Nate Karns has won the fifth and final spot in the Royals’ starting rotation, Rustin Dodd of The Kansas City Star reports. He was battling with Travis Wood and Chris Young for the honor. Manager Ned Yost says he likes Karns’ power and the versatility of having Wood and Young in the bullpen, Dodd adds.
The Royals acquired Karns from the Mariners two months ago in exchange for outfielder Jarrod Dyson. Karns, 29, became a major league regular in 2015 when he finished with a 3.67 ERA in 147 innings. The past season didn’t go so well as he put up a 5.15 ERA with a 101/45 K/BB ratio in 94 1/3 innings, missing most of the second half with a back injury.
