Bailey

Falter

Falter was only able to pitch in two games to begin the season before being placed on the injured list with elbow irritation. The southpaw will likely need a couple of appearances before being ready to potentially help the Kansas City staff near the end of April.

Falter pitched in two games for the Royals this year, covering three innings of relief against the Braves on March 27 and failing to cover more than an inning in a blowout against the Twins on Wednesday when he was shellacked for three earned runs. Clearly something wasn’t right in that one. The team will likely have more on his status at a future date. Falter came over from the Pirates at the trade deadline last year but made just two starts before being shelved with a bicep contusion, and the team clearly didn’t leave much of a path for him in the rotation this offseason.

Falter was originally going to start the game, but the Royals changed their minds and had him pitch behind Aaron Sanchez, since he’s probably going to be a middle reliever once the season starts. The switch obviously worked out well, except for the rest of the Royals’ pitchers giving up 10 runs over six innings in the loss.

Bailey got double plays to escape the first two innings, but he had no such luck in the third. Falter has given up six runs in 6 2/3 innings this spring, and one wonders if the Royals have some regrets about tendering him back in November and signing him for $3.6 million. He should still have a spot in middle relief.

Falter also issued one walk while striking out three in the ballgame. All of the damage done against him came in the opening inning as Max Muncy delivered a two-out, two-run double. His three punchouts on the afternoon came via Carlos Cortes, Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom. Falter got four whiffs on 44 pitches in the game, registering a solid CSW of 30 percent. As long as he doesn’t completely implode this spring, he’s slated to open the regular season as the Royals’ fifth starter, though he’s unlikely to have much value from a fantasy perspective.

Falter came over from the Pirates at the trade deadline but made just two starts before landing on the injured list with a bicep contusion that ended his season. The left-hander has some experience in the rotation and out of the bullpen, but he will be given a chance to win a rotation spot in Kansas City in 2026.

Falter sustained the injury when he was struck by a batted ball from Zach McKinstry during Friday night’s loss to the Tigers. No word yet on exactly how long he’ll be shelved for. Jonathan Bowlan was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to take his place in the Royals’ bullpen.

Falter was pulled after 76 pitches with the score tied 2-2. It didn’t initially work out for the Royals, as Daniel Lynch IV gave up a two-run homer to Paul DeJong in the fifth. However, the Royals scored five unanswered runs from there. Typically a weak play in mixed leagues, Falter is an option — though not a particularly good one — this weekend in a home start against the White Sox.

Falter’s debut with the Royals didn’t go as planned. Boston jumped all over him in the opening frame with Jarren Duran capping off a five-run explosion with a three-run moonshot to center field. He somehow managed to get through four frames, finishing with two strikeouts and a pair of walks. It’s unclear when he’ll make his next start, but it figures to be this weekend against the Twins, which is a decent spot for a rebound performance.

That means two of the club’s three pitching acquisitions will jump directly into their starting rotation, leaving out only Stephen Kolek who will either work out of the bullpen or head to Triple-A Omaha to begin his Royals’ tenure.