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John Rave John Rave Taking seat Sunday
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 1:13 PM
Rave is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: He'll head to the bench for the second time in the series while the Royals roll out an outfield of Starling Marte, Kyle Isbel and Jac Caglianone from left to right. Rave has started in eight of the Royals' last 10 games overall and maintains an .846 OPS during that stretch, so he still appears to have a grasp on at least a strong-side platoon role for the time being. |
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Isaac Collins Isaac Collins Idle Sunday
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 1:10 PM
Collins is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Collins will be given the afternoon off in the series finale after he went 3-for-17 with a double, two walks, an RBI and a run scored while starting in the Royals' previous five contests. Starling Marte will take Collins' spot in left field and will bat fifth. |
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Carter Jensen Carter Jensen On bench Sunday
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 1:03 PM
Jensen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Jensen has a .583 OPS over his past 18 contests and will take a seat Sunday after a run of 11 consecutive starts. Luke Maile will step in behind the plate to form a battery with starting pitcher Randy Dobnak in the series finale versus Chicago. |
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Jac Caglianone Jac Caglianone Fifth career multi-homer game
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 9:28 PM
Caglianone went 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double and four RBI in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: It was the fifth career multi-homer game by Caglianone and his fourth of the season. The 23-year-old slugger is sizzling to begin August, going 12-for-28 (.429) with three long balls, four doubles, nine RBI and one stolen base so far on the month. Caglianone has emerged as a fixture in the heart of Kansas City's order in 2026, hitting a healthy .264 with 20 big flies, 21 doubles, 49 RBI and four steals over 390 at-bats. |
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Nate Pearson Nate Pearson Nails down second save
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 9:21 PM
Pearson secured the save against the Cubs on Saturday, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in one innings. He struck out two.
Analysis: It's worth noting Steven Cruz, who seemed to have taken over as Kansas City's favorite for saves lately, worked ahead of Pearson on Saturday in the eighth inning for a hold. Pearson has handled a save opportunity in back-to-back appearances, suggesting he's in the conversation for high-leverage work as well. Through 25.2 innings for the Royals and Astros, the right-hander has a 2.81 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 20:14 K:BB with two saves in three chances. |
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Seth Lugo Seth Lugo Quality start in fifth win
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 9:08 PM
Lugo (5-7) earned the win against the Cubs on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: Lugo was pretty effective against a formidable Cubs lineup, tossing 61 of his 90 pitches for strikes while hanging on for a quality start after giving up his third run of the game in the sixth inning. Saturday's outing marked the 36-year-old right-hander's fourth quality start in his past five outings as well. Lugo will carry a pedestrian 4.41 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 104:46 K:BB over 134.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance in Anaheim against the Angels. |
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Vinnie Pasquantino Vinnie Pasquantino Could begin rehab stint Tuesday
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 4:27 PM
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Pasquantino (wrist) may begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Analysis: Pasquantino landed on the IL due to right wrist soreness July 29. The first baseman underwent surgery in mid-June to remove a fractured hamate bone, and the soreness was presumably related to that procedure. However, Pasquantino appears to be doing better with some time off, and if he does indeed begin a rehab stint Tuesday, he could be back with Kansas City shortly thereafter. |
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Salvador Perez Salvador Perez Getting breather Saturday
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 4:09 PM
Perez is out of the lineup for Saturday's tilt versus the Cubs.
Analysis: Perez had been in the lineup for 28 straight games since returning from a brief absence in early July due to an elbow issue. However, he's beginning on the bench Saturday while Josh Rojas gets a turn at DH and Carter Jensen starts behind the plate. |
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Daniel Lynch IV Daniel Lynch IV Handed loss in first 2026 start
Fri, Aug 7, 2026, 11:15 PM
Lynch (4-3) took the loss Friday against the Cubs, giving up four runs on three hits with two strikeouts and two walks over 1.2 innings.
Analysis: The left-hander was making his first start of the season after pitching well out of the bullpen across the first four months of 2026. A brief outing was expected given the role change, but Lynch's early exit Friday was also the result of ineffectiveness, as Chicago forced him from the contest during a four-run second inning. The performance ended an 11-appearance scoreless streak and represents the most runs he's allowed in an outing all season. Lynch still has a 2.64 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 37:14 K:BB across 47.2 innings this year, but it'll take some time for him to build up to a full starter's workload after throwing 35 pitches Friday. |
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Mason Black Mason Black Back with big club
Fri, Aug 7, 2026, 3:06 PM
The Royals recalled Black from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Analysis: Black will take the 26-man roster spot of Aaron Bummer, who has elected free agency in lieu of heading to Triple-A. Black has pitched in 12 games out of the bullpen for Kansas City this season, posting a 3.57 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB across 17.2 frames. |
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Mitch Spence Mitch Spence Shelved at Triple-A
Fri, Aug 7, 2026, 7:49 AM
Spence was placed on the 7-day injured list Monday at Triple-A Omaha due to an unspecified injury.
Analysis: The 28-year-old righty's move to the IL represents yet another hit to the Royals' starting pitching depth, as the organization has already lost Cole Ragans, Stephen Kolek, Luinder Avila, Ryan Bergert and Alec Marsh to season-ending surgeries. Spence has been part of the Royals' 40-man roster all year, logging a 5.35 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 16 starts with Omaha and yielding 22 earned runs in 9.1 innings over three appearances at the big-league level. |
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Daniel Lynch IV Daniel Lynch IV Will get look in rotation
Fri, Aug 7, 2026, 7:34 AM
Lynch will start Friday's game against the Cubs, and the Royals intend to give the left-hander a longer look in the rotation, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: With a 1.96 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 46 relief appearances, Lynch has arguably been the Royals' top bullpen option this season. However, Kansas City's rotation depth has been thinned with Cole Ragans, Stephen Kolek and Luinder Avila all recently undergoing season-ending elbow surgeries, so Lynch will get the chance to build back up as a starter, a role he hasn't handled full-time since 2023. Considering that he hasn't covered more than two innings in any of his 2026 appearances, he'll be operating on a limited pitch count Friday and will need time to get fully stretched out. Lynch didn't find much success while working as a starter to begin his MLB career, logging a 5.18 ERA and 1.52 ERA over 51 starts and 252 innings from 2021-23. |
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Luinder Avila Luinder Avila Transferred to 60-day IL
Thu, Aug 6, 2026, 2:17 PM
The Royals transferred Avila (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Analysis: Avila is likely to remain sidelined until 2028 after undergoing Tommy John surgery Wednesday, so the Royals will stash him away on the 60-day IL. The move frees up a 40-man roster spot for Luke Little, who was claimed off waivers from the Cubs on Thursday. |
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Luke Little Luke Little Snatched by Royals
Thu, Aug 6, 2026, 2:12 PM
The Royals claimed Little off waivers from the Cubs on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Omaha.
Analysis: Little lost his spot on Chicago's 40-man roster in the flurry of moves following Monday's trade deadline, but he'll reclaim a roster spot upon joining the Royals organization. He'll begin his tenure with the team at Triple-A, where he's logged a 5.70 ERA and 1.81 WHIP over 23.2 innings. |
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Andrew Velazquez Andrew Velazquez Sent outright to Triple-A
Thu, Aug 6, 2026, 8:39 AM
The Royals outrighted Velazquez to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
Analysis: Velazquez had been booted from the 40-man roster after going 1-for-15 at the dish for the Royals. He has the ability to elect free agency, but if Velazquez sticks around, he will give Kansas City some experienced infield depth at Omaha. |
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Steven Cruz Steven Cruz Slams door for third save
Wed, Aug 5, 2026, 10:25 PM
Cruz secured the save Wednesday against the Twins, throwing a clean ninth inning. He struck out one.
Analysis: With Alex Lange having surrendered 16 runs over his past 10 outings, Cruz is making inroads on claiming a larger share of the Royals' save opportunities going forward. Over 28 innings since the beginning of June, Cruz boasts a 2.25 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB. Each of the right-hander's three saves on the season have come since July 22 as well, making Cruz someone to consider for fantasy managers in need of saves while Kansas City continues to wait on Carlos Estevez (shoulder) to get healthy. |
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Noah Cameron Noah Cameron Twirls another gem in sixth win
Wed, Aug 5, 2026, 10:08 PM
Cameron (6-8) notched the win Wednesday against Minnesota, allowing one run on two hits and one walk in eight innings. He struck out nine.
Analysis: Cameron struck again Wednesday, spinning eight innings while giving up one run or zero in his second consecutive start. The left-hander has offered the Royals plenty of length as of late, throwing at least seven frames in four of his past five outings, and he's conceded just the aforementioned one run in his last three appearances to give him an improved 4.37 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 116:40 K:BB over 123.2 innings in 2026. Cameron will be looking to keep the good times rolling his next time out, but an unenviable task against the Dodgers in Los Angeles awaits him. |
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Tyler Tolbert Tyler Tolbert Shifts to bench role with Witt back
Wed, Aug 5, 2026, 6:42 PM
Tolbert is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.
Analysis: He had made four starts at shortstop in five games to close out the past week, but Tolbert has moved back into a utility role following Bobby Witt's reinstatement from the injured list Tuesday. With his playing time headed for a steep downturn, Tolbert's fantasy utility will be restricted to AL-only leagues, where he still carries some appeal due to his ability to contribute stolen bases even when his plate appearances are limited. |
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John Rave John Rave Handling regular role
Wed, Aug 5, 2026, 6:36 PM
Rave will start in right field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Twins.
Analysis: Rave will stay in the lineup for a sixth straight game after going 6-for-16 with a solo home run, a stolen base, two doubles and two additional runs since being called up from Triple-A Omaha a week ago. So long as he's hitting well, Rave should have a pathway to a near-everyday role in the Kansas City outfield until Vinnie Pasquantino's (wrist) eventual return from the injured list forces Jac Caglianone off first base. |
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Nick Mears Nick Mears Approaching mound work
Wed, Aug 5, 2026, 11:25 AM
Mears (shoulder) is scheduled to begin a mound progression next week, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Mears has been sidelined since May 29 due to a right shoulder impingement and has dealt with multiple setbacks in his recovery, but after resuming a throwing program July 29, the right-hander is nearing a return to mound work. The 29-year-old will almost certainly need a rehab assignment before being activated, but if no new setbacks arise during his progression, a return before the end of August is possible. On the year, Mears owns a 5.12 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB across 19.1 innings. |
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