Marsh (2-0) earned the win over the Mets on Saturday, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out two batters.
The Mets got to Marsh for four runs in the first three innings, but he ended his day with a couple scoreless frames, and the Kansas City offense provided more than enough support to power him to the win. Marsh has allowed just one home run through three starts this season -- Pete Alonso's long ball Saturday -- and the right-hander has a serviceable 4.32 ERA and 1.08 WHIP despite having only 10 strikeouts through 16.2 innings. He's firmly in the streaming mix but will make for a tough call next week in a projected home start against the Orioles.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Struggles in no-decision
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Marsh allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out three over 4.2 innings Sunday against the White Sox. He was not involved in the decision.
Marsh was clean through three before the White Sox eventually broke through with two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth, leading to Marsh's exit from the game. The 26-year-old managed just five swings and misses on 78 pitches and will look to have a better showing his next time out, which currently lines up against the Mets on the road.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Picks up first win
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Marsh (1-0) earned the win Tuesday against Baltimore, surrendering one earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out five batters across seven innings.
Marsh has been known to struggle with command throughout his career, so allowing just one walk and three total baserunners against one of the better lineups in the AL is certainly noteworthy. Tuesday marks the first time the 25-year-old has earned a win as a starter in his MLB career, and he's lined up for a chance to repeat his performance over the weekend against the White Sox.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Thursday that Marsh has won the final spot in the rotation, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Jordan Lyles had the incumbency and the contract, but he was hurt and out-pitched by Marsh this spring, so he'll head to the bullpen. Marsh posted a 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB over 14 innings during Cactus League play to earn the rotation slot. The 25-year-old has displayed swing-and-miss stuff throughout his pro career, including during his time with Kansas City last season when he fanned 85 over 74.1 frames while splitting time between the rotation and bullpen. Marsh's control is a problem, though, so he'll need to tighten that up before fantasy managers can put a ton of trust in him.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Favorite to open as fifth starter?
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Marsh could be considered the favorite to open the season as the Royals' fifth starter, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Jordan Lyles came into camp as the favorite for the gig but has been slowed by lower-back tightness. While Lyles is healthy now and slated to start Thursday's Cactus League game, he might not be built up enough to begin the season in the rotation. Meanwhile, Marsh has dazzled with a 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB over 14 spring innings. Daniel Lynch is also in the mix for the No. 5 spot.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Heavy usage in spring
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Marsh has allowed one run on five hits and four walks while striking out 12 over 10 innings across four Cactus League appearances.
Marsh doesn't have a clear path to the Royals' rotation, and that's been reflected in his usage -- only one of his four spring outings has been a start. The 25-year-old started eight of his 17 appearances last season, posting a 5.69 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 85:39 K:BB over 74.1 innings overall. Marsh may still be stretched out in the minors at Triple-A Omaha if he doesn't earn a spot in the Royals' bullpen, but he's pitched well enough this spring to earn a spot in the majors. The one knock against Marsh is that he still walks too many batters.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Takes loss in bulk relief
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Marsh (3-9) took the loss in Saturday's 5-2 loss against the Yankees. He allowed three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six over 4.1 innings.
The 25-year-old operated in his now-customary role of bulk reliever after opener Steven Cruz fired a scoreless first inning. Marsh surrendered two runs in the fourth and was charged with a third after his removal with one out in the sixth, giving New York the lead and handing the right-hander a loss. In five outings since becoming a full-time bulk reliever Sept. 8, Marsh went 3-1 with a 4.43 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 25:10 K:BB across 22.1 innings. He'll end his rookie campaign with a 3-9 record, 5.69 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 85:39 K:BB over 17 appearances (74.1 innings).
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Working behind opener again
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Marsh is scheduled to serve as a bulk reliever behind opener Steven Cruz in Saturday's home game against the Yankees, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Marsh hasn't started since Sept. 2, but he continues to make regular turns through the Kansas City rotation while pitching behind an opener. Serving as a bulk reliever has increased Marsh's fantasy appeal, as the rookie right-hander has scooped up wins in three of his last four outings while pitching to a 4.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB in 18 innings during that stretch.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Earns win in bulk role
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Marsh (3-8) picked up the win as the bulk reliever Sunday against the Astros. He allowed four runs on three hits and two walks while striking out six over 5.1 innings.
Marsh was shaky in this outing as he yielded four runs, but his offense provided enough support to pick up the win. However, the 25-year-old has performed admirably overall as a bulk reliever since moving into that role full-time Sept. 8. In four outings since then, he has gone 3-0 with a 4.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB over 18 innings. Marsh's next and final bulk outing of the year should occur against the Yankees, assuming the Royals keep the same rotation schedule.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Set up for bulk relief
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Marsh will work as the bulk pitcher Sunday against the Astros, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Marsh is expected to at some point follow opener Steven Cruz in the Royals' series finale versus Houston. Marsh, 25, carries a 5.71 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 73:34 K:BB through his first 64.2 major-league innings this season.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Snags win as bulk reliever
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Marsh (2-8) picked up the win Tuesday, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk over 4.1 relief innings in a 7-6 victory over the Guardians. He struck out two.
Taking the mound after opener Steven Cruz had loaded the bases with two outs in the second inning, Marsh escaped that jam but created ones for himself in the fifth and sixth innings, although he never relinquished the early lead Kansas City had built up. After going 0-8 through his first 13 big-league games, the 25-year-old righty has recorded the win in back-to-back outings, and he's worked at least four innings in three straight appearances as a bulk reliever, posting a respectable 3.55 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB through 12.2 innings over that stretch. If he stays on turn, Marsh will likely see action twice more before the regular season comes to a close -- Sept. 26 in Detroit, and then during Kansas City's final game Oct. 1 at home against the Yankees.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Earns first big-league win
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Marsh (1-8) allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.1 innings to earn the win Wednesday over the White Sox.
Marsh earned his first major-league win in this contest. He was sharp as the bulk reliever following two scoreless innings from Steven Cruz. Marsh gave up a run in the seventh, but the White Sox never made much of a challenge for the lead. The rookie right-hander now has a 5.67 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 71:33 K:BB through 60.1 innings over 14 appearances (eight starts). He's been more effective following an opener, so he may do that again for his next appearance, tentatively scheduled to be at home versus the Guardians next week.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Handling bulk role again
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Marsh will serve as the Royals' bulk reliever behind opener Steven Cruz in Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Marsh remains part of Kansas City's rotation, but he's started in just two of his last six outings. The Royals seem content to continue deploying him as a primary pitcher out of the bullpen, given that he's been far more effective in that capacity than as a traditional starter. In 20.2 innings coming out of the bullpen, Marsh owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 15.1 K-BB%.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Fans six in bulk role
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Marsh didn't factor into the decision Friday in the Royals' 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over four relief innings. He struck out six.
Entering the game to begin the third inning after Collin Snider had supplied two scoreless frames as the opener, Marsh looked sharp as he generated 23 called or swinging strikes on only 65 pitches. The right-hander was briefly in line for his first win of the season when Kansas City took a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh, but the bullpen immediately fell apart in the bottom of the inning. Marsh has given up three runs or fewer in five of his last six outings, and while a blowup against Boston has left him with a 5.14 ERA and 1.57 WHIP during that stretch, his 34:14 K:BB through 28 innings at least shows some promise. His next appearance, whether as a starter or bulk reliever, is likely to come on the road next week against the White Sox.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Hit hard in Saturday's loss
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Marsh (0-8) took the loss Saturday as the Royals were downed 9-5 by the Red Sox, surrendering six runs on seven hits and two walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out one.
Five of the seven hits off Marsh went for extra bases, including a two-run homer by Triston Casas in the first inning. It's the most runs the right-hander has given up in an outing this season, but his luck may have been due to run out -- since rejoining the rotation in early August, the 25-year-old has a 5.59 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 33:15 K:BB through 29 innings. If he stays on turn, Marsh would next head to the mound next weekend in Toronto.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Fans nine in loss
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Marsh (0-7) yielded three runs on five hits and two walks over 5.2 innings Sunday, striking out nine and taking a loss against the Mariners.
Oddly enough, Marsh turned in his second straight outing in which he allowed three runs and struck out nine over 5.2 frames. He also forced a season-high 16 whiffs. The right-handed rookie has registered a 5.47 ERA with a 59:27 K:BB through 49.1 innings this season, though he produced a solid 4.10 ERA in 26.1 frames in August. Marsh's next outing is lined up to be at home against the Red Sox.
