Kris Bubic has been making a significant impact on the Kansas City Royals’ rotation this season, and his latest performance against the Houston Astros has only strengthened his case for being considered among the league’s elite pitchers. In a remarkable outing, Bubic threw 6 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on six hits and one walk while striking out nine batters. Such a performance positions him not just as a promising starter but as a strong contender for future awards, including potential Cy Young considerations.
Although the Royals ended up losing the game in dramatic fashion with a ninth-inning walk-off, fans can take comfort in Bubic’s continued development into a front-end starter. His remarkable statistics further emphasize this assertion. As of Tuesday, Bubic boasted a 1.66 ERA, making him one of the top pitchers in Major League Baseball, ranking fourth among qualified starters. His peripherals are equally noteworthy, recording a 2.69 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP), a 1.10 WHIP, and a .219 batting average against (BAA).
Throughout his nine starts this season, Bubic has shown remarkable consistency. He has only allowed more than three earned runs in one outing, while impressively limiting opponents to one or fewer earned runs in six of his starts, with Tuesday’s outing being the only one falling outside of a shutout category. Additionally, he has displayed strong strikeout capabilities, accumulating six or more strikeouts in six outings and limiting walks to one or fewer in five.
Despite these strong statistics, Bubic’s name did not appear in the top five of MLB.com’s early 2025 Cy Young poll, placing him instead in the “other receiving votes” category. This may be disappointing for fans hoping to see him recognized alongside established pitchers such as Tarik Skubal, Max Fried, and Garrett Crochet, who have had a longer track record of excellence in the league.
Bubic has the potential to gain more recognition, similar to how the best pitchers develop their reputations over time. With continued solid performances, he is poised to earn the attention he deserves, showcasing the growing strength of this Royals rotation. Fans are hopeful that as his journey unfolds, Bubic will establish himself as a household name in Major League Baseball.