30-year old lefty starting pitcher Jeff Francis has been awful in August as it looks like he’s running out of gas. Francis has pitched in 26 games (25 starts) for the Royals so far this year and he is 8-13 with a 5.12 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He has been awful this month though. He has started 4 games so far in August and he is 0-3 with a 8.27 ERA and a 1.94 WHIP. Francis has given up 36 hits in only 20 2/3 innings for the Royals so far this month as he is pitching B.P.

22-year old lefty starting pitcher Danny Duffy is one of the best prospects the Royals have on the pitching side of things. But, they need him to pick up the pace. In his first four starts since returning from the minors, Duffy is 2-1 with a 5.66 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. He has now pitched in 14 games (all starts) overall this year and he is 3-5 with a 5.08 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. He has given up 85 hits (11 homers) in his first 72 2/3 innings of his major league career and he has walked 36 batters, which often gets him into a lot of trouble. Duffy does have 64 whiffs already this year which shows how nasty his stuff is as he overpowers hitters when he’s in a groove. The Royals need the results to start matching up with Duffy’s talent going forward.

27-year old righty starting pitcher Kyle Davies must have pictures of Royals’ GM Drayton Moore doing something he shouldn’t be….or at the very least he has to have dirt on someone in the organization. Davies has started 12 games for the Royals so far this year and he is 1-9 with a 7.32 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. He has given up 79 hits in only 55 1/3 innings so far this year as he hasn’t been missing many bats. Davies has now pitched in 98 games (all starts) in his first five years with the Royals and he is 29-44 with a 5.38 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. I think the Royals should just cut him loose and give a young starting pitcher Davies’ spot.

The Royals have removed Joakim Soria as the closer. In his last four games, Soria is 0-3 with a 21.60 ERA and a 3.30 WHIP. He gave up 11 hits (3 homers) and 8 earned runs in his last 3 1/3 innings pitched! Soria has pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the Royals overall this year and he is 3-3 with 7 saves, a 6.55 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. 24-year old righty rookie reliever Aaron Crow will replace Soria as the closer. Crow has pitched in 22 games (0 starts) for the Royals so far this year and he is 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. The Royals hope that Crow is ready for the challenge and that Soria gets back on the right track.

24-year old righty starter/reliever Vin Mazzaro’s stay in Kansas City didn’t last long as he was sent back to AAA-ball after last night’s game….and for good reason. Mazzaro threw 2 1/3 innings last night for the Royals and he gave up 11 hits, 14 runs (all earned) and he walked 3 batters in the Royals’ 19-1 loss to the Indians. Mazzaro became the 1st player since 1900 to give up 14 runs in less than 3 innings pitched! Mazzaro pitched in 2 games (1 start) for the Royals in his first shot with them and he is 0-0 with a 22.74 ERA and a 3.79 WHIP! I don’t think he will be back in Kansas City for quite a while, even if he is pitching good in the minors.