33-year old lefty Bruce Chen has not only worked his way into the Royals’ starting rotation but he has pitched just well enough to keep the job. Chen has pitched in 26 games (16 starts) for the Royals this year and he is 8-7 with a 4.88 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. But, Chen has given up 104 hits and he has walked 44 batters this season in only 96 innings so he does have some issues. Still, Chen somehow has a winning record for the Royals and that says something good about him as Zach Greinke (8-11) even has a losing record this year.

29-year old righty starting pitcher Brian Bannister has been pretty awful for the Royals so far this year. He has started 22 games for the Royals this year and he is 7-11 with a 5.95 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Bannister has given up 149 hits (23 homers) in 124 innings for the Royals so far this year. Bannister has now pitched in 107 games (all starts) in his four years for the Royals and he is 35-48 with a 5.05 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Hopefully the Royals look in a different direction than Bannister for the 2011 starting rotation as he keeps getting worse.

UPDATE: (8/18/2010) - The Royals have placed Brian Bannister on the 15-day D.L. with right rotator cuff tendinitis. The Royals have recalled 25-year old righty swinging outfielder Jai Miller to replace Bannister on the active roster. Miller has played in 84 games in AAA-ball for the Royals this year and he is 83 of 311 (.267 avg, .871 OPS) with 45 runs scored, 18 homers, 56 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. But, Miller has also whiffed 113 times so he could have issues with major league pitching. He has only played in 1 game in his major league career to date and he’s 0 for 1 with a whiff.

The Royals have released 31-year old righty reliever Juan Cruz and they have designated 26-year old righty reliever Luis Mendoza for assignment. Cruz pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Royals this season and he was 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA and a 2.24 WHIP. In his two years with the Royals, Cruz pitched in 51 games (0 starts) in which he was 3-4 with 2 saves, a 5.50 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Cruz was signed to help out late in games out of the pen for the Royals but he has been a complete bust. He will likely find a new team but the Royals won’t miss him as he was terrible for them. Luis Mendoza made Juan Cruz look like Cy Young in his prime. Mendoza pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Royals this season and he was 0-1 with a 22.50 ERA and a 3.25 WHIP. He gave up a stunning 10 hits (4 homers) and he walked 3 batters in only 4 innings. All I have to say about these pitchers is good riddance.

Even Joakim Soria wasn’t immune to the beating the bullpen took against the Tigers as he blew a save when Miguel Cabrera cranked a homer against him in the 9th inning in game #2 which the Royals eventually won in extra innings. As good as the rotation has been the bullpen has been downright putrid. Only left John Parrish hasn’t given up a run this year in the Royals’ pen. The Royals’ bullpen is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA and a 2.57 WHIP so far this season. They have given up a stunning 18 hits and walked 6 hitters in only 9 1/3 innings for the Royals this season. If these guys don’t get their act together soon the Royals will be in deep trouble in 2010.

36-year old righty reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta has a $4 million dollar option for this season but his agent shouldn’t even make the call to see if the Royals will pick it up. He will receive a $500,000 buyout and he should wear a ski mask when he cashes that check because he robbed the poor Royals. Yabuta pitched in 12 games (0 starts) for the Royals this season and he was 2-1 with a 13.50 ERA and a 2.57 WHIP. In two years with the Royals, Yabuta pitched in 43 games (0 starts) for the Royals and he was 3-4 with a 7.14 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP. He should just go back to Japan where he can get some hitters out.

UPDATE: The Royals have declined Yasuhiko Yabuta’s option for the 2010 season.