MICHAEL A. TAYLOR NEWS

Adds stolen base Taylor went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 4-0 win over the Tigers.

Impact Taylor got aboard with a single in the fifth inning. He advanced to second on a Nicky Lopez sacrifice, then stole third base before he scored on a Whit Merrifield single. The 30-year-old Taylor has three stolen bases, two home runs, six RBI and nine runs scored through 20 games. He's slashing .288/.347/.394 across 72 plate appearances.

APRIL 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Registers second stolen base Taylor went 0-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Blue Jays.

Impact Taylor's steal came in the seventh after his second walk of the game. The outfielder has racked up two homers, six RBI, six runs scored and two stolen bases in 14 games. He hasn't homered or knocked in a run since April 3, and he's only gone 2-for-19 in his last seven contests.

APRIL 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting for nightcap Taylor isn't starting the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Toronto, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.

Impact Taylor went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts in the first game of Saturday's twin bill. Jarrod Dyson will take over in center field for the nightcap, batting ninth.

APRIL 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Registers stolen base Taylor went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Angels.

Impact Taylor displayed some speed in the fourth inning, as he got aboard with an infield single and stole second -- his first steal of the season. He eventually came around to score on a Cam Gallagher sacrifice fly. Taylor posted multiple hits for the first time since April 3. The 30-year-old outfielder is slashing .324/.359/.514 with two homers, six RBI and six runs scored through 39 plate appearances. His career high in stolen bases is 24, set in 2018, but he didn't attempt a steal in 2020. It remains to be seen how often he'll be given the green light on the basepaths.

APRIL 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Taylor helps Royals top White Sox 4-3 in 10 innings CHICAGO (AP) — Michael A. Taylor scored when Garrett Crochet misplayed Andrew Benintendi's bunt in the 10th inning, sending the Kansas City...

APRIL 11, 2021 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM

Michael A. Taylor's torrid start with the Royals began with a revamped swing — and help from Travis Kelce's trainer Michael A. Taylor is making the most of his Royals opportunity. His trainer says: “He’s one of those athletes who doesn’t suck at anything.”

APRIL 7, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Clubs second homer Taylor went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 11-4 win over the Rangers.

Impact Taylor got the Royals on the board when he took Rangers starter Kohei Arihara deep in the fourth inning. The 30-year-old Taylor added a two-run double in the sixth and came around to score on Whit Merrifield's two-run single during a seven-run rally. Through the first two games of 2021, Taylor is 5-for-9 with two homers, six RBI and three runs scored. He's hitting sixth in the Royals' order to strong results, but it may just be a product of the Rangers' poor pitching. The outfielder slashed a career-worst .196/.253/.424 with five homers, 16 RBI and 11 runs scored across 99 plate appearances with the Nationals last year, but he should be due for positive regression this season.

APRIL 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Big day at plate in season opener Taylor went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and three RBI during Thursday's Opening Day victory over the Rangers.

Impact Taylor singled in a run in the first inning, took reliever Taylor Hearn deep in the third, then regained the lead for the Royals with an RBI single in the fourth. During the shortened 2020 campaign, Taylor finished with a lackluster 196/.253/.424 batting line to go with five home runs and 16 RBI in 38 games. It should be noted, however, that he had never hit that poorly before, plus the 30-year-old put together a sharp .333/.438/.615 line this spring.

APRIL 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Back in lineup Taylor (back) will start in center field and will bat fifth in Monday's Cactus League game against the Giants, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Impact Taylor looks to be good to go after a sore back kept him out of the lineup for four days. The 29-year-old is off to a 6-for-14 start to spring training, including a pair of home runs. He appears on track to open the season as the Royals' primary center fielder.

MARCH 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Could play Monday Taylor (back) could return to Cactus League play as early as Monday, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

Impact Taylor has been held out over the past several days due to lower back tightness, but manager Mike Matheny said Sunday that the outfielder is healthy. He could return to the lineup Monday unless the team decides to rest him again, and it doesn't appear as though the issue will impact his availability for Opening Day.

MARCH 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with back tightness Taylor was removed from the lineup for Thursday's spring game against the Brewers due to back tightness, Josh Vernier of 610 Sports reports.

Impact Taylor was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup, and he'll be able to rest during the Royals' day off Friday. It's not yet clear whether he'll be able to return to action for Saturday's Cactus League matchup.

MARCH 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Scratched from lineup Taylor was scratched from the lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Brewers, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

Impact The reason for the move is not yet clear. Erick Mejia entered the lineup in his absence, starting in left field and pushing Kyle Isbel from left to center.

MARCH 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Notes: Taylor's outfield defense; Kowar sharp GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Michael A. Taylor gave a peek into what he can do defensively in the Royals’ 8-6 win over Cleveland on Monday at Goodyear...

MARCH 2, 2021 • MLB.COM

Analysis | Michael A. Taylor’s best moments with the Nats came in the biggest games The outfielder, who hit four home runs in 38 postseason at-bats, opted for free agency on Thursday.

OCTOBER 16, 2020 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Michael A. Taylor elects free agency to end long run with Nationals Taylor, 29, peaked in 2017 with Washington in 2017 and often thrived in the playoffs.

OCTOBER 15, 2020 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Elects free agency Taylor cleared waivers Thursday and elected free agency, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The Nationals deemed Taylor expendable, and he'll test his luck on the open market rather than remain with the organization in a minor-league capacity. Taylor was a serviceable-enough player during his seven years in Washington but fits best in a bench role, as he's only once finished a season with a wRC+ above 80.

OCTOBER 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Remains in backup role Taylor is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies.

Impact Taylor looked as though he might have an opportunity to serve as an everyday outfielder after Adam Eaton (finger) was shut down for the season Sept. 17, but he's only drawn two starts in the Nationals' subsequent six games. Instead, the lefty-hitting Andrew Stevenson has been the primary replacement for Eaton, and he should continue filling the larger portion of a platoon with Taylor during the final week of the regular season.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

On bench for afternoon game Taylor will sit for the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Marlins.

Impact Taylor seemingly lines up as the primary right fielder down the stretch, with Adam Eaton done for the year with a broken finger, though it will be Andrew Stevenson at the position in this game. Taylor hasn't done much of note at the plate this season, though his .694 OPS (the product of a .208/.250/.444 slash line) is actually good for the second-highest mark of his seven-year career.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals outlast Braves 8-7 on Taylor's single in 12th Michael A. Taylor hit a game-ending single in the 12th inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 8-7 on Friday night afte...

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Drives in three Friday Taylor went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against Atlanta.

Impact After going 0-for-3 in the matinee, Taylor made an impact in the nightcap, driving in two with a third-inning double and then bunting home the eventual winning run in the seventh. Taylor started both games of the twin bill in right field with Juan Soto sidelined, and while an MRI on Soto's elbow came back clean Friday, Taylor could be in line for some consistent short-term playing time while the young slugger heals up.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Smacks fourth homer Taylor went 1-for-2 with a solo home run Thursday against the Phillies.

Impact Taylor entered the game for Adam Eaton (knee) in the fifth inning. Two innings later, he put the Nationals up 5-4 with a solo home run, his fourth long ball of the campaign. If Eaton is forced from the lineup beyond Thursday's contest, Taylor would likely slot into the starting lineup temporarily.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Swats third homer Taylor went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's loss to the Phillies.

Impact Getting the start in center field and hitting ninth with Victor Robles taking a rest, Taylor went back-to-back with Trea Turner to give the Nats a spark of life in an eventual 8-6 defeat. It was Taylor's first long ball back since the last day of July, and on the year he's slashing a woeful .190/.227/.452 through 44 plate appearances with three homers and six RBI.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Playing time on decline Taylor will start in center field and bat ninth Sunday against the Orioles, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Taylor will draw into the lineup in the series finale while Victor Robles rests, but the everyday role the former enjoyed to begin the season no longer exists following Juan Soto's recent return from the COVID-19 injured list. When all of Soto, Robles and Adam Eaton are healthy, Taylor likely won't be in line for much more than one or two starts per week.

AUGUST 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Connects for second homer Taylor went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run Thursday against the Blue Jays.

Impact Taylor deposited a Hyun-Jin Ryu offering into the center field seats in the fourth inning. It was his second home run of the season, though he has no other hits in 15 plate appearances. With Juan Soto (illness) nearing a return, Taylor will likely find his playing time squeezed shortly.

JULY 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Goes yard Saturday Taylor went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Saturday's win over the Yankees.

Impact The outfielder took Luis Avilan deep in the eighth inning for his first homer of 2020. Taylor will continue to hold down the fort in left field until Juan Soto clears the league's COVID-19 protocols, but his spot at the bottom of the batting order limits his fantasy potential.

JULY 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE