The Royals are 25-18 and making a strong case for American League Central supremacy. The bats of Bobby Witt, Jr., Salvador Perez, and Vinnie Pasquantino, among others, are all booming, they're winning the games they should win, and are competitive in essentially every game they've played.
Breaking Down Royals Starting Pitching
However, the big story of this season has been the stellar starting pitching. Let's break down the numbers of the starting pitchers. It's been night and day since the dark days of Cal Eldridge, struggles to develop, and monotonous mediocrity.
Via MLB.com
These are some of the best numbers Royals' starting pitching has had in years and the group has a ton of youth, but one sticks out above the rest. That pitcher is Seth Lugo, who has so far made an excellent case for a Cy Young nod.
About Seth Lugo
Seth Lugo was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on November 17th, 1989. Lugo attended Parkway High School in Bossier City, Louisiana and played college ball at Centenary College of Louisiana. Lugo would have a 5.31 ERA throughout his college career and would be drafted in 2011 in the 34th round by the New York Mets, 1032nd overall. He would be called up to the Majors in 2016, debuting against the Chicago Cubs and throwing two shutout innings. He would earn his first Major League victory against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 25th. Lugo would also be selected for the Puerto Rican national team, as his father is Puerto Rican, in 2017, playing in the World Baseball Classic.
Lugo would play for the Mets until 2023, posting a 3.48 ERA, a 32-24 record, and 508 strikeouts during his tenure. He was a good, but not great rotational piece for the Mets and would be traded to the Padres before the 2023 season. Lugo would play one year with the Padres, posting a 3.57 ERA, an 8-7 record, and 140 strikeouts. After the 2023 season, Lugo would opt out of his contract and become a free agent. He would sign with the Kansas City Royals in December 2023, signing a three-year, $45 million deal.
Lugo Lights It Up
Right out of the gate, Lugo has impressed heavily for Kansas City. Lugo, through 9 starts, has posted a 6-1 record with a 1.66 ERA, 48 strikeouts, a .96 WHIP, and a .206 AVG. He would post a career-best 12 strikeouts in one game against the Los Angeles Angels through 8 innings pitched on May 12th, solidifying his place as the Royals' marquee starter so far. He leads the American League in ERA and innings pitched, is tied for 1st in WAR with 2.2, and is tied for 2nd in wins with 6.
Lugo has made a strong case for the American League Cy Young Award. If he continues this stellar production and excellent game longevity, it will be a no-brainer and the Royals will be sitting pretty in the playoff hunt. So far, Lugo has deserved every penny of his $45 million deal. If he can maintain this performance through those three years of his contract, he will go down as one of the best Royals pitchers of the last 30 years and JJ Piccolo should be more than convinced to give him a healthy extension.
Lugo has been crucial to the Royals' recent success, leading a great group of Royals starters. The offense will need to build a bit more consistency and the relievers will need to hold their water better, but overall, the Royals look like they will be competing for a playoff spot come September and early October, something many of us did not think we would be saying. Strong performances from Lugo and others have injected new life into the Royals' fanbase, a life that is hopefully maintained for years to come.
Burn Notice: 10/10, Lugo is Lit.
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