NICKY LOPEZ NEWS

Royals hit 3 HRs off Javier, end Astros' 8-game win streak

Whit Merrifield, Hunter Dozier and Emmanuel Rivera all homered as the Kansas City Royals roughed up Cristian Javier early and held on for a 7-4 win over the Houston Astros

JULY 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alvarez makes big throw, hits 25th homer, Astros top Royals

Yordan Alvarez threw out Hunter Dozier at the plate from just short of the warning track in left field to preserve a two-run, eighth-inning lead, then hit his 25th homer as the Hou...

JULY 6, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lopez leads Royals against the Astros after 4-hit performance

The Kansas City Royals play the Houston Astros after Nicky Lopez had four hits on Sunday in a 7-4 win over the Tigers

JULY 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Perfect at plate Sunday Lopez went 4-for-4 with an RBI in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Tigers.

Impact Unsurprisingly, the light-hitting infielder contributed four singles Sunday, including one that knocked in Edward Olivares for an insurance run in the ninth inning. Lopez has hit well over his last 14 games, going 14-for-43 (.326) in that span. He's up to a .232/.295/.281 slash line for the season, and he's added seven RBI, 24 runs scored and five stolen bases. While he's maintained a strong-side platoon role at third base lately, Lopez is almost exclusively hitting at the bottom of the order and adds almost nothing in the power categories.

JULY 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Olivares, Rivera homer, Royals top Tigers 7-4, take 2 of 3

Edward Olivares and Emmanuel Rivera homered in a three-run second inning, and the Kansas City Royals beat Detroit 7-4 to take two of three from the Tigers

JULY 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

On bench against lefty again Lopez will sit against lefty Martin Perez and the Rangers on Monday.

Impact Lopez had close to an everyday role for much of the year, but it looks as though he's slipped into a platoon in recent weeks. His off day Monday means he's now been on the bench against the last five lefties the Royals have faced. Whit Merrifield will be the second baseman Monday, with Emmanuel Rivera starting at third.

JUNE 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting versus southpaw Lopez is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the A's.

Impact Lopez finds himself on the bench for the fourth time in the past six games. Each absence, including Saturday versus Jared Koenig, has come against a left-handed pitcher. Hunter Dozier will shift to the hot corner while MJ Melendez rests his legs as the designated hitter.

JUNE 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup Lopez will sit Friday against Oakland, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact Lopez finds himself on the bench for the third time in five games. All three absences, including Friday's game against Cole Irvin, have come against lefties, so it looks like he may be slipping into the strong side of a platoon. Whit Merrifield will be the second baseman Friday while Emmanuel Rivera starts at third.

JUNE 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Max Fried beats Braves in arbitration, gets $6.85 million

Pitcher Max Fried won his salary arbitration case against the World Series champion Atlanta Braves and was given his $6.85 million request instead of the team’s $6.6 million offer

JUNE 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Heads to bench Lopez will sit for the second time in three games Tuesday against the Angels.

Impact Lopez's .300 average and 22 steals last season put him on the fantasy map, but he hasn't looked like the same guy so far this year. He's hitting just .220, while his five steals put him on pace for a modest 12. Emmanuel Rivera will start at third base Tuesday against the left-handed Reid Detmers.

JUNE 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Max Fried, Braves go to salary arbitration $250,000 apart

Pitcher Max Fried became the fifth member of the World Series champion Atlanta Braves to go to salary arbitration, asking for $6.85 million while the team argued for $6.6 million

JUNE 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Posts steal Monday Lopez went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a stolen base in Monday's 6-2 win over the Angels.

Impact Lopez recorded his first steal since May 27 in this contest. He's hit safely in four of his last six games, going 6-for-19 (.316) in that span. The light-hitting 27-year-old has a .220/.288/.260 slash line with no home runs, six RBI, five stolen bases, 21 runs scored and eight doubles through 63 contests overall. He started at third base for the third time in six games, and it appears he'll take the strong side of a platoon with Emmanuel Rivera at the hot corner. Lopez also has experience at second base and shortstop, but Whit Merrifield and Bobby Witt have commanded starting roles at those positions.

JUNE 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Royals pound 3 HRs to beat Angels 6-2; Bubic gets 1st win

Andrew Benintendi, Salvador Perez and Hunter Dozier homered, Nicky Lopez drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 in...

JUNE 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Heads to bench Sunday Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.

Impact Lopez will take a seat for the series finale after he went 4-for-13 with two runs while starting in each of the Royals' previous four games. Whit Merrifield will pick up the start at the keystone while Emmanuel Rivera starts at third base, the position where Lopez has been seeing more work of late as he transitions into more of a utility role for Kansas City.

JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marlins beat Stallings in arbitratration; Judge & Fried left

The Miami Marlins beat Jacob Stallings in salary arbitration, and the catcher will earn $2.45 million this season rather than his $3.1 million request

JUNE 18, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lopez relieved to have arb case in 'rearview mirror' OAKLAND -- Nicky Lopez was the final Royals player who still hadn't settled his salary for the 2022 season, but that was put to rest Thurs...

JUNE 18, 2022 • MLB.COM

Nicky Lopez loses arbitration case against Kansas City Royals, happy to put it behind him Nicky Lopez said he’d hoped to get a deal done before the hearing.

JUNE 18, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM

Loses arbitration case Lopez signed a one-year, $2.55 million contract with the Royals on Friday after losing his arbitration case, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Impact It's the first year of arbitration eligibility for Lopez, and he's coming off a .300/.365/.378 slash line with two home runs, 43 RBI, 78 runs and 22 steals last season. However, he's struggled so far in 2022 and has a .537 OPS and only four steals through 59 games. Lopez is starting at third base and batting ninth Friday against the A's.

JUNE 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nicky Lopez Loses Arbitration Case to the Royals Lopez will receive slightly less than he campaigned for through arbitration.

JUNE 17, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Lopez loses to Royals in arbitration, Stallings has hearing

Kansas City infielder Nicky Lopez lost his salary arbitration case with the Royals and will get $2.55 million instead of his $2.9 million request, a decision that clinched manageme...

JUNE 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Infielder Nicky Lopez, Royals go to arbitration hearing Kansas City infielder Nicky Lopez went to salary arbitration with the Royals, asking for $2.9 million instead of the team’s $2.55 million of...

JUNE 16, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Infielder Nicky Lopez, Royals go to arbitration hearing

Kansas City infielder Nicky Lopez went to salary arbitration with the Royals, asking for $2.9 million instead of the team’s $2.55 million offer

JUNE 16, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Royals end Giants' 5-game winning streak, 3-2

Whit Merrifield broke a 2-2 tie with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly and the Kansas City Royals edged the San Francisco Giants 3-2 to avoid a three-game sweep

JUNE 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Webb 7 shutout IP, Giants beat Royals 4-2 for 5th win in row

Logan Webb pitched five-hit ball over seven scoreless innings to win for the first time in a month, and the San Francisco Giants stretched their winning streak to five with a 4-2 w...

JUNE 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sitting Sunday Lopez is not in Sunday's lineup against the Orioles.

Impact Lopez will sit for the second time this weekend, and he could continue to lose out on playing time, given that he is 2-for-25 over his last nine games. Carlos Santana slots in at first base with Hunter Dozier moving to the outfield and Whit Merrifield starting at the keystone.

JUNE 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE