year, albeit in just 30 innings, should propel him to being a top choice for the Royals rotation. He figured something out, as he was much better than his first few years in the majors.
Bubic didn’t record an ERA lower than 4.30 in his first three big league seasons. In 2022, he had a very rough season. His 5.58 ERA and 1.698 WHIP were a stat line to forget. The main question for the Royals and Bubic is whether he will be able to repeat his production from last season. He didn’t start one game last season, so those stats could look better than they actually are. Will he be able to put up a solid season as a starter? That remains to be seen.
Cole Ragans & Kris Bubic on the mound #Royals #FountainsUp pic.twitter.com/5s6VLgQMhz
— 96.5 The Fan (@TheFan965) February 26, 2025
Bubic’s Assets on the Mound
Bubic is a contact pitcher, and it’s clear he needs his defense to play well behind him. He uses his fastball 44 percent of the time, slider 36 percent of the time, changeup 16.5 percent of the time, sinker 2.8% of the time, and cutter just 0.4 percent of the time. With his contact-oriented style, it could be smart to use his sinker more than he has been. A sinker, as we all know, produces ground balls, and it fits with Bubic’s identity out there.
He doesn’t throw hard, so locating his pitches is key. If he can keep his fastball and sinker low in the zone and locate his breaking pitches, he can be one heck of a pitcher. The Royals don’t need him to pitch to a 2.67 ERA next season. They are set up well, with Cole Ragans, Michael Wacha, and Seth Lugo in the top three. The Royals just have to count on Bubic being a valuable back-end starter.
Royals’ Other Options for Starters
Daniel Lynch IV is one pitcher to watch out for. He pitched three shutout innings against the Texas Rangers on Monday. Lynch is 28 years old and has looked good in Cactus League action thus far. If Royals fans have to bet, the competition for the last rotation spot will come down to these two. This is a good situation to be in, as both Lynch and Bubic are left-handed pitchers. Besides Ragans, there isn’t a lefty projected to be in the Royals’ rotation.
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