Spring Training Game XXII Thread: Rangers at Royals

The best part of today’s game might be that Bartolo Colon will be starting for the Rangers. If you have been dying to see the big man pitch the good news is that the game will be televised on FSKC, today, according to the Royals website and on MLB Network according to Star beat reporter Maria Torres. It should also be broadcast on the radio at 610 AM.

Jake Junis or Eric Skoglund will look to continue their dominant spring performances which has seen Junis strike out 10 in 6 innings and Skoglund strike out 5 in 6.2. Neither pitcher has yet walked a batter, though both have allowed solo home runs. Junis is probably a lock to make the roster at this point, but that’s no reason to stop building on the good work he’s done, so far. They’re small sample sizes but he finished the year strong and is now having a very good spring. If Junis could change his profile from an innings-eating, back-of-the-rotation starter into a reliable #2 or #3 guy that could go a long way to speeding up the current “rebuild” process. Skoglund, on the other hand, is fighting for a roster spot after a disappointing season last year which followed an impressive debut that included a standing ovation.

Lineups

It’s the one on the right. It’s a little hard to read so it’s typed out below for you:

2B Whit Merrifield
SS Alcides Escobar
LF Michael Saunders
1B Cheslor Cuthbert
3B Cody Asche
RF Tyler Collins
DH Nick Pratto
C Drew Butera
CF Billy Burns
P Jake Junis

Yes. You read that right. Last year’s first round draft pick is scheduled to DH in today’s MLB spring game. If you’re less interested in Bartolo Colon and more interested in the future of the Royals this might be your first and best opportunity to see what he looks like probably for a while. Perhaps along with some other young, future faces of the franchise.

It looks like after Junis the Royals expect to let Richard Lovelady, Trevor Oaks, Wily Peralta, Glenn Sparkman and Josh Staumont to pitch. For what it’s worth, that lineup and pitching setup may not be entirely accurate. Eric Skoglund was scheduled to start yesterday but didn’t and the Royals’ website suggests he may actually be today’s starter which might change who else gets to pitch.