Zerpa (2-0) earned the extra-inning win over the Nationals on Tuesday, pitching a perfect inning.
Zerpa worked the ninth inning in a scoreless game, and he was able to keep it that way. He's allowed just one hit while striking out six over four innings across four appearances since he rejoined the major-league roster Sept. 14. The left-handed reliever is at a 4.06 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 47:18 K:BB with 10 holds and a blown save over 51 innings in the majors this season.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Recalled from Omaha
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Zerpa from Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.
With Chris Stratton (forearm) headed for the injured list, the Royals will call upon Zerpa to help get their bullpen through the final couple weeks of the regular season. The 24-year-old southpaw owns a 4.40 ERA and 1.57 WHIP through 47 big-league innings on the year and will most likely serve in middle relief while with Kansas City.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Sent down to minors
Rotowire
The Royals optioned Zerpa to Triple-A Omaha on Monday.
Zerpa leads Kansas City with 53 appearances this season and has pitched well for the bulk of the campaign, but in August, he's turned in a 9.82 ERA and 4:8 K:BB in 7.1 frames. Daniel Lynch was called up from Triple-A to take Zerpa's spot in the bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Secures first win
Rotowire
Zerpa (1-0) struck out one without allowing a baserunner over two-thirds of an inning to earn the win over the Marlins on Wednesday.
Zerpa's had a strong season, but his overall numbers are skewed by a five-run meltdown versus the Rangers last Saturday. It was just the third time all year he had allowed multiple runs, and he bounced back with a sharp outing Wednesday to grab his first win. Zerpa is at a 3.41 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 25:9 K:BB over 29 innings while adding eight holds and a blown save. The southpaw saw increased high-leverage work in May, but the Royals have gone 9-14 in June, creating fewer opportunities for him to pitch in key situations. Zerpa should continue to factor in the late innings, but he's not yet a threat to James McArthur's closer job.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Gaining traction in leverage spots
Rotowire
Zerpa extended his scoreless streak to 7.2 innings with a perfect inning in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Athletics.
Zerpa's scoreless streak spans nine appearances, and he's earned five holds while adding an 8:0 K:BB in that span. The southpaw came up through the minors as a starter, but he's found some success in the Royals' bullpen this year. He's up to seven holds through 20 appearances while pitching to a 1.47 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 20:3 K:BB over 18.1 innings this season. Zerpa has yet to get a look for saves, but he's been one of the Royals' most effective relievers over the first quarter-plus of the campaign.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Returning to bullpen
Rotowire
Manager Matt Quatraro said Wednesday that Zerpa will begin the season in the Royals' bullpen, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Twelve of Zerpa's 15 MLB appearances last season came out of the bullpen, and he'll officially reprise his role as a multi-inning reliever in 2024. A strong start to the regular season could help the 24-year-old southpaw move into the rotation, but Zerpa would have to turn things around after giving up seven earned runs across 9.2 innings this spring.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Strikes out five in spring start
Rotowire
Zerpa allowed a run on two hits and struck out five without walking a batter over three innings in his first spring start Wednesday versus the Mariners.
Zerpa's first two appearances of the Cactus League slate had come out of the bullpen, but the Royals are intent on keeping him stretched out as a starter. He's started six of his 19 major-league appearances, though he primarily worked as a long reliever in 2023 when he was with the Royals. Zerpa faces an uphill battle to make the rotation out of camp, but he should be one of the first options available for a call-up from Triple-A Omaha once the season is underway -- if he doesn't end up serving as a swingman in the bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Earns win in bulk role
Rotowire
Zerpa (3-3) earned the win Wednesday against the Guardians. He allowed three hits while striking out four over 5.1 scoreless innings.
After Zack Greinke pitched the first 3.2 innings, Zerpa entered in relief and proceeded to blank the Guardians for 5.1 frames to earn his second straight win. The 23-year-old southpaw has excelled out of the bullpen recently, allowing just one run in his last three appearances (10.1 innings), striking out nine while issuing just one walk in that span. Zerpa may be making a case to start the 2024 campaign in Kansas City's rotation. He now sports a 4.82 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB across 37.1 innings this season.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Secures win Friday
Rotowire
Zerpa (2-3) allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out five over four innings to earn the win Friday over the Astros.
Zerpa has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen, and his appearance Friday was as a long reliever behind Zack Greinke, who went just two innings. Zerpa threw 70 pitches (43 strikes) in an effective appearance. He's allowed just two runs over his last nine innings, an improvement on his 5.63 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 25:7 K:BB through 32 innings overall. Zerpa could continue to serve as a piggyback option for Greinke or Alec Marsh over the last two weeks of the season.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Works in relief Tuesday
Rotowire
Zerpa struck out three over three scoreless innings out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the White Sox. He scattered four hits and didn't walk a batter in the 47-pitch outing.
Zerpa shifted back to the bullpen this week after his previous appearance had come in the rotation Aug. 30 versus the Pirates. The 23-year-old southpaw looks like he'll be the next man up if a starting spot opens back up at any point in September. Zerpa has a 6.23 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB through 26 big-league innings this season.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Takes loss versus Pittsburgh
Rotowire
Zerpa dropped to 1-3 after allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three over 5.2 innings in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Pirates.
Zerpa has moved between the bullpen and the rotation throughout August, but this was his longest outing of the year. He wasn't particularly effective, throwing just 49 of 84 pitches for strikes while allowing multiple runs for the fourth time in eight appearances. Overall, he has a 6.65 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB through 23 innings this season. If Brady Singer (arm) is cleared to pitch next week, Zerpa would likely move back to the bullpen unless the Royals opt to switch to a six-man rotation for the final month of the campaign.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Draws start Wednesday
Rotowire
Zerpa is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Pirates at Kauffman Stadium, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Zerpa made his latest appearance out of the bullpen this past Saturday in Seattle while Zack Greinke moved back into a traditional starting role earlier this week, but the Royals will turn to Zerpa for a spot start Wednesday since Brady Singer (arm) is having his turn in the rotation skipped. Assuming the brief respite is all Singer needs to overcome his bout with arm fatigue, Zerpa will likely head back to the bullpen following Wednesday's start. Between his previous two starts with Kansas City this season, Zerpa has given up five earned runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out 10 over seven innings.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Moves to bullpen Saturday
Rotowire
Zerpa struck out a batter and allowed one run on one hit while working out of the bullpen in Saturday's 15-2 loss to the Mariners.
Zerpa had started in each of his last two appearances, but he was piggybacked in Tuesday's game against Oakland by Zack Greinke, who was eased back in his return from the injured list with a four-inning relief appearance. Greinke should be ready to take on a more traditional starting role the next time his turn in the rotation comes up during the Royals' upcoming series with the Pirates, so Zerpa appears to have transitioned back into a full-time relief role.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Handed second loss
Rotowire
Zerpa (1-2) allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out four over three innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Athletics.
Zerpa served as more of an opener, allowing the Royals to ease Zack Greinke back in for his return from an elbow injury. Zerpa ended up giving up all the runs the Athletics scored during his time on the mound, and his future in the rotation for the rest of this season is likely in doubt. He's pitched to a poor 7.16 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB through 16.1 innings over six appearances (two starts).
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Strikes out six over four frames
Rotowire
Zerpa did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over four innings against the Mariners. He struck out six.
It wasn't an ideal start to the night for Zerpa, as the right-hander allowed three hits and two walks over the first two innings while also beaning two batters. He still managed to come away with just one run allowed but was replaced by Max Castillo to open the fifth after reaching a season-high 84 pitches. Zerpa has now allowed five runs over his last two appearances, recording an 8:3 K:BB over that span. His six strikeouts Thursday also marked a season high.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Sticking in rotation this week
Rotowire
Zerpa is scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Mariners at Kauffman Stadium.
Though Zerpa is lined up to make his first start of the season, he's essentially making his second straight turn through the rotation as a replacement for Zack Greinke (elbow). In his most recent outing Friday versus the Cardinals, Zerpa was deployed in bulk relief behind opener Dylan Coleman and picked up the win despite giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits and one walk over four innings. He won't make for an especially trustworthy streaming option during his upcoming outing versus the Mariners.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Earns win as bulk reliever
Rotowire
Zerpa (1-1) earned the win Friday against the Cardinals. He allowed five runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two over four innings.
It's not that Zerpa was effective, but he entered the game in the second inning already up 8-0 giving him a clear path to earn his first win. The left-hander worked as a starter in the minors prior to his call up Aug. 1, but this was his second appearance as a bulk reliever for the big club and fourth overall. Zerpa has now allowed eight runs in 9.1 innings with only three strikeouts. Those stats do not portend to him holding much value moving forward, especially on a Royals' team that has amassed just 38 wins on the season.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Slated for bulk role Friday
Rotowire
Zerpa is expected to serve in a bulk-relief role behind opener Dylan Coleman in Friday's game against the Cardinals, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Zerpa looks like he'll get the first chance to fill the opening in the Kansas City rotation that was created when Zack Greinke (elbow) moved to the injured list. Though Zerpa has made only three appearances in the big leagues in 2023 while spending a significant chunk of time on the injured list, he had been serving as a starter at Triple-A Omaha prior to his call-up Aug. 1. Over six outings with Omaha, Zerpa compiled a 4.73 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 26.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Tagged with loss Saturday
Rotowire
Zerpa (0-1) allowed four runs on five hits and struck out one without walking a batter over three innings to take the loss Saturday versus the Phillies.
Zerpa gave up a three-run home run and an RBI double to Trea Turner, which was enough to flip the game around in Philadelphia's favor. This was Zerpa's second major-league appearance of the season -- he tossed two scoreless innings versus the Mets on Wednesday. For now, it appears he'll provide a multi-inning option out of the bullpen. It's unclear if he'll be able to stretch out enough in that role to pick up starts down the stretch.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Up with big club
Rotowire
Zerpa was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Zerpa was sent to Omaha after being reinstated from the 60-day injured list in mid-July, and he'll now join the big-league club. The 23-year-old has a 4.73 ERA across 26.2 innings as a starter at Triple-A but may work out of the bullpen for the Royals.
