| News |
|---|
|
Aaron Bummer Aaron Bummer Moving to big leagues
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 2:05 PM
The Royals selected Bummer's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
Analysis: The left-hander joined Kansas City on a minor-league deal July 20 and will get a look in the majors after delivering four scoreless outings for Omaha. Bummer made 19 appearances for Atlanta earlier this year and surrendered 13 earned runs with a 13:10 K:BB over 15.1 innings. |
|
Isaac Collins Isaac Collins Taking seat Sunday
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 2:03 PM
Collins is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Analysis: Collins will receive a breather after he went 7-for-35 (.200 average) with one home run, three runs and two RBI while starting in each of the Royals' last 10 games. Starling Marte will replace Collins in left field and will bat fifth. |
|
Andrew Velazquez Andrew Velazquez Losing out on playing time
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 2:02 PM
Velazquez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Analysis: Velazquez started in four of the Royals' ensuing five games following his call-up from Triple-A Omaha on July 22, but he's since seen his playing time fall by the wayside. He'll hit the bench Sunday for the fifth time in six games and could be in danger of being pushed off the roster when the Royals likely reinstate Bobby Witt (back) from the injured list Tuesday. |
|
Josh Rojas Josh Rojas Drawing fifth start in six games
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 2:01 PM
Rojas will start at third base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Analysis: Rojas will be included in the lineup for the fifth time in six games, despite going just 1-for-10 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored over his prior four starts. He could see his playing time dry up in the near future, however, as Kyle Isbel (foot) returned from the injured list Sunday, and Bobby Witt (back) appears on track to be activated Tuesday. |
|
Tyler Tolbert Tyler Tolbert Gaining traction at shortstop
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 1:57 PM
Tolbert will start at shortstop and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Analysis: Tolbert appears to have emerged as the Royals' preferred option at shortstop in the absence of Bobby Witt (back). He'll cover the position for the fourth time in five games, but Tolbert could soon shift back into more of a utility role. Per Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star, the Royals are anticipating Witt coming off the injured list ahead of Tuesday's series opener versus the Twins. |
|
Michael Massey Michael Massey Idle against southpaw
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 1:52 PM
Massey is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Massey had started in Kansas City's last five games but will get a breather while southpaw Kyle Freeland toes the rubber for Colorado. Nick Loftin will check in for Massey at second base and will bat second. |
|
Kyle Isbel Kyle Isbel Activated, but not in lineup
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 1:51 PM
The Royals reinstated Isbel (foot) from the 10-day injured list Sunday.
Analysis: Isbel is likely to take over as the Royals' everyday center fielder after completing his recovery from a Grade 3 tear of a portion of his left plantar fascia, an injury that had kept him on the shelf since June 10. However, with southpaw Kyle Freeland on the hill for the Rockies, the left-handed-hitting Isbel will be available in a reserve role for the series finale in Colorado. Isbel was productive during his nine-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha with an .878 OPS, but he slashed just .244/.298/.354 with three home runs and five stolen bases in 56 games with Kansas City before suffering the foot injury. |
|
Luinder Avila Luinder Avila Hits shelf with forearm tightness
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 11:45 AM
The Royals placed Avila on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right forearm tightness.
Analysis: Avila's move to the IL comes after he was blitzed for six earned runs on four hits and three walks over 2.2 innings in Kansas City's 12-6 loss in Colorado on Saturday. Pitching at high altitude didn't help, but the forearm injury may have played a part in Avila's struggles after he had been developing into a more trustworthy fantasy option leading up to Saturday's outing. Over his preceding seven starts, Avila went 4-0 with a 3.82 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 31:17 K:BB in 35.1 innings. The Royals will likely send Avila in for further testing before providing a timeline for his return, though even mild forearm injuries often entail a recovery period of more than 15 days. |
|
Salvador Perez Salvador Perez Goes yard in Saturday's loss
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 9:05 AM
Perez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 12-6 loss to the Rockies.
Analysis: Perez followed Jac Caglianone's two-run homer with a solo shot in the third inning as the Royals went back-to-back to build an early 4-0 lead they ultimately couldn't hold. It's been a disappointing campaign overall for the veteran catcher, whose .638 OPS through 104 games would represent a career worst, but he's shown signs of turning things around of late. Since July 1, Perez is slashing .264/.333/.538 with six homers, 16 RBI and 11 runs scored across 24 contests. |
|
Jac Caglianone Jac Caglianone Clubs 18th homer
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 8:55 AM
Caglianone went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 12-6 loss to the Rockies.
Analysis: Caglianone launched a two-run homer over the right-field wall in the third inning to give the Royals an early 3-0 lead, though the club's pitching ultimately melted down on the road at Coors Field. The 23-year-old has homered in two of the past three games but has otherwise struggled since the All-Star break, slashing .188/.220/.417 over his past 13 contests. On the year, Caglianone is hitting .251/.308/.455 with 18 homers, 42 RBI, 48 runs and three stolen bases across 103 games. |
|
Traded to Royals
Sat, Aug 1, 2026, 9:33 PM
Atlanta traded Braun and Carter Holton to Kansas City on Saturday in exchange for Lane Thomas and Bailey Falter, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Braun has been in Atlanta's organization since 2023 but will now look to work his way up to the majors with the Royals. He has split his time this season between Double-A and Triple-A, and between the two levels he has a 3.53 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 82:27 K:BB over 94.1 innings. He'll begin his stint with the Royals with Triple-A Omaha. |
|
Heading to Kansas City
Sat, Aug 1, 2026, 9:30 PM
Holton and Lucas Braun were traded by Atlanta to Kansas City on Saturday in exchange for Lane Thomas and Bailey Falter, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Holton was a second-round selection of Atlanta in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft but will now look to work his way up the Royals' farm system. He's spent most of the 2026 season in Single-A, where has a 2-1 record over seven outings (six starts) with a 5.08 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 30:13 K:BB over 33.2 innings. |
|
Carter Jensen Carter Jensen Goes long in Friday's loss
Sat, Aug 1, 2026, 10:54 AM
Jensen went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Friday's 3-1 loss to Colorado.
Analysis: Jensen was responsible for the Royals' lone run in Friday's loss with a solo home run off Tomoyuki Sugano in the sixth inning. It was the 15th home run of the season for Jensen and his second since the All-Star break. He'll wrap up the month with a .187 batting average with three home runs, eight RBI and a 38.2 percent strikeout rate in July. |
|
Michael Wacha Michael Wacha Tough-luck loss in Colorado
Sat, Aug 1, 2026, 10:52 AM
Wacha (5-8) took the loss against the Rockies on Friday, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out seven across six innings.
Analysis: The only earned run Wacha gave up was on an RBI single in the first inning, with the other two runs in the fourth being credited as unearned due to a throwing error by Michael Massey. Wacha kept Colorado in check for most of Friday's outing but still got hit with the loss as his Kansas City teammates mustered only one run. Even so, the veteran right-hander has logged quality starts in each of his three outings since the All-Star break and is up to 15 QS on the season, tied for second most in the majors behind Sandy Alcantara (16). Wacha will take a 3.51 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 138.1 innings into his next start, which is lined up for next week at home against the Twins. |
|
Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Seeing hand specialist
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 6:32 PM
Garcia (hand) is scheduled to see a hand specialist next week, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Analysis: Garcia has been battling through a left hand muscle strain that caused him to go on the 10-day injured list in late June. He was cleared to embark on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday, but he was pulled from that assignment after feeling renewed pain in his left hand. Garcia's recovery timeline should become more clear once he is evaluated by a specialist next week. |
|
Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Getting second opinion on forearm
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 6:28 PM
Kolek will get a second opinion on his right forearm Tuesday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Analysis: Kolek emerged out of his rehab start with Triple-A Omaha on July 18 with a right forearm strain, which prompted the Royals to transfer the right-hander to the 60-day injured list July 22. He's eligible to be activated from the IL in early September, but the Royals will have a better sense of Kolek's recovery timeline once he undergoes more tests. |
|
Bobby Witt Jr. Bobby Witt Jr. Tracking toward return Tuesday
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 6:25 PM
Witt (back) is on track to return to the Royals for Tuesday's series opener against the Twins, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Analysis: Witt is scheduled for a full workout Saturday, and as long as that goes well, then the star shortstop should be back in action for the Royals for the start of their home series Tuesday. Witt landed on the 10-day IL on July 22 due to back soreness, but with his impending return, both Andrew Velazquez and Tyler Tolbert will see their reps at shortstop dry up. Prior to his injury, Witt was slashing .279/.350/.450 with 30 steals, 13 homer runs and 39 RBI across 414 plate appearances. |
|
Nick Loftin Nick Loftin Riding the pine Friday
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 3:44 PM
Loftin is out of the lineup for Kansas City's matchup with the Rockies on Friday.
Analysis: After going 0-for-4 in Thursday's series finale against Minnesota, Loftin will sit for Friday's series opener against Colorado. Josh Rojas will take over at third base and bat eighth for the Royals. |
|
Matt Strahm Matt Strahm Serves up walk-off grand slam
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 11:07 AM
Strahm (3-4) blew the save and took the loss Thursday against the Twins. He allowed a walk-off grand slam to the lone batter he faced and was charged with one earned run.
Analysis: Taking over for Lucas Erceg, Strahm entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning for a lefty-lefty matchup against Kody Clemens, but he wasn't able to get the job done. It was another tough appearance for Strahm, who has struggled to a 12.38 ERA and 2.13 WHIP across 11 appearances spanning eight innings in July. Overall, the veteran hurler owns a 7.27 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 34.2 innings in what has been a season to forget. |
|
Jac Caglianone Jac Caglianone Homers Thursday
Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 3:30 PM
Caglianone went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Twins.
Analysis: Caglianone gave Kansas City the lead in the third inning with a 438-foot blast off Bailey Ober, his 17th homer of the season and first in his last nine games. Caglianone has logged two hits in back-to-back contests after going 0-for-18 in his previous six games. Overall, the 23-year-old Caglianone is slashing .254/.313/.455 with 40 RBI and 47 runs scored across 390 plate appearances this year. |
Connect With Us:
