Michael Lorenzen To Start On Wednesday, Alec Marsh Heading To Bullpen
Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Lorenzen (hamstring) will make the start for the team on Wednesday at Nationals Park against the Washington Nationals, with right-hander Alec Marsh moving to the bullpen to close out the 2024 regular season, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Lorenzen will come off the 15-day injured list to make his first start since late August due to a hamstring strain, so don't be surprised if he doesn't go very deep into his start after the long layoff. It is an enticing matchup for fantasy managers still playing for something in the final week of the season. The 32-year-old veteran will be hoping to pick up where he left off after being acquired by the Royals, as he's pitched to a 1.85 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and 10 walks in 24 1/3 innings over his first five starts in KC. Lorenzen began the year in Texas.
Alec Marsh Ties Career High With 11 Strikeouts, Records Eighth Win On Friday
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Alec Marsh struck out 11 batters in 5.1 innings of dominating pitching in the Royals' 8-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. The 11 strikeouts matches a career high for Marsh who struck out 11 against the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023. The righty improved his ERA to 4.52 and recorded the win, making him 8-8 on the season. Marsh has been a solid option for the Royals since getting recalled from the minors but Friday night's performance was easily his best performance of the season. With the Royals fighting to keep their 2.0 game lead in the wild card race, more high quality performances from Marsh will be needed. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues likely should consider adding Marsh to their rosters to finish out the season. Marsh currently doesn't have another scheduled start listed but Kansas City does have an open spot in their rotation set for next Wednesday when the Royals host Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers.
The Kansas City Royals optioned right-hander Alec Marsh to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday to make room on the roster for right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg, who was acquired in a trade from the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday. Marsh gets booted from the starting rotation as the No. 5 starter for KC, with recently acquired right-hander Michael Lorenzen taking his spot and making his team debut this Saturday against the Detroit Tigers. The 26-year-old Marsh will have his workload scaled back a bit as he returns to the minors to give him a little rest. The former second-round pick in 2019 out of Arizona State has gone 7-7 in the big leagues in 2024 with a 4.71 ERA (4.21 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with a 93:32 K:BB in 101 2/3 innings in his second year in the majors. Marsh has had a tough July in five outings (four starts), allowing 15 earned runs on 22 hits (four homer) in 19 2/3 frames.
Kansas City Royals right-hander Alec Marsh (elbow) looked good in his minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, tossing four shutout innings while allowing one hit, walking one and striking out six. The Royals were hoping that Marsh threw 60 to 65 pitches in the outing, but he pitched so well and efficiently that he only threw 53 pitches (38 for strikes). The 25-year-old could be ready to return from the 15-day injured list when he's eligible on Friday, but if the Royals play it safe and have him make another rehab start, Daniel Lynch would be in line to take another turn through KC's rotation. Marsh was looking good before landing on the IL, going 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and seven walks in 26 2/3 innings pitched, so he'll be guaranteed a spot back in the team's rotation when he's ready.
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Alec Marsh (elbow) is set for a rehab start with Triple-A Omaha on Sunday. Marsh is expect to throw between 60-65 pitches in the start. As of now it's unclear if Marsh will need multiple rehab starts before rejoining the Royals, so there is a chance that if all goes well then he will rejoin Kansas City when he can be activated off the IL on May 10th. Marsh had been having a solid season before getting drilled with a liner when facing the Toronto Blue Jays. The right-hander has posted up a 2.70 ERA and recorded three wins in five starts. Marsh may be a sneaky add that fantasy managers can stash on their bench until he returns.
The Kansas City Royals placed right-hander Alec Marsh (elbow) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with a right-elbow contusion and recalled right-hander Will Klein from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. X-rays came back negative on Marsh's elbow after he was hit by a comebacker on Wednesday and forced to leave his start early against the Toronto Blue Jays, but he's still going to have to miss at least two weeks. It's unclear who will replace the 25-year-old in Kansas City's rotation moving forward. Klein will give the Royals some more depth in the bullpen. Marsh, a former second-round pick in 2019 out of Arizona State, should return to the Royals' rotation when his 15 days are up after going 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in his first five starts in 2024.
Updating a previous report, Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that X-rays came back negative on right-hander Alec Marsh (elbow, forearm) after he was forced to leave his start early on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays when he was hit by a comebacker on his right elbow/forearm in the fifth inning. Marsh was in a lot of pain initially, but the feeling came back in his arm quickly after he was pulled. "We feel like we got pretty lucky. Everything is good. X-rays are negative," Quatraro said. The 25-year-old could still be forced to miss his next scheduled start on Monday against these same Blue Jays, but it's obviously good news he avoided any kind of fracture in his arm. Before leaving on Wednesday, Marsh tossed 4 1/3 shutout innings with two hits allowed, two walks and only one strikeout to drop his season ERA to a strong 2.70.
Alec Marsh Leaves Game After Being Hit By Comebacker
Kansas City Royals right-hander Alec Marsh (elbow, forearm) left his start on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays after being hit on the right elbow/forearm area on a comebacker up the middle. It did not look good, and Marsh appeared to be in a significant amount of pain. Before leaving the game, Marsh threw 4 1/3 shutout innings with two hits allowed, two walks and only one strikeout in what would be a no-decision in the 3-2 loss. It's being called a right-forearm contusion for Marsh for now, but he's surely to undergo X-rays and is in danger of missing his next start or landing on the injured list. The 25-year-old's ERA is down to 2.70 on the season after shutting Toronto out for 4 1/3 innings on Wednesday. Check back for an update on his condition later on Wednesday or on Thursday morning.
Kansas City Royals right-hander Alec Marsh has been named the team's fifth starter to open the 2024 season, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Right-hander Jordan Lyles will begin the season in the bullpen. We reported on Wednesday that Marsh was the favorite for the No. 5 spot, and now it's official. The 25-year-old earned the final rotation spot for KC this spring by recording a 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, four walks and 17 strikeouts in 14 Cactus League innings. Marsh struck out 85 hitters in 74 1/3 innings in his rookie season last year for the Royals, but he also walked 39 in 17 appearances (eight starts) and allowed 50 runs (47 earned). Right now, he's only an option for strikeouts in AL-only leagues. Marsh will need to improve his control to become a legitimate streaming option in mixed formats.
Alec Marsh Could Be Favorite For No. 5 Rotation Spot
Kansas City Royals right-hander Alec Marsh has made a strong impression in spring training, giving up three runs in 14 Cactus League innings, and might be considered the favorite for the fifth and final starting rotation spot to enter the season. Jordan Lyles is the incumbent behind Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Brady Singer and Michael Wacha, but he's been slowed in camp with lower-back tightness and it's unclear if he'll be built up to 90-plus pitches by Opening Day next week. Daniel Lynch IV is healthy and has also looked good this spring, though, and Anthony Veneziano is another candidate in the conversation as he continues to build up as a starter. The 25-year-old Marsh, a former second-rounder in 2019 out of Arizona State, went 3-9 in his rookie year in 2023 with a 5.69 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 39 walks and 85 K's in 74 1/3 innings over 17 games (eight starts).
Michael Lorenzen
• SP
•
Royals
|
