Lucas Erceg expected to handle high-leverage role for Royals
by Bruno Mulé | Royals Correspondent | Thu, Feb 27th 10:21am EST
The Royals plan to use Lucas Erceg in high-leverage situations alongside closer Carlos Estevez, whether in the ninth inning for a save or earlier in key spots, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. Erceg allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts in his spring debut Wednesday, hitting 98.1 mph on his fastball.
Fantasy Impact:
After securing 11 of Kansas City's 15 saves following his midseason trade from Oakland, Erceg was a strong candidate for the closer role before the Royals signed Estevez. While Estevez is expected to be the primary ninth-inning option, Erceg should still see occasional save opportunities when Estevez is unavailable or when matchups favor his usage earlier in games. His ability to miss bats and handle high-pressure situations makes him a valuable late-inning weapon for Kansas City.
More Lucas Erceg: News, Rankings, Projections, Stats
