Yordano

Ventura

Ventura hadn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his previous eight starts, so it’s the first time he’s struggled this season. The 21-year-old top prospect has a 2.82 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and 12.1 K/9 over 45 innings at the Double-A level. Prior to Wednesday’s outing, he had a pair of 10-strikeout games and 32 total strikeouts in his last four starts.

Ventura dominated at the Double-A level, where he posted a 2.34 ERA and 11.5 K/9 over 11 starts. The 22-year-old top prospect continues to move quickly through the Royals’ minor league system and could be an option for the starting rotation at some point later this season.

Ventura deserved a better fate, as he left in line for his first major league victory before the Royals bullpen blew the lead. He gave up five hits, all singles, and two walks in the outing. The 22-year-old regularly hit upper 90s on the radar gun, touching 100 miles per hour a few times as well. He’s got a little easier task his next time out, facing the Mariners in Seattle on Monday.

Ventura also gave up one run in 5 2/3 frames in his last start -- the first of his career, against the Indians on Tuesday -- and the bullpen blew leads both times that would have led to his first major league victory. The 22-year-old righty with a high-90s heater has posted an impressive 1.59 ERA and 1.06 WHIP through 11 1/3 frames. Ventura will have one last shot at win No. 1, as he toes the rubber against the White Sox on Saturday.

Ventura allowed four runs on six hits in his four innings of work, walking one and striking out two along the way. Marcus Semien, Jordan Danks and Adam Dunn each knocked one over the boards against him, accounting for all of the damage. The 22-year-old posted a respectable 3.52 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 11/6 K/BB ratio over 15 1/3 innings in his three starts with the Royals this season. He’ll compete for one of the final spots in the Royals rotation next Spring.

Ventura will presumably provide depth for the Royals’ overworked bullpen, though a spot start can’t be ruled out. The 22-year-old right-hander registered a 3.14 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 155/53 K/BB ratio across 134 2/3 minor league innings this season. He has a bright future.

Ventura will make a spot start on Tuesday night against the Indians. He posted a decent 3.14 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 155/53 K/BB ratio in 134 2/3 innings this summer in the minor leagues, but Cleveland’s offense is pretty good and the righty is not a great fantasy option.

He’ll make the start in place of Danny Duffy. Ventura, 22, posted a 3.14 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 155/53 K/BB ratio across 134 2/3 minor league innings this season. He’s an intriguing talent, but most fantasy owners can probably afford to wait and see.

The 22-year-old righty now has 36 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings since receiving a promotion to Triple-A in early June, though he has also allowed 17 walks during that span. His start on Sunday was encouraging because Ventura did not issue a free pass. The young flame-thrower should be a factor at the major league level in some capacity by the end of this season.

Ventura totaled 150 innings between the minors and majors in 2013, and now the Royals are ready to really push him. The talented 22-year-old right-hander will be in the running for Kansas City’s fifth rotation spot this spring. If he makes the team, he’ll be worth owning in pretty much every standard mixed fantasy league. Ventura had a 10.7 K/9 on the farm in 2012 and a 10.4 K/9 last season.