Royals Data Dugout takes stock of the Royals bullpen arms, including a former castoff helping a strong second-half showing from the relief corps.
Clarke, whose best fWAR in a season is 0.7 back in 2022 with KC, has racked up 0.5 fWAR in the second half of 2025 alone. Since the All-Star Game, he’s pitched 16.1 innings with a 0.55 ERA and 0.49 WHIP. The right-hander has struck out 32.7% of opposing hitters while walking just 3.6%. While Clarke hasn’t made any major shifts in his pitch usage or underlying
metrics (like zone rate or chase rate), hitters are simply not squaring him up like they did at earlier points in the season. His average exit velocity allowed is down to 88.2 MPH in August. Clarke hasn’t allowed a barrel since July 11. Hitters’ xBA cratered to .228 in July and .233 in August, with xSLG marks of .383 and .288. As long as he’s missing barrels, Clarke will remain a valuable middle reliever ahead of Schreiber, Estevez and Lucas Erceg.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel ranked all the MLB farm systesms, with Kansas City coming in at 27th overall.
The Royals graduated Jac Caglianone and Noah Cameron as potential core players, with John Rave, Ryan Bergert, Jonathan Bowlan and Steven Cruz joining them as role players who have or soon will graduate. Of the remaining prospects, C Carter Jensen is in Triple-A and could be a core player, and I like the draft haul (3B Josh Hammond, CF Sean Gamble and RHP Michael Lombardi were the first three picks). Meanwhile, RHP Kendry Chourio has emerged as arguably the top pitcher in the system. Hammond and Gamble could be the high-end prospects needed to pull this system out of the bottom third of the league, like they were before the 2022 season.
Passan was asked if any other “what if” deals were supposed to happen in the past, similar to the one that now Orioles top prospect Samuel Basallo had agreed to with the New York Yankees before the deal ultimately fell through. “I mean, Ronald Acuña Jr. was supposed to sign with the Kansas City Royals I think,” Passan stated. Passan also revealed several teams made a late run at Juan Soto prior to the Washington Nationals finally securing him.
More takeaways here from Passan’s time on the podcast.
With the MLB schedule drop, what are some key dates fans need to circle on their calendar?
Former Royals first baseman Carlos Santana lands on outright waivers Tuesday.
With Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh looking more and more like a AL MVP contender, how will an abberation affect the Topps MVP Buyback Program?
MiLB is starting down a historic attendance slump in 2025.
After only two Triple-A outings, the Mets are adding pitcher Jonah Tong to the MLB rotation.
The Houston Astros reinstated designated hitter Yordan Alvarez from the 60-day IL.
Down on the Farm looks at some data-backed edicts for dynasty baseball managers.
Baltimore Orioles starter Kyle Bradish has a dominant return from Tommy John surgery.
In case you didn’t hear, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift got engaged.
Women’s professional sports leagues are on the rise. But how many will survive the longhaul?
More changes for “Saturday Night Live” loom as Devon Walker announces departure from the program.
“The Martians” by David Baron takes a look that history behind the alien craze of the 20th century.
