Mitch

Spence

Spence retreats to the minors after allowing a staggering 10 runs over 1 1/3 innings during Friday’s apocalyptic 22-1 loss to the White Sox. The 28-year-old has allowed 22 runs over 9 1/3 innings at the big-league level this season.

Spence has given up six runs over four innings in both of his appearances for the Royals this season, first in a relief outing against the Nationals in April and later in a start against the Yankees last week. He’ll likely throw a few innings tonight against the White Sox and then return to Triple-A.

Spence is sent down to make room for Connor Seabold after the Royals acquired Seabold via trade. Spence will likely be back in some sort of role with Kansas City before the summer concludes.

Spence gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out one. Spence is nothing if not consistent as the 28-year-old right-hander has appeared in two games for the Royals this year and allowed six runs in four innings both times. It’s unlikely the Royals saw enough from Spence on Monday to keep him in the rotation.

Spence draws the starting assignment for Monday’s series opener against the Nationals after spending nearly two months in the minors. The 28-year-old was hit hard in a handful of early-season appearances for Kansas City. He’s unlikely to work too deep into this contest and is not a recommended fantasy option.

The 27-year-old hurler got into one game during his time with the Royals, giving up six runs on four hits and five walks over four innings, leading to an unsightly 13.50 ERA and 2.25 WHIP. He’ll attempt to work through his command issues at the minor league level. Mason Black was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move on Sunday.

Spence threw five innings in his first start in Omaha, allowing just one run in five innings despite striking out one. It’s possible he’s a bulk reliever or starter over the weekend if the Royals want to shift some pitchers around in the wake of Cole Ragans leaving yesterday’s start early.

Spence was a long shot to crack Kansas City’s season-opening roster this spring. He’ll open the year back in the upper minors after being acquired from the Athletics in a small trade earlier this spring. The 27-year-old holds a respectable 4.77 ERA (4.67 xERA), 1.40 WHIP and 192/70 K/BB ratio across 236 innings in the majors since 2024.

All of the runs scored in the second before the Royals pulled Spence with two outs in the frame. He returned to retire Ian Happ in the third and then left for good. Spence, who was acquired from the A’s a month ago, has allowed eight runs over seven innings this spring. At this point, he seems more likely to wind up in the Triple-A rotation than in the major league pen.

The 27-year-old hurler didn’t walk a batter or record a strikeout in the ballgame. The Dodgers jumped on him in the opening inning with consecutive RBI knocks from Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez pushing three runs across. Spence then settled in and worked a pair of scoreless innings to end his day. He got three swings and misses on 42 pitches on the night, registering an uninspiring CSW of only 17 percent. The expectation is that Spence will begin the season in a long relief role for the Royals, which saps him of any late-round fantasy appeal that he may have had if he were in the rotation.