Royals' right-hander Zack Greinke threw his third career complete game on Monday night as the Royals beat the A's 5-1.  The youngster scattered five hits though nine innings to post his third straight stellar outing as he moves to 3-0.

The Mariners aren't the most potent line-up in the league and Safeco Field is a pitcher's dream, but his first two starts were against the Yankees and Tigers, two of the best lineups in the game.  Greinke's stat line is impressive (3-0, 0.75 ERA, and 0.92 WHIP), but the strikeout to walk ratio (9:5 through three starts) won't get you excited.

After spending four months in the pen to start the 2007 campaign Greinke had a 3.54 ERA and a 55/15 K/BB ratio in 53 1/3 innings. However, when given a chance to return to the rotation in late August, he had a 1.85 ERA in 34 innings over seven starts. That has left him eligible as both a starter and a reliever in many formats.

The Royals are off to a fast start at 8-6 and appear to be one of the American League's up-and-coming teams. The offensive is capable of providing the run support to make feasable for Greinke to have a great chance at racking up many more wins ahead, particularly if he continues to throw as well as he is right now.

Greinke, who at one time was a highly coveted pitching prospect, appears to have beaten the depression problems that slowed his career. At 24, he possesses a tremendous amount of upside and should be owned in most leagues at this point.