Angel

Zerpa

Zerpa is coming up to replace Chris Stratton, who was placed on the injured list. He has a 4.40 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 41 strikeouts in 47 innings for the Royals this year.

This is all about having a fresh arm in the bullpen. Zerpa has thrown 49 pitches in the last two days and the Royals have eight games coming up this week, including a doubleheader on Monday, so they couldn’t afford to have a pitcher in the bullpen who was not able to throw. Zerpa should be back up soon. Daniel Lynch IV was called up to give the Royals a fresh arm.

The Royals sent Lynch down to the minors back in early June after the lefty struggled to a 6.35 ERA in 22 2/3 innings (three starts) so far in 2024. He has pitched better in the minors with a 3.54 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 95:32 K:BB ratio in 119 1/3 innings in Triple-A. Lynch figures to give the Royals multiple innings out of the bullpen during this week since they have eight games coming up. Angel Zerpa was sent down in a corresponding move.

This one certainly qualifies as a surprise as it eliminates Lynch from contention for the fifth spot in Kansas City’s season-opening rotation. It’ll be either Jordan Lyles or Alec Marsh claiming the job with Angel Zerpa officially moved to a bullpen role.

The Royals remain committed to Jordan Lyles because the GM signed him to a ridiculous contract, but Zerpa, Daniel Lynch IV and Alec Marsh probably clear the low bar as better No. 5-starter options this season. All three are likely ticketed for Triple-A right now, but if any has a chance of being carried as a reliever, it’s probably Zerpa, who has a 3.84 ERA in six starts and 13 relief appearances over the last three seasons.

It was easily Zerpa’s best start of his AFL campaign. The 24-year-old allowed just one hit in his three innings while striking out six batters. He needed just 45 pitches to get nine outs, and 31 were strikes. The southpaw was assigned to the Arizona Fall League after missing most of the season with a shoulder injury and could factor in as a multi-inning reliever or spot starter for the Royals next season.

A 5 1/3-inning save would have been more fun, but the win takes precedence. Zerpa has a 4.82 ERA in 37 1/3 innings over three starts and 10 relief appearances for the Royals this season. Unless he’s awarded a fourth option year, he’ll likely be a fixture on the Royals staff next year, probably as a swingman.

Zerpa served up a solo homer to Bryan Reynolds in the first inning. A pair of doubles and a base hit with no outs in the second would bring in two more runs. Zerpa settled in, recoding the final three outs in the second and pitching into the sixth without allowing another run. He struck out three and took the loss. The 23-year-old left-hander ended the day with a 7.04 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 17/6 K/BB across 23 innings. Another start could come against the White Sox in Kansas City next week.

Zerpa piled up six strikeouts and also handed out a pair of free passes. It was a solid outing for the 23-year-old lefty, who has struggled so far this season in five appearances (one start). He figures to take the ball on Tuesday against the Athletics his next time out.

It’ll be Dylan Coleman taking the ball as Kansas City’s opener for Friday’s series opener against the Cardinals before Zerpa gets the ball for a multi-inning relief outing.