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Kansas City Royals 2015 Position Preview: Starting Pitchers

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Kansas City Royals 2015 Position Preview: Starting Pitchers

Yordano Ventura Kansas City Royals
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We know a few vague, albeit important truth about the Kansas City Royals heading into the 2015 regular season. One thing Royals fans can be confident in is the organization's depth in the pitching department. While KC's bullpen deservedly received the lion's share of attention after last season's memorable playoff run, it was still up to the Royals' starting five to give their team a chance to win every day. This season will be no different.

5. Jeremy Guthrie

Jeremy Guthrie Kansas City Royals
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5. Jeremy Guthrie

Jeremy Guthrie Kansas City Royals
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On Tuesday, veteran right-hander Jeremy Guthrie struck out six and allowed just a single run in six frames against the revamped San Diego Padres. His spring training ERA is the best among all projected KC starters this season, for whatever that’s worth. “In my mind, I don’t have a fifth starter I can skip,” Yost said recently to Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB. “They’re all good.”

4. Jason Vargas

Jason Vargas Kansas City Royals
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4. Jason Vargas

Jason Vargas Kansas City Royals
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This often-underrated lefty enters the second year of his Royals tenure after a solid 2014. Jason Vargas didn’t allow an average above .270 to batters on either side of the plate last season, but his effectiveness differed month by month. Vargas posted a 2.4 ERA in April, but ended with a 6.57 ERA in September. His crafty, finesse style should be more effective after a year of learning about the large ballpark and killer defense behind him.

3. Edinson Volquez

Edinson Volquez Kansas City Royals
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3. Edinson Volquez

Edinson Volquez Kansas City Royals
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His 7.79 Cactus League ERA may not impress Royals fans, but KC has 20 million reasons to hope the small sample size of 17.1 spring training innings isn’t a proper forecast of how newly-signed starter Edinson Volquez will perform in Kansas City. Something similar to his 3.04 ERA and 190-plus innings pitched last season could make him a fan favorite in no time, but his track record gives KC no guarantee for that kind of sustained success.

2. Danny Duffy

Danny Duffy Kansas City Royals
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2. Danny Duffy

Danny Duffy Kansas City Royals
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Danny Duffy has the potential to be KC’s best starter this year, and he’d probably be the front-runner if not for the current ace. His 2.53 ERA in 2014 is a good reason to get excited about Duffy’s production this season, and his fatigue at season’s end spurned a beefing-up process that led to KC’s emerging lefty showing up to camp with 17 pounds of extra muscle weight.

1. Yordano Ventura

Yordano Ventura Kansas City Royals
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1. Yordano Ventura

Yordano Ventura Kansas City Royals
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KC’s new ace seems ready for the start of the regular season. Yordano Ventura looked okay in his final tuneup on Apr. 1, but he really left his mark on the Cactus League on Mar. 27, when he threw seven scoreless, no-hit innings against the Seattle Mariners. Yo undoubtedly passes the eye test at this point in his career, but his ability to work the corners of the plate will decide whether or not he competes for a Cy Young this year.

Doug LaCerte is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DLaC67, “like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.

Doug LaCerte is a writer for RantSports. Like him on Facebook.
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