Medlen projects as the safest bet to make the Royals rotation Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star speculates. "I think he's going to have a fantastic year," manager Ned Yost said. "He's going to be a very solid guy in our rotation."

EDGE Analysis

Medlen wasn't very effective when he was handed a spot in the starting rotation down the stretch in 2015, putting up a 4.50 ERA and a 5.32 K/9 in eight starts. He's currently battling Danny Duffy and Chris Young for the final two spots in the rotation going into 2016, but this at least indicates he holds the high ground in that battle.

Medlen (6-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks across six innings in a 6-4 win over the White Sox on Thursday. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

In Medlen's eight starts, he has two stinkers and six strong outings. In the two bad starts, he allowed 13 runs on 20 hits and in the six good starts, he allowed just nine runs on 26 hits. This sort of inconsistency is hard to trust, especially considering he has yet to record more than six strikeout in any start thus far. In any case, Medlen has made quite the comeback from Tommy John surgery and it appears he may be in line to crack the starting rotation yet again next season.

Medlen (5-2) surrendered nine hits, six earned runs and a walk in 3.2 innings in a 9-5 loss to the Indians on Saturday. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

Medlen had not yielded an earned run over his previous two starts but promptly surrendered a two-run triple to Carlos Santana in the first, a harbinger of things to come. Although he only surrendered one walk, Medlen was under constant duress on Saturday and pitched to contact, inducing only five swings-and-misses over 76 offerings. The veteran's night was a far cry from the dominance he wielded over the Indians' bats in a Sept. 15 start where he blanked them over 6.1 innings in their home park. Despite the forgettable night on the mound Saturday, Medlen has generally performed well in his return from Tommy John surgery. He will look to close out the regular season in strong fashion in his next start.

Medlen (4-1) blanked the Indians over 6.1 innings, surrendering five hits and one walk in a 2-0 victory Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Medlen made his fifth start after starting the season out of the bullpen following a 2014 campaign wiped out by Tommy John surgery, and the veteran turned in his best performance to date. It was the longest into the game that the 29-year-old has gone in his trips to the mound, although it was also the first start in which he failed to record a strikeout. After a rocky Sept. 4 appearance in which he gave up 11 hits and seven earned runs over 5.2 innings to the White Sox, Medlen has surrendered only two earned runs and eight hits over 12.1 innings in two starts since. If Medlen can continue to build up his endurance over his remaining starts, he could potentially serve as a valuable component of the Royals' postseason pitching staff.

Medlen (3-1) gave up two earned runs on three hits while walking and striking out a pair in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Medlen was in vintage form Wednesday, holding the Twins hitless through his first five innings. Medlen enjoyed his second quality start of the season, having pitched mostly out of the bullpen since returning from his second Tommy John surgery. It's unclear if Kansas City will continue using Medlen out of the rotation, but the 29-year-old likely pitched well enough to make his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Indians.

Medlen (3-1) was touched up for seven runs on 11 hits and a walk in 5.2 innings in Friday's loss to the White Sox. He struck out three in the game.

EDGE Analysis

Making just his third start on the season, Medlen proved why he has primarily pitched in relief during his career. After back-to-back so-so starts, Medlen fell apart on Friday, raising his ERA as a starter to 6.88 as compared to 2.51 in six relief appearances. Medlen should get a few opportunities to rebound through September with Jason Vargas on the disabled list.

Medlen picked up his third win of the season Saturday, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks over 5.1 innings while striking out five.

EDGE Analysis

He hasn't been great in his two starts for the Royals, but Medlen has lasted just long enough and gotten enough run support to win them both. He'll try to make it three straight victories on Friday, at home against the White Sox.

The Kansas City Royals activated Kris Medlen from the disabled list Tuesday after he recovered from Tommy John surgery, according to the Kansas City Star. Medlen was stretched out as a starter during his rehab assignment, but he will return to the big club as a long man and rotation depth after making 31 starts with the Atlanta Braves in 2013. "I had a pretty good time this time going through it compared to last," Medlen told ESPN, referring to the fact that he underwent the surgery when he was with the Braves in 2010. "With this good of a team and this good of people to be around, it's made it a lot easier and watching some really good baseball, it's got me pretty fired up to come back." Medlen has a 2.95 ERA with 434 strikeouts in 512.2 career innings.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen will be activated from the disabled list on Monday after recovering from an elbow injury, according to the Kansas City Star. Medlen has not pitched in the major leagues since undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in March 2014 and is expected to join the team's bullpen, although he could eventually earn a role in the starting rotation.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen threw seven scoreless innings in his final Double-A rehab start Wednesday as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, according to the Kansas City Star. The 29-year-old has made six starts in the minors, and his 30-day rehab stint expires Saturday, at which point the Royals will need to make a roster move. Medlen has not pitched in the majors since posting a 3.11 ERA over 31 starts for the Atlanta Braves in 2013.