JULY 7, 2023•STARTRIBUNE.COM
Twins, Orioles meet again for a three-game weekend seriesThe Twins took two of three games in the previous meeting in Baltimore, then swept Kansas City leading into this rematch.
Kyle Isbel - Sitting out ThursdayIsbel isn't in the Royals' lineup Thursday against the Guardians.
ImpactIsbel is just 3-for-24 since returning from the injured list June 27, so he'll get a day off Thursday to regroup. Dairon Blanco will take over in center field and bat eighth in Isbel's absence.
JULY 6, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Michael Massey - Sitting ThursdayMassey isn't in the Royals' lineup Thursday against Cleveland.
ImpactMassey has gone 1-for-6 with two strikeouts in two games since returning from the injured list, and he'll get a breather Thursday. Nicky Lopez will fill in at second base and bat ninth.
JULY 6, 2023•ROTOWIRE
What will the Royals do with the 8th pick in the Draft?This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers’ Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularl...
JULY 6, 2023•MLB.COM
Ryan Yarbrough - Tosses six scoreless framesYarbrough (head) struck out six over six scoreless innings Tuesday in his rehab start for Triple-A Omaha. He scattered three hits and issued one walk in the 81-pitch outing.
ImpactYarbrough was placed on the 15-day injured list May 8 after suffering multiple head fractures when he was struck by a line drive a day earlier in his start with the Royals. He was later transferred to the 60-day IL, but based on how he's fared thus far during his rehab assignment, Yarbrough looks like he could be ready to rejoin the Royals when he's first eligible for activation this weekend. Between one start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and three at Omaha, Yarbrough has stringed together a 2.55 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 20:2 K:BB in 17.2 innings. The Royals have confirmed starting pitchers for the first three games of their four-game set in Cleveland this weekend, but Yarbrough might be called upon to fill the opening Sunday.
JULY 6, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Angel Zerpa - Strikes out seven in rehab startZerpa (shoulder) covered 4.1 innings and struck out seven in his most recent rehab start Monday for Triple-A Omaha. He allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks.
ImpactZerpa has resided on the injured list all season while recovering from a tendon issue in his left shoulder, but he appears to be on the cusp of an activation. He's now reached the fifth inning in both of his last two rehab outings and tossed a season-high 80 pitches Monday. Altogether, Zerpa has compiled a 3.78 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB in 16.2 innings over his five starts between Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. If the Royals opt to have him forgo another rehab start, Zerpa could be a candidate to return from the 60-day IL to fill the opening in the big-league rotation Sunday versus the Rays.
JULY 6, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Brad Keller - Capped at two frames in rehab startKeller (shoulder) worked two innings in his rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Omaha, striking out three while allowing one run on two hits and two walks.
ImpactThe Royals have held Keller to a three-day rest schedule since he opened his rehab assignment June 28, with the right-hander having now worked exactly two innings in consecutive appearances after recording just one out in his first outing. Given Keller's usage thus far during the rehab assignment, it's not entirely clear if the Royals are building him back up for a starting role, though that still seems to be a likely outcome due to the lack of other impact rotation arms in the majors and high minors. Even if Keller is ready to return from the 15-day injured list shortly after the All-Star break and reclaims a spot in the Kansas City rotation, he won't make for a particularly enticing fantasy option after compiling a 3-4 record and pitching to a 4.36 ERA and 1.87 WHIP over 43.1 innings prior to being shelved with the shoulder issue.
JULY 6, 2023•ROTOWIRE
