Zack Greinke
SP FA
Tue 12/12/23 2:43 PM

Greinke has communicated to teams that he plans to continue his pitching career in 2024, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
Greinke was said to be considering retirement as of a month ago, but he has begun to prepare for what will be his 21st major-league season and is now open to contract talks with any interested club. The 40-year-old right-hander struggled to a 5.06 ERA over 142.1 innings with the Royals in 2023, but he still has some of the best command in the game and is only 21 strikeouts away from reaching the 3,000-strikeout career milestone.

Zack Greinke
SP FA
Tue 11/7/23 6:07 PM

Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said Tuesday that Greinke is still deciding whether or not he will pitch next year, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
Greinke posted the second-worst ERA (5.06) of his career in 2023 and hit age 40 a couple of weeks ago, but it sounds like there is at least a possibility that the free-agent right-hander could look to return in 2024 for what would be his 21st major-league season. He still has impeccable command and might have a landing spot back in Kansas City if that appeals to him.

Zack Greinke
SP FA
Mon 10/2/23 12:02 AM

Greinke (2-15) earned the win Sunday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over five innings in a 5-2 victory over the Yankees. He struck out two.
EDGE Analysis
Greinke earned his first win since May 3, in a season with his fewest total wins since 2006. The only damage of his outing happened in the sixth inning when Taylor Clarke took over for Greinke and allowed an inherited runner to score. The right-hander had one of the poorer seasons of his storied career, pitching to a 5.06 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 97 strikeouts across 142.1 innings. Foremost for the 39-year-old at this point in his career is continuing to log innings as he makes his case for the Hall of Fame.

Zack Greinke
SP FA
Wed 9/27/23 11:26 AM

Greinke did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing one hit and one walk over five scoreless innings against Detroit. He struck out five.
EDGE Analysis
The only hit allowed by the 39-year-old was a leadoff single to Parker Meadows, who was quickly erased on a pickoff. Despite exiting with a lead after five scoreless frames, Greinke was unable to secure his elusive second win thanks to Detroit's late rally. In the seven-start stretch since Greinke last completed five innings, he accumulated an 0-4 record with a 5.61 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 7.4 K/9 across 25.2 innings. The veteran will likely close out his 20th big-league campaign with a 1-15 record, a 5.18 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP and just 95 strikeouts across 137.1 innings.

Zack Greinke
SP FA
Wed 9/20/23 11:25 PM

Greinke allowed two runs on five hits and struck out five without walking a batter over 3.2 innings versus the Guardians on Wednesday. He did not factor in the decision.
EDGE Analysis
Greinke threw 57 pitches (42 strikes) this time after he was limited to 48 pitches versus the Astros last Friday. It appears the 39-year-old is being eased toward the end of the season, especially after missing time with an elbow injury in August. He hasn't gone more than 4.2 innings in any of his six appearances since his return, which essentially takes him out of the conversation for wins if he continues to start games. Greinke has a 5.37 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 90:20 K:BB through 132.1 innings over 28 appearances (25 starts) this season. He'll likely continue to work in tandem with Angel Zerpa, though with just nine games remaining on the Royals' schedule, Greinke may receive only one more outing.

Zack Greinke
SP FA
Sat 9/16/23 11:03 AM

Greinke did not factor into the decision Friday as the Royals downed the Astros 4-2, giving up three hits and a walk over two scoreless innings. He struck out one.
EDGE Analysis
The 39-year-old got the start but was limited to 48 pitches (28 strikes) before being lifted in favor of Angel Zerpa, who wound up getting the win. It was Greinke's shortest appearance of the season by innings, although he did toss 44 pitches in a much more efficient five-inning outing May 3 against the Orioles -- his last, and only, win of the season. He hasn't completed five frames in any of his last six games, posting a 5.73 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB through 22 innings over that stretch.

Zack Greinke
SP FA
Sun 9/10/23 1:14 AM

Greinke (1-15) took the loss Saturday as the Royals fell 5-1 to the Blue Jays, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk over 3.2 relief innings. He struck out four.
EDGE Analysis
Entering the game in the third inning after James McArthur had given Kansas City two scoreless innings as the opener, Greinke quickly dug a hole his offense couldn't climb out of. The veteran righty's only win of the season came May 3; since then, he's gone 0-10 with a 5.56 ERA and 59:13 K:BB through 90.2 innings. Greinke is two losses shy of tying his career-worst performance in that category, which he set as a fresh-faced 21-year-old in 2005 when he went 5-17. He's also 34 strikeouts shy of 3,000 for his career, but he would need a massive surge to reach that mark before the end of 2023.

Zack Greinke
SP FA
Fri 9/8/23 11:47 PM

Greinke will work in bulk relief again Saturday at Toronto, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
EDGE Analysis
Greinke entered after opener Taylor Clarke last weekend against the Red Sox and is set up to take the mound behind James McArthur on Saturday versus the Blue Jays. The veteran right-hander carries a 5.34 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 80:18 K:BB in 123 innings this season with Kansas City.

Zack Greinke
SP FA
Mon 9/4/23 11:38 AM

Greinke (1-14) took the loss Sunday against the Red Sox. He allowed three runs on five hits and one walk over 3.2 innings. He did not record a strikeout.
EDGE Analysis
Greinke followed opener Taylor Clarke -- who tossed a perfect first frame -- and tossed 3.2 innings of bulk relief. All of the damage against Greinke came on one swing of the bat as Masataka Yoshida tagged him for a three-run home run in the fourth frame. Greinke now owns the second most losses in MLB and hasn't logged a win since May 3. He's tentatively scheduled to take on the Blue Jays in Toronto for his next start.

Zack Greinke
SP FA
Sat 9/2/23 10:48 PM

Greinke will be used in bulk relief for the Royals on Sunday versus the Red Sox, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Taylor Clarke will be the opener for Kansas City. Greinke went four scoreless frames two appearances ago in his first try as a bulk reliever before returning to a traditional start the last time out. He'll carry a 1-13 record and 5.28 ERA into action Sunday.