Zerpa threw a scoreless inning in Friday's spring training win over the Angels. He's thrown four scoreless innings with five strikeouts and no walks this spring.
Zerpa became a high-leverage weapon last season thanks to a sinker with high velocity (it reached 99 mph last year, according to MLB.com) that helped lead to a 58.4% groundball rate. He'll be a key lefty in the late innings and could be a good source of holds (12 last season).
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Royals' Angel Zerpa: Nabs second win
Rotowire
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.
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Royals' Angel Zerpa: Recalled from Omaha
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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.
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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.
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Royals' Angel Zerpa: Returning to bullpen
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Royals' Angel Zerpa: Works in relief Tuesday
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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Royals' Angel Zerpa: Strikes out six over four frames
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Royals' Angel Zerpa: Activated and optioned
Rotowire
Zerpa (shoulder) was activated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
The shoulder issue which has kept Zerpa out all season looks to be behind him, but he'll remain at Omaha where he had been on his rehab assignment. Zerpa has collected a 2.91 ERA and 22:9 K:BB over 21.2 frames covering six rehab starts.
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Royals' Angel Zerpa: Strikes out seven in rehab start
Rotowire
Zerpa (shoulder) covered 4.1 innings and struck out seven in his most recent rehab start Monday for Triple-A Omaha. He allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks.
Zerpa has resided on the injured list all season while recovering from a tendon issue in his left shoulder, but he appears to be on the cusp of an activation. He's now reached the fifth inning in both of his last two rehab outings and tossed a season-high 80 pitches Monday. Altogether, Zerpa has compiled a 3.78 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB in 16.2 innings over his five starts between Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. If the Royals opt to have him forgo another rehab start, Zerpa could be a candidate to return from the 60-day IL to fill the opening in the big-league rotation Sunday versus the Rays.
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Royals' Angel Zerpa: Dealing with sore shoulder
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Zerpa is behind schedule in Royals camp with a mild left shoulder injury, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Zerpa will continue his throwing program, so this is viewed as only a minor setback for now. The left-hander should be on a starter's schedule this spring but could also wind up in the bullpen.
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Royals' Angel Zerpa: Leaves rehab start early
Rotowire
Zerpa (knee) was pulled from his rehab start in Triple-A Omaha early due to discomfort in his left arm, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Zerpa was struck by a ball that came right back at him off the bat during his previous start, so it is possible that the two incidents are connected. Nonetheless, the Royals will determine their approach with Zerpa following an evaluation of his arm.
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Royals' Angel Zerpa: Transferred to 60-day IL
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Zerpa (knee) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.
Zerpa landed on the injured list with right knee discomfort last Wednesday, but he'll ultimately be forced to miss at least two months after the Royals detected a small tear in his patella tendon, per Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star. The southpaw posted a 1.64 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 11 innings over three appearances (two starts) in the majors this year, and though he'll technically be eligible to come off the IL in the penultimate week of the regular season, the Royals are more likely to shut him down rather than risking a potential setback heading into the offseason.
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Royals' Angel Zerpa: Leaves with knee discomfort
Rotowire
Zerpa was removed from Tuesday's game against the Angels with right knee discomfort, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Zerpa started Tuesday's contest and was lifted after giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with one strikeout and one walk over four innings. The severity of the injury remains unclear, leaving the 22-year-old's availability up in the air.
