Kansas City Royals

Kris Bubic will make a rehab start on Sunday with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. (Source: Jaylon T. Thompson on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Bubic is continuing to work his way back from Tommy John surgery. He posted a 2.70 ERA in three starts with the Surprise Royals.

Hunter Renfroe is not in the Royals lineup on Saturday against the Athletics.

Fantasy Impact: Renfroe picked up one hit in Friday's win. Nelson Velazquez slides over to right field in his absence.

Adam Frazier is in the Royals lineup on Saturday against the Athletics.

Fantasy Impact: Frazier draws the start at second base. He is 5-for-6 with two RBI in his career against Ross Stripling.

Cole Ragans delivered an impressive performance in Friday's 6-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

Fantasy Impact: He tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out seven. This outing is a bright spot in Ragans's season, significantly enhancing his fantasy value. With a season ERA now improved to 3.70 and a WHIP standing at 1.20, his ability to maintain a high strikeout rate (10.3 K/9) coupled with a solid 3.56 strikeout-to-walk ratio makes him an increasingly reliable option for fantasy managers. His performance against a struggling A's lineup should be taken with a grain of salt, but it's clear Ragans is trending in the right direction.

Michael Massey delivered a strong performance in the Royals' 6-2 victory over the Athletics, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.

Fantasy Impact: His contributions were key in securing the win, showcasing his ability to drive in runs and score. This game highlighted Massey's potential value in fantasy lineups, particularly in leagues that reward power and RBI. Despite a modest .259 average and limited walks this season, his slugging capabilities, evidenced by his four home runs, make him a viable option for fantasy managers in need of infield power. However, his low walk rate and high strikeout rate suggest a cautious approach, as these could limit his on-base opportunities.

Bobby Witt Jr. went 1-for-5 with a double and a run scored in the Royals' 6-2 victory over the Athletics.

Fantasy Impact: While this performance might not jump off the page, Witt Jr.'s double and run contributed to the team's win, maintaining his solid season batting average of .291. His consistent hitting, coupled with his ability to score runs (40 runs scored so far this season), keeps him relevant in fantasy lineups, especially given his multi-category contributions including power and speed. However, his lack of RBI and stolen bases in this game highlights some inconsistency, which fantasy managers should monitor. Despite this, his overall production remains strong, making him a valuable asset in most fantasy formats.

Salvador Perez had a productive night, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI as the Royals topped the Athletics 6-2.

Fantasy Impact: His performance included a walk and he scored once, contributing significantly to the team's win. This game is a continuation of Perez's strong season, where he's maintaining an impressive .335 batting average. His consistent hitting, coupled with a solid .405 wOBA, makes him a valuable asset in fantasy lineups, especially in leagues that reward hitting for average and on-base performance. While his power numbers are modest, his ability to drive in runs (34 RBI in 44 games) and hit doubles (11 so far) should keep him relevant in most fantasy formats.

Maikel Garcia went 1-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in the Royals' 6-2 victory over the Athletics.

Fantasy Impact: His performance was highlighted by a crucial home run that helped cement the team's win. Despite a modest .238 batting average this season, Garcia's ability to drive in runs (28 RBI in 44 games) remains an asset for fantasy managers. His power numbers are decent, with five homers, but his overall production could be hampered by a relatively high strikeout rate (0.188) and low walk rate (0.066). Fantasy managers should view Garcia as a situational player, potentially valuable in deeper leagues or as a fill-in during hot streaks or favorable matchups.

Freddy Fermin is not in the Royals lineup on Friday against the Athletics.

Fantasy Impact: Salvador Perez is back behind the plate for Kansas City to open the series against Oakland.

Nelson Velazquez is in the Royals lineup on Friday against the Athletics.

Fantasy Impact: Velazquez is serving as the designated hitter for Kansas City and hitting No. 6 in the lineup. He is hitting .227 with 11 RBI on the season.

Alec Marsh allowed one earned run on five hits and one walk while striking out seven over five innings in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Mariners.

Fantasy Impact: Despite a solid performance that maintained his impressive ERA at 2.43 and WHIP at 1.05, Marsh was saddled with his second loss of the season. His ability to maintain a high strikeout rate, now standing at 7.5 K/9, alongside a strong 3.10 strikeout-to-walk ratio, continues to make him a valuable asset in fantasy leagues. However, fantasy managers should be cautious of his .248 BABIP, which suggests he might be benefiting from some good fortune on balls in play. Marsh's consistent performance, underscored by a 3.53 FIP, indicates he should remain a reliable starter in fantasy rotations, but monitoring any shifts in his underlying metrics will be key to anticipating his future outings.

Michael Wacha delivered a strong performance, allowing just one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings in Tuesday's 4-2 victory over the Mariners.

Fantasy Impact: This outing marked a significant improvement for Wacha, who now carries a less-than-stellar 4.71 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. His ability to limit hits and maintain a high strikeout count in this outing suggests potential for better consistency, which could make him a more reliable option in fantasy rotations. However, his overall season metrics, including a high ERA and WHIP, should keep expectations in check. Fantasy managers would do well to monitor his next few starts closely to see if this performance is a turning point.

James McArthur earned a save despite allowing an earned run in his 1 1/3 innings against the Mariners.

Fantasy Impact: McArthur gave up two hits and struck out three batters in the Royals' 4-2 victory. This performance, while not spotless, still added to his save tally, bringing his season total to 10. McArthur's ability to strike out batters remains a strong point, as evidenced by his 9.6 K/9 rate, but his elevated ERA of 4.58 and WHIP of 1.37 this season might raise concerns for fantasy managers relying on him for consistent saves.

Brady Singer took the loss Monday, surrendering four earned runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out six over five innings against the Mariners.

Fantasy Impact: This outing marked a rare stumble in what has been a strong season for Singer, whose ERA rose to 2.84 and WHIP to 1.11. Despite the setback, his overall metrics, including a solid 9.2 K/9 and a 3.55 FIP, suggest he remains a reliable option in fantasy rotations. His ability to maintain a high strikeout rate paired with a reasonable control of walks generally positions him well in fantasy rankings, though managers might be slightly concerned about the potential for more outings like this if his BABIP adjusts closer to league average.

Vinnie Pasquantino is back in the lineup for the Kansas City Royals against the Seattle Mariners Monday. (Source: Kansas City Royals on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Pasquantino returns after taking a seat on the bench for routine rest Sunday, batting third and starting at first base against the Mariners Monday.

Seth Lugo delivered a masterful performance, allowing just one earned run on five hits and zero walks while striking out 12 over eight innings in Sunday's 4-2 victory over the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: This outing not only underscores Lugo's dominance but also significantly bolsters his already impressive season stats. With a 1.81 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP through nine starts, Lugo continues to be a reliable asset for fantasy managers. His high strikeout count in this game is particularly encouraging, given his relatively modest 7.2 K/9 rate this season. Maintaining a 4.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio suggests Lugo could sustain his high-level performance, making him a must-start in all fantasy formats.

John Schreiber notched a save in the Royals' narrow 2-1 win over the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: He pitched a clean inning, allowing just one hit and no runs, without recording any strikeouts. Schreiber's latest outing, where he secured his first save of the season, underscores his role as a reliable late-inning option for the Royals. Despite a modest strikeout rate of 6.9 K/9, his excellent ERA of 0.98 and WHIP of 1.04 through 19 appearances this season suggest he can effectively suppress scoring even without overwhelming stuff. Fantasy managers should value his consistency and ability to contribute in holds and now increasingly in save situations, though his low strikeout numbers might limit his ceiling in formats heavily rewarding strikeouts.

MJ Melendez went 3-for-4 in the Royals' narrow 2-1 win over the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: Despite not contributing to the runs or RBIs, Melendez's performance was a bright spot in a tightly contested game. This outing could be a sign of turning things around for Melendez, who has been struggling with a batting average of just .202 over 35 games this season. His ability to hit safely three times in one game might help boost his confidence and potentially kickstart a more consistent hitting streak. However, fantasy managers should remain cautious, as his season-long metrics, including a low .278 wOBA and .244 BABIP, suggest that he still has significant room for improvement.

The Royals have optioned Daniel Lynch to Triple-A Omaha. (Source: Royals on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Lynch will head back to the minor-leagues after the Royals activated Alec Marsh from the injured list. Fantasy managers should expect Lynch to return should the Royals need more depth in their rotation or bullpen.

Dairon Blanco excelled in the Royals' 10-4 triumph over the Angels, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, four runs scored, two RBI, and two stolen bases.

Fantasy Impact: This standout performance not only showcased his speed but also his emerging power, significantly boosting his fantasy value. With a batting average holding steady at .300 and an impressive combination of 10 stolen bases and consistent scoring ability in just 25 games, Blanco is proving to be a valuable asset in categories leagues. His ability to contribute across multiple statistical categories makes him a potential pickup for fantasy managers in need of a versatile outfielder.