Bruce Chen pitched well but picked up a loss Monday against the Blue Jays, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings.

He struck out three and was hurt by the longball, serving up a pair. Chen is 0-2 for the floundering Royals, but he sports a tidy 2.52 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Those marks won't continue, but he's deserved better fate. Chen will get the Twins over the weekend.

Bruce Chen tossed six scoreless innings in his season debut Friday against the Angels, but was handed a no-decision.

Ned Yost's selection of Chen as the Royals' Opening Day starter was largely mocked, but the veteran southpaw made him look good on this night. He allowed just three hits (two of them singles) while fanning four and walking none. Chen should have value again in AL-only leagues this season, but those looking for a repeat of his 3.77 ERA from last year will probably be disappointed.

Bruce Chen will start Opening Day against the Angels on April 6.

We're a little surprised Luke Hochevar didn't get the nod, but Chen is being rewarded after posting a 3.77 ERA over 25 starts last season. The veteran southpaw is expected to be followed by Hochevar and Jonathan Sanchez, who are more interesting from a fantasy perspective.

Bruce Chen finally posted a decent spring start Tuesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings against the Brewers.

He gave up two more homers, which is a common theme for him, but also recorded six strikeouts. Chen came into the outing sporting a 15.00 spring ERA, so he needed to gain a little positive momentum going into the season. The veteran left-hander will serve as the Royals' No. 3 starter this season behind Luke Hochevar and Jonathan Sanchez.

Bruce Chen was pummeled by the White Sox Thursday, surrendering 10 runs on 10 hits and a walk over 4 1/3 innings.

Chen was taken deep three times, all by left-hander batters, as A.J. Pierzynski hit one out and Adam Dunn hit two out, one of which was a grand slam. It's not terribly surprising, as Chen often has problems with the gopherball. The lefty has now allowed at least four runs in three of four spring outings and holds an ERA of 15.00.

Bruce Chen surrendered eight hits and five earned runs in three innings Saturday against the Padres.

It was a nightmarish outing for the 34-year-old Chen, who is now sporting a hideous 11.74 ERA through his first three Cactus League starts. If he's unable to yield better results over his final couple spring outings, there will be real reason for concern heading into the 2012 regular season. Chen registered a 3.96 ERA last spring in 25 Cactus League innings.

According to SI.com's Jon Heyman, Bruce Chen has agreed to a two-year, $9 million deal with the Royals.

The contract also includes a $1 million roster bonus and another $1 million worth of performance-based incentives. Chen, a Type B free agent, went 12-8 with a solid 3.77 ERA in 25 starts this past year for Kansas City. He's a bargain at $4.5 million per season.

Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star writes that the Royals "appear to be making progress" in their efforts to re-sign Bruce Chen.

Jon Heyman of SI.com writes that the Royals "seem focused" on re-signing left-hander Bruce Chen.

Chen, 34, is 24-15 with a 3.96 ERA over the past two seasons with Kansas City. There is mutual interest for him to return, but he will likely draw plenty of interest in a weak market for starting pitchers. He should get a multi-year deal.

Bruce Chen told Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star that two teams have already contacted him expressing "serious interest."

Chen, 34, went 12-8 with a 3.77 ERA over 25 starts this season. He is likely to draw quite a bit of interest in a thin market for starting pitchers, so don't expect any quick decisions. The veteran southpaw qualifies as a Type B free agent this winter.

Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reports that the Royals "appear open" to giving impending free agent Bruce Chen a two-year deal.

The left-hander has worked under three straight one-year pacts with the Royals, but it sounds like they'd be willing to give him a two-year commitment after two straight solid seasons. Chen, 34, will probably draw some interest from other teams in what's shaping up to be a thin free agent market, but he's expressed a desire to remain in Kansas City. Anything more than a modest two-year extension would be risky, though.

Bruce Chen was fantastic in his final start of the season despite picking up a no-decision, tossing eight scoreless innings on eight hits and two walks in a loss to the Twins.

The Red Sox probably could have used that Thursday, eh? Chen was removed after throwing 115 pitches and watched Blake Wood give up a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth in the 1-0 loss. The veteran left-hander concludes the year with a 3.77 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 25 starts this season. He should draw a decent amount of interest in free agency but has expressed a desire to remain in Kansas City.

CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam reports that the Red Sox have "given up" on trying to find a last-minute starter.

Jon Lester will take the mound on Wednesday night against the Orioles. If the American League Wild Card then requires a tiebreaker, the Game 163 starter will come from within the Red Sox organization. Bruce Chen was a target for Boston, but he'll be a Type B free agent this offseason and so the Royals decided to keep him.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Red Sox are still discussing whether to acquire a pitcher for a possible one-game playoff with the Tampa Bay Rays, specifically Royals' left-hander Bruce Chen.

Chen is just one name on a list of potential targets. It would be a savvy move for the pitching-starved Red Sox, as the Rays have a .249 batting average against left-handed pitchers this season. However, the Red Sox will need to get a deal done quickly if they want Chen, as he is scheduled to pitch the Royals' season finale Wednesday night against the Twins. For what it's worth, according to the latest Elias rankings update via MLB Trade Rumors, the 34-year-old left-hander currently qualifies as a Type B free agent in the American League. If the Red Sox end up winning the Wild Card, Chen would not be eligible for the postseason roster.

Bruce Chen again dominated the White Sox on Friday, allowing just one run on two hits in eight innings of an 11-1 Royals victory.

Chen will finish 2011 with a 3-1 record to go along with a 1.89 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 33 1/3 innings across four starts against the White Sox. The owner of a 3.98 ERA and 1.31 WHIP on the season, he'll get the Twins in Minnesota in Kansas City's season finale next Wednesday.

Bruce Chen couldn't solve the White Sox Sunday, getting blasted for four runs on nine hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings.

He struck out a pair. This outing comes about a month after Chen one-hit the White Sox in Chicago, and he had allowed just two runs over 20 innings to them this season prior to today. He'll get a chance at them again, when he will carry a 4.14 ERA and 1.36 WHIP into Chicago next weekend.

Bruce Chen frustrated the Indians with 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball on Sunday, allowing just five hits in a 2-1 Royals victory in Cleveland.

Chen has now allowed just seven runs in 27 innings of work across his past five starts for an ERA of 1.67. Now 10-5 with a 3.94 ERA and 1.36 WHIP on the season, he'll get the Indians again next Friday, this time in Kansas City.

Bruce Chen held the Yankees to three runs on seven hits in six innings of work on Wednesday, improving to 8-5 in a 5-4 Kansas City win at home.

He struck out three, walked three and allowed a pair of home runs. The quality start was Chen's second straight, though just his second in five outings. He'll get the Blue Jays in Toronto in Tuesday.

Bruce Chen yielded just one hit over six shutout innings in a 5-1 win over the White Sox Friday.

Chen did walk three and hit a pair of batters, but it was still an impressive performance for him and an embarrassing showing for the White Sox lineup. It's especially disheartening for Sox fans to know that Chen came into the game having allowed 16 runs over his previous 13 1/3 innings. He'll take a 4.15 ERA and 1.42 WHIP into next week's showdown with the Yankees.

Bruce Chen allowed three runs on five hits in five innings of work on Sunday, improving to 6-5 in Kansas City's 4-3 win over the Tigers.

He struck out five and walked none. Chen had failed to complete five innings in both of his past two starts, so today was a minor improvement. He'll take a 4.43 ERA and 1.48 WHIP into his weekend outing against the White Sox.