Kansas City Royals News

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Carter Jensen • C • Royals

Carter Jensen a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Amid Hot Stretch

Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen has been swinging a hot bat lately, and he's on the fantasy radar as a very appealing waiver wire target. Over his last six games, Jensen is 9-for-23 with three home runs, six RBI, two walks, and five strikeouts. The bulk of his hits have been of the extra-base variety. In addition to his three homers, he's slugged three doubles and a triple during that six-game window. Over the full season, he has a .755 OPS with 22 homers, a 10.9% walk rate, a 28.1% strikeout rate, and 107 wRC+. Jensen gets the day off Sunday, but he's expected to be back in the lineup Monday against the Diamondbacks. In doing so, he'll look to extend his on-base streak to 12 games. He is rostered in 49% of leagues and currently ranks as the #8 catcher in RotoBaller's rest-of-season fantasy baseball rankings. Managers looking to strengthen or solidify their catcher position should consider picking up Jensen off the waiver wire if he's available.

Yesterday

Jac Caglianone • RF • Royals

Jac Caglianone Leaves with Elbow Soreness

Kansas City Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone (elbow) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. According to Joel Goldberg, Caglianone was removed in the third inning due to left elbow soreness. It's unclear when or how Caglianone suffered the injury. He notched an RBI single during his lone plate appearance in the first inning. For now, fantasy managers should consider Caglianone as day-to-day. The Royals should give an update on his status ahead of Sunday's contest. Nick Loftin and John Rave are candidates to see increased playing time if Caglianone misses time.

2 days ago

Maikel Garcia • 3B • Royals

Maikel Garcia Progressing, Not Ruling Out a Late-Season Return

Kansas City Royals infielder/outfielder Maikel Garcia (hamstring) is progressing well and is running at 80 percent while participating in baseball activity, according to MLB.com. Garcia has not ruled out a late-season return after straining his hamstring while running the bases on Aug. 20. The Royals placed him on the 10-day injured list the following day with a strained left hamstring. The 26-year-old Venezuelan has been a major disappointment for fantasy managers in 2026 after he was a first-time All-Star last year, when he hit .286/.351/.449 with an even .800 OPS, a career-high 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 23 stolen bases, and 81 runs scored across 160 games and 666 plate appearances. Garcia just has not been healthy in his fifth year in the majors, playing in only 73 games while hitting .269/.324/.385 with a .709 OPS, three homers, 32 RBI, 34 runs scored, and five steals. Garcia is particularly attractive because of his speed and multi-positional eligibility in fantasy baseball leagues, but he is quickly running out of time in 2026 to produce, and he is now rostered in only 66% of Yahoo leagues.

2 days ago

Carter Jensen • C • Royals

Carter Jensen Has Been a Batting-Average Drain in the Second Half

Across 516 plate appearances in 2026, Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen is hitting .224/.310/.412 with 19 home runs, 62 RBI, 61 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 23-year-old has shown off impressive power for a young backstop at times this season, posting a 10.3% barrel rate for the year. However, Jensen's batting average ceiling is limited by his 28.5% strikeout rate. He's also been working through an extended slump at the plate, as he hit just .187 across 102 plate appearances in July and .165 across 106 plate appearances in August. Jensen still hit four home runs and scored 14 runs last month, so he's not completely without value for fantasy managers. Still, managers may want to look to sell high on him ahead of the stretch run of the season, while his overall numbers still look better than his current production.

5 days ago

Carlos Estévez • RP • Royals

Carlos Estevez to Have Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery Next Week

Kansas City Royals veteran right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (shoulder) is set to have season-ending right-shoulder surgery next week, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Estevez had been throwing in Arizona, but he was not progressing much. It is very unlikely that he was going to get back to the Royals this year, but this will officially end his 2026 season and likely his time with the Royals with the club option for 2027. The 33-year-old Dominican hurler officially has a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Estevez, a two-time All-Star who had a league-high 42 saves with the Royals last year, appeared in just one game in 2026, allowing six earned runs in one-third of an inning against the Atlanta Braves on March 28 for a blown save and a loss. His issues started way back in spring training, when his velocity was way down. Estevez actually hit the injured list initially after being hit by a comebacker, and then he suffered a shoulder injury while rehabbing. A bounce-back season could be coming with a new team in 2027, but at this point, we have most likely seen the best that Estevez has to offer as a late-inning reliever.

6 days ago

Jac Caglianone • RF • Royals

Jac Caglianone Peaking Late in the Season

Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone recently missed a few games with ankle soreness, but he is back now and just had a monster performance offensively in Thursday night's 13-2 blowout win on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays. Caglianone carried the Royals' offense, going 5-for-6 at the plate with a home run, a double, a career-high six RBI, three runs scored, and a strikeout to raise his season batting average to .282 and his OPS to .832 in his first full year in the majors. The five hits by Cags were also a career high to boost his overall season line to .282/.332/.500 with 23 home runs, 66 RBI, and six stolen bases in 479 plate appearances. The former first-rounder and two-way player from the University of Florida has come into his own in 2026 after a slow start at the plate, and he should now be rostered in all fantasy baseball leagues. Caglianone has been one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball in August, coming into Thursday's big game with a .382/.405/.658 slash line and a 1.063 OPS, five home runs, six doubles, 20 RBI, 12 runs scored, and three steals in 20 games played. Scoop him up immediately if he is available in your league.

Aug 28

Bobby Witt Jr. • SS • Royals

Bobby Witt Jr. is Scorching-Hot at the Plate

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been nearly impossible to get out at the plate lately. Over the last two weeks, Witt is slashing .327/.450/.551 with three home runs and six RBI. His hot play stretches longer than that as Witt owns a .930 OPS over the last 30 days. It is well known that Witt is one of the best players in baseball, but now he's really showing it. Witt has been limited to 115 games due to injury, but he has been incredible when healthy. This season, Witt is slashing .288/.366/.458 with 16 home runs, 48 RBI, and 35 steals during his fifth season in Kansas City. Witt is obviously a must-start in all fantasy formats.

Aug 27

Michael Massey • 2B • Royals

Michael Massey Carries Waiver-Wire Appeal Amidst August Hot Streak

Across 366 plate appearances in 2026, Kansas City Royals second baseman/outfielder Michael Massey (head) is hitting .274/.308/.441 with 11 home runs, 43 RBI, 46 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 28-year-old has largely been solid throughout the year, but he's really picked up the pace of late. Across 69 plate appearances in August, Massey is hitting .323 with three home runs. Massey does not profile as a huge source of power for fantasy managers, but he's struck out in just 16.9% of his plate appearances. The lefty-swinging Massey is also hitting .323 against same-handed pitching so far this year, which could help him earn a bit more playing time against left-handed starters down the stretch. With his balanced profile at the plate, Massey profiles as a valuable depth piece to target on the waiver wire in deeper leagues.

Aug 26

Jac Caglianone • RF • Royals

Jac Caglianone Returns From Ankle Soreness

Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (ankle) is starting in right field and batting third on Wednesday against the hosting Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Spencer Miles at the Rogers Centre, according to MLB.com. Caglianone will return to action after missing the last two games with minor soreness in his right ankle. Fantasy managers will want to get him back into their starting lineups in all leagues, especially after the young left-handed slugger has been crushing baseballs in August. The 23-year-old returns to an overall .276/.328/.491 slash line with an .819 OPS, 22 home runs, 60 RBI, 59 runs scored, and six stolen bases in his 434 at-bats in his first full season in the big leagues. Cags, a first-rounder in 2024 and former two-way player at the University of Florida, has never faced Miles, but he's gone 29-for-72 (.403) with five home runs, six doubles, 20 RBI, 12 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 19 games during the month. He's one of the hottest hitters in baseball, with 15 of his 22 long balls on the year coming against right-handed pitchers.

Aug 26

Jac Caglianone • RF • Royals

Jac Caglianone Out Tuesday With Sore Ankle

Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (ankle) will sit out of Tuesday's tilt against the Toronto Blue Jays on the road due to soreness in his right ankle, per MLB.com. Caglianone will miss a second straight start with an ankle injury that has been bothering him for the last week. For now, fantasy managers should consider Cags to be day-to-day and check back on him to see if he is playing on Wednesday. If his injury lingers into the weekend, though, the Royals could consider placing him on the 10-day injured list. John Rave is making the start in right field on Tuesday and will hit eighth for the Royals at the Rogers Centre against Blue Jays veteran right-hander Max Scherzer. Caglianone, a former sixth overall pick in 2024 from the University of Florida, has quickly developed into a strong left-handed power bat for fantasy managers in his first full year in the big leagues in 2026. The 23-year-old came into Tuesday's action sporting a .276/.328/.491 slash line with an .819 OPS, 22 home runs, 60 RBI, 59 runs scored, and six steals in 434 at-bats. He is now rostered in 82% of Yahoo leagues.

Aug 25

Jac Caglianone • RF • Royals

Jac Caglianone Scratched on Sunday With Ankle Soreness

The Kansas City Royals announced that first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (ankle) has been scratched from Sunday's starting lineup against the division-rival Detroit Tigers due to ankle soreness. John Rave will make the start in right field for KC and will bat sixth against Tigers right-hander Jacob Waguespack. Caglianone left Wednesday's contest early against the Athletics with a right-ankle injury and was also kept out in the series finale on Thursday. Apparently, the left-handed slugger is not over his ankle injury and will miss another game, but fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. The next opportunity he will have to play will be for Monday's series opener in Toronto against the Blue Jays. The 23-year-old former sixth overall pick from the University of Florida in 2024 got off to a slow start in 2026 in his first full year in the majors, but he's rebounded nicely and has become a must-start for his left-handed power in KC. Cags currently holds a .276/.328/.491 slash line, an .819 OPS, 22 homers, 60 RBI, 59 runs scored, and six steals in his 434 at-bats.

Aug 23

Steven Cruz • RP • Royals

Steven Cruz has Interesting Deep-League Appeal

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Steven Cruz has been working as the closer lately. He has earned four of the team's last five saves and appears to have a strong hold on the closer role right now. Cruz did give up two earned runs during his latest appearance against the Athletics on Wednesday. Outside of that, Cruz has looked good enough on the mound to warrant adding in deep leagues. Overall, Cruz owns a 4.37 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 51/18 K/BB ratio across 45 appearances. There's enough value here to warrant scooping up Cruz in deep leagues.

Aug 21

Maikel Garcia • 3B • Royals

Maikel Garcia Likely Headed to Injured List

Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (hamstring) is likely headed to the 10-day Injured List, according to Joel Goldberg. Royals manager Matt Quatraro said the team plans to place him on the shelf after Garcia suffered a hamstring strain during Thursday's win over the Athletics. This is a tough break for Garcia, who was playing in just his fourth game since returning from nearly a two-month absence. If he is placed on the IL, fantasy managers shouldn't expect him back until some point in September. Nick Loftin figures to return to being the primary third baseman in Kansas City. Fantasy managers might want to consider moving on from Garcia, who is looking at a multi-week absence.

Aug 20

Gavin Cross • CF • Royals

Gavin Cross Goes on Injured List at Triple-A Omaha

Kansas City Royals outfield prospect Gavin Cross (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day injured list on August 14 with an undisclosed injury. It's a shame as the Royals' 26th-ranked prospect was heating up again, riding a five-game hit streak during which time he went 9-for-19 (.474) with three doubles, two home runs, and a stolen base over that span. The hot stretch brought his season-long slash line to .253/.319/.435 at Triple-A Omaha with 13 home runs and 23 steals in 101 games. The power/speed combo makes for an intriguing fantasy asset, and the former ninth-overall draft pick could still make a late-season debut in 2026, but there was little reason to stash him before the injury, and now, without a clear timeline for his return, there is even less reason. The 25-year-old may have a fantasy impact in 2027, but for now, he can be safely left on the waiver wire.

Aug 20

Jac Caglianone • RF • Royals

Jac Caglianone Leaves Early Wednesday With Ankle Soreness

The Kansas City Royals announced that first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (ankle) exited Wednesday night's game early against the visiting Athletics with soreness in his right ankle. Caglianone went 1-for-1 at the plate with a hit-by-pitch before being pulled from the game in the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium. The extent of the injury is undisclosed right now, so fantasy managers will want to check back on Caglianone's status for the series finale against the A's on Thursday. John Rave replaced the power-hitting left-hander in right field and could be in line for more playing time there if Cags misses more time with his ankle injury. After a somewhat slow start to his first full major-league season in 2026, Caglianone has picked it up with the lumber and entered Wednesday's contest with a .278/.329/.494 slash line, an .823 OPS, 22 home runs, 60 RBI, 58 runs scored, and six stolen bases in his 118 games played. Since the All-Star break, he has been a must-start in fantasy leagues, hitting .330 (35-for-106) with a .949 OPS, seven long balls, seven doubles, 25 RBI, 14 runs scored, and three steals in 28 games across 110 plate appearances.

Aug 19

Vinnie Pasquantino • 1B • Royals

Vinnie Pasquantino Back From Injured List, Starting on Monday

The Kansas City Royals announced on Monday that they reinstated first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (wrist) from the 10-day injured list, and he is starting at first base and batting fifth in the series opener at Kauffman Stadium against the Athletics and right-hander Mason Barnett. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger has only six home runs and 33 RBI in 79 games so far in 2026 after hitting 32 home runs and driving in 113 runs in 160 games played a year ago. Pasquantino had surgery back on June 14 to fix a broken hamate bone in his right hand, and he had to go back on the IL due to soreness in his right wrist that kept him out for almost three more weeks. The Pasquatch's hand/wrist issues this year have sapped him of his power, but he is worth picking back up to see if he can help in the power department the rest of the way. Although he has disappointed in his fifth year in the majors with the Royals, Pasquantino has only struck out 17.9% of the time and has walked 11% of the time in his 336 plate appearances. He has gone hitless in just three career at-bats against Barnett.

Aug 17

Maikel Garcia • 3B • Royals

Maikel Garcia Reinstated From Injured List and Starting on Monday

The Kansas City Royals announced on Monday that they reinstated infielder/outfielder Maikel Garcia (hand) from the 10-day injured list, and he will start at third base and bat cleanup in his return in the series opener at home against the visiting Athletics and right-hander Mason Barnett. Fantasy managers in need of stolen bases should look to scoop Garcia up right away if he is available in your league. The 26-year-old Venezuelan has been injured for much of the year and has not lived up to expectations after hitting 16 home runs and stealing 23 bases in 2025, but he could do some damage for fantasy managers the rest of the way. Garcia will return to a .261/.320/.373 slash line with a .693 OPS, three home runs, 30 RBI, 32 runs scored, and five stolen bases in his 69 games and 294 plate appearances. He racked up 83 stolen bases from 2023 to 2025 with the Royals and is eligible at second base, third base, shortstop, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues. Garcia went 4-for-10 at the plate with a double and a steal in three minor-league rehab games last week with Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Aug 17

Maikel Garcia • 3B • Royals

Maikel Garcia Could Rejoin the Royals on Monday

Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that infielder/outfielder Maikel Garcia (hand) didn't play in a minor-league rehab game on Sunday, but if he's feeling good, there's a chance he could come off the 10-day injured list to rejoin the big-league club on Monday before their series opener at home against the Athletics. Garcia has gone 3-for-16 at the plate on his rehab assignment after joining Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday, and the 26-year-old could be on the verge of rejoining the Royals for the first time since being put on the 10-day injured list with a muscle strain in his left hand back on June 23. When he's activated, Garcia should take over as the team's starting third baseman, which will push Nick Loftin back to a utility role off the bench. Garcia has just three home runs, 30 RBI, and five stolen bases in 2026 in his fourth full season in the majors, but he did have 16 homers, 74 RBI, and 23 steals in 160 games as a first-time All-Star in 2025, and he had 83 stolen bases from 2023-25. With eligibility in Yahoo leagues at second base, third base, shortstop, and the outfield, Garcia should at least be a versatile speed threat for fantasy managers the rest of the way. He's currently rostered in 76% of Yahoo leagues.

Aug 16

Salvador Perez • DH • Royals

Salvador Perez Returns to the Lineup on Saturday

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (elbow) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Perez returns after making an early exit during Wednesday's game due to a right elbow issue. He sat out of Friday's contest because of the injury, but returns as the designated hitter on Saturday. Perez is having a below-average year at the plate, but has been hitting the ball better in August. Fantasy managers can go ahead and get Perez back in their lineups ahead of first pitch on Saturday.

Aug 15

Steven Cruz • RP • Royals

Steven Cruz Is Taking Over the Ninth

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Steven Cruz picked up his fourth save Friday, August 14, working a scoreless ninth in a 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Cruz allowed one hit and struck out one, freezing Mike Trout for the final out. It was another ninth-inning chance for the right-hander, who has now recorded all four of his saves over his last 15 appearances. Cruz has been much better than his 4.17 season ERA suggests lately, posting a 2.40 ERA and 0.87 WHIP across those 15 outings. Alex Lange has moved into lower-leverage work, while Cruz has been getting the ninth more often. The job isn't completely secure yet, but Cruz is clearly the arm to chase from this bullpen right now. Yahoo managers haven't moved much yet, either, with Cruz rostered in just 6% of leagues. He's worth grabbing in deeper formats for anyone looking to add saves.

Aug 15

Kansas City Royals News

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