Manager Mike Matheny has set his rotation to begin the regular season, and Brad Keller will get the Opening Day assignment for the second time in his career. Keller tossed seven shutout innings against the White Sox on Opening Day in 2019 in a 5-3 win. He likely would have started last year as well, had he not had to begin the year on the Injured List after a positive COVID-19 test.
Brad Keller has started Opening Day before. But does the excitement ever fade?
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) March 20, 2021
“No, it does not. I’m really pumped about it. I had a smile on my face as soon as Matheny told me, and I’m happy that this organization trusts me to get the season off on a good foot.” #Royals
Matheny announced how the rest of the rotation will start the season, with left-hander Mike Minor starting the second game, followed by right-hander Brady Singer, and left-hander Danny Duffy. Becauase of the off-days early in the schedule, the Royals will not need a fifth starter until April 16. Left-hander Kris Bubic was optioned to Triple-A this week, but could return by then.
Since being acquired in the Rule 5 draft in 2017, Keller has been outstanding with the Royals, posting a 3.50 ERA and 3.90 FIP in 360 1⁄3 innings over the last three seasons, worth 8.3 WAR according to Baseball-Reference. Last year he was particularly stingy at home, allowing just one run in five starts for a 0.27 ERA. The Royals open the season at home on April 1 against the Texas Rangers.
Royals Opening Day starters:
Wally Bunker 1969-1970
Dick Drago 1971-1972
Steve Busby 1973, 1975
Paul Splittorff 1974, 1976-1977
Dennis Leonard 1978-1980, 1982
Larry Gura 1981, 1983
Bud Black 1984-1986
Danny Jackson 1987
Bret Saberhagen 1988, 1990-1991
Mark Gubicza 1989
Kevin Appier 1992-1997, 1999
Tim Belcher 1998
Jeff Suppan 2000-2002
Runelvys Hernandez 2003
Brian Anderson 2004
Jose Lima 2005
Scott Elarton 2006
Gil Meche 2007-2009
Zack Greinke 2010
Luke Hochevar 2011
Bruce Chen 2012
James Shields 2013-2014
Yordano Ventura 2015
Edinson Volquez 2016
Danny Duffy 2017-2018, 2020
Brad Keller 2019