The Royals' playoff chances in 2021 are all but gone, and the coming All-Star break represents an unofficial page-turning of sorts on this season. During the back half of the schedule, players will be evaluated based on how much they help the team in 2022 and beyond. So which Royals pitcher needs to step up next season if the team has AL Central pennant aspirations? Team insider Josh Vernier called into Cody and Gold on Wednesday to give his thoughts:
"I think it's Daniel Lynch," he said. "I could go with Daniel Lynch. Because look, man, the 2018 draft -- one of them needs to be a starting pitcher for this organization for the next 5-7 years. And you would really like for one more of them. One other one to contribute some other way, whether that's as a starter or a bullpen guy. So if we all agree that Brady Singer is one of them, he's one of those two, and Daniel Lynch has the nastiest stuff of the other three, then yeah, that's the guy. Coming into the season, he was one of my three keys for this team to make the postseason."
Lynch, 24, has had a rough beginning to his MLB career, starting three games (8.0 IPs) while posting an ERA over 15. Coming into 2021, MLB.com ranked him as the team's 2nd-best prospect, only behind Bobby Witt Jr.
You can listen to Vernier's entire interview with Cody and Cold in the embedded player below:
