Alec Marsh optioned to minors to make roster space and manage his workload.
Alec Marsh was optioned to Omaha this morning to make room on the 26 man roster for the trade acquisitions at the deadline.
Marsh will back off innings in Triple-A, in the 40-60 pitch range, to help with his workload. Pitch selection and design also will be a focus. He will make some shorter starts or pitch with an opener, Quatraro said. https://t.co/8Je0TTzspX
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) July 31, 2024
Marsh has already thrown 105.1 innings (4 in Omaha) in 2024 and his previous high in workload was 136.2 last season across AA, AAA, and the big leagues. With 10 or 11 more starts to go, he would end up around 160 before the playoffs if the Royals make it in. Hopefully a brief respite in Omaha will keep him fresh down the stretch.
The addition of Michael Lorenzen was to make sure that the Royals had another option to take some innings load off of the starters who are almost all bumping up to there highest innings pitched for a season. Don’t be surprised if some of the other starters get some sort of time off at some point in August or September.
After struggling in 2023 at the major league level, Marsh has had a breakout season and solidified the back end of the rotation for Kansas City. His 4.71 ERA is above is FIP and xFIP, so he is one of best 5th starters in baseball currently.
