Why the Royals' Pitching Depth Could Be the Answer for These Injury-Hit Contenders
It’s not a new storyline in Kansas City, but it remains one of the most relevant: the Royals have a surplus of starting pitching. And in a league where arms areWhy the Royals’ Rotation Depth Could Be the Lifeline for These Injury-Hit Contenders
Yes, Royals fans have heard it before - Kansas City has more starting pitching than it knows what to do with. But just because it’s a familiar tune doesn’t make it any less true. And right now, that depth could be one of the most valuable assets in baseball.
Spring training is barely underway, and already the injury bug is making the rounds. Pitchers and catchers have just reported, yet several key names across the league are dealing with setbacks - some minor, others more alarming. For teams with postseason aspirations, early injuries to the rotation can quickly shift the tone from confident to cautious.
That’s where the Royals come in. With seven legitimate big-league starters - and a few more arms capable of taking the ball when needed - Kansas City is in a rare position of strength. They don’t need to make a move, but they’re one of the few clubs that could afford to, especially if it helps plug holes elsewhere on the roster.
Let’s take a look at three teams already facing rotation concerns that could benefit from dipping into the Royals’ pitching pool.
Atlanta Braves: Depth Needed, Urgently
The Braves’ rotation took a big hit this week when Spencer Schwellenbach was placed on the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. The 25-year-old righty later confirmed he’ll need arthroscopic surgery to clean up bone spurs and address the inflammation - and there’s no timeline yet for his return.
For a team still licking its wounds from a frustrating 2025 season, this is the kind of news that can derail momentum before it even begins. Atlanta’s rotation already carried some risk, with veterans like Chris Sale and Reynaldo López having checkered injury histories, and Spencer Strider working his way back to full strength.
The Braves don’t necessarily need a frontline ace - they need reliable, big-league-ready depth. That’s where Kansas City could come in. While Kris Bubic might not be the ideal fit given his own recent injury history (Tommy John surgery and a shoulder issue that cut his 2025 short), the Royals have other intriguing options.
Names like Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek may not be headliners, but they bring optionable depth and upside. Both are capable of stepping into a rotation spot and giving Atlanta valuable innings while Schwellenbach recovers and the rest of the staff finds its footing.
Toronto Blue Jays: Cautiously Monitoring Bieber
The Blue Jays are coming off a World Series appearance, but their rotation is already facing uncertainty. Shane Bieber, the former Cy Young winner, is dealing with forearm fatigue - a red flag for any pitcher, especially one coming off Tommy John surgery.
Manager John Schneider has described the situation as “week-to-week,” but that kind of language often signals a longer road back than teams initially hope. Add in the fact that Bowden Francis is already out for the season following UCL surgery, and suddenly Toronto’s rotation doesn’t look quite as deep as it did a few months ago.
This is where a pitcher like Kris Bubic could make a lot of sense. He’s arbitration-settled, has big-league experience, and when healthy, has shown flashes of All-Star-level performance. If the Blue Jays want to keep their rotation playoff-caliber even without Bieber, Bubic could be a plug-and-play option with upside.
And if Toronto prefers to keep its top-end rotation intact and just bolster the depth chart, Kansas City’s other arms - like Bergert or Kolek - could serve as insurance policies. With a long season ahead and October aspirations, the Jays can’t afford to be thin on arms.
Philadelphia Phillies: Waiting on Wheeler
There’s optimism in Philly, but it’s cautious. Zack Wheeler is back on the field after his 2025 season was cut short by a vascular thoracic outlet syndrome diagnosis - a serious condition that’s ended careers before. He’s throwing again in camp, but both he and the team have acknowledged that Opening Day is far from a sure thing.
Wheeler told reporters he’s just taking things “day by day,” working through a checklist with the team’s training staff. That’s the right approach, but it also means the Phillies could be without their ace for the early part of the season.
Combine that with the offseason departure of Ranger Suárez to Boston, and suddenly the back end of the rotation has some question marks. Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, and Aaron Nola form a strong top three, but the depth behind them is thin.
Enter Bubic.
If the Phillies want to maintain their status as NL East favorites - especially with the Mets reloading and the Braves looking to bounce back - they may need to reinforce the rotation. Bubic, when healthy, has the kind of experience and stuff that can stabilize a rotation while waiting for Wheeler to return.
The Royals’ Leverage
Kansas City doesn’t have to rush into anything. They’ve built up this pitching depth for a reason, and injuries happen - even to their own staff. But with multiple contenders already scrambling for healthy arms, the Royals are in a position of strength.
Whether it’s a trade for a controllable bat, a bullpen piece, or future assets, Kansas City has the kind of leverage that only comes with surplus - and in this case, it’s quality surplus.
With spring training just getting started, the market for starting pitching is already heating up. And the Royals are sitting on a stockpile that could shape the early-season fortunes of more than one playoff hopeful.