Kansas City Royals

Greg Holland allowed two runs on three hits while striking out one across one inning during Sunday’s 9-3 loss to the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: Holland entered the game in the seventh inning and was tagged with two runs on three hits. Entering Sunday’s game, Holland tossed four scoreless innings without allowing an earned run. Holland has struggled in 2021, owning a 5.25 ERA, 1.92 WHIP, and a 13:8 K: BB across 12 innings in 2021. The 35-year-old is used in high-leverage situations but won’t be called upon for future save opportunities if Holland continues to struggle on the mound. Holland should be rostered in all league formats that reward the category solds (saves and holds).

Mike Minor (2-2) allowed five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven across five innings during Sunday’s 9-3 loss to the White Sox. He was tagged with his second loss of the season.

Fantasy Impact: Minor yielded five runs on four hits and two walks before exiting after 91 pitches. The 33-year-old surrendered three runs in the second inning and was tagged for two more in the third frame. He’s allowed four runs or more in three of his last five appearances. Minor owns a 5.75 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and a 37:15 K: BB across 36 innings in 2021. The left-hander will look for better results in his next sceduled start against the White Sox this weekend.

Whit Merrifield went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and one stolen base in Sunday's 9-3 loss to the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: Merrifield doubled and came around to score on a Salvador Perez RBI double play. He also recorded an RBI and stole his 11th league-leading stolen base of the season. The 32-year-old has recorded at least one hit in eight of his last 10 contests. Merrifield has shown no signs of slowing down and is slashing .271/.327/.419 across 147 plate appearances in 2021.

Jorge Soler went 1-for-4 with a double in Saturday’s 9-1 loss to the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: Soler belted a double off Michael Kopech in the bottom of the sixth inning for his 12th extra-base hit of the season. He’s starting to heat up and has recorded a hit in five of his last six contests. Soler is slashing .194/.268/.343 with two home runs, 16 RBI, and 11 runs scored across 123 plate appearances in 2021.

Carlos Santana went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and a pair of walks in Saturday's 9-1 loss to the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: Santana reached base four times in Saturday’s loss and increased his on-base percentage to .380 on the season. The 35-year-old has now logged seven games this year where he’s reached base at least three times. Santana is off to a solid start with the Royals, slashing .263/.380/.456 with six home runs, 21 RBI, 17 runs scored, and one stolen base across 137 plate appearances in 2021.

Daniel Lynch (0-1) allowed eight runs on seven hits and walked one over 2/3 of an inning in Saturday's 9-1 loss to the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: Lynch was unable to escape the first inning and surrendered eight runs in Saturday’s loss. He threw a total of 34 pitches before exiting. The Royals' top prospect owns an 18.56 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, and 3:5 K: BB across five 1/3 innings in 2021. Lynch will look for better results in his next start against the White Sox on Friday.

Salvador Perez went 4-for-4 with a double in Friday's 3-0 loss to the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: Perez recorded four hits and accounted for half the team’s hits during Friday’s loss to the White Sox. He’s on a four-game hitting streak and has now logged multi-hit efforts in two of his last four contests. Perez is slashing .293/.331/.528 with seven home runs, 18 RBI, and 16 runs scored across 130 plate appearances in 2021.

Brad Keller (2-4) allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six over six innings during Friday’s 3-0 loss to the White Sox. He was tagged with his fourth loss of the season.

Fantasy Impact: Keller was solid in Friday’s start, yielding three runs over six innings. He cruised through the first four innings before surrendering a solo shot to Zack Collins. The right-hander was tagged for two more runs before exiting the game after throwing 101 pitches. Keller owns a 7.31 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts across 28 1/3 innings in 2021. The 25-year-old will look to build on Friday’s performance next week in a road start against the Tigers.

Royals INF Adalberto Mondesi (right oblique strain) is making progress in his recovery but still has soreness from the left side. (Source: Alec Lewis on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Mondesi is still experiencing soreness in his left side and will need more work before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment. He’s “champing at the bit” to return but the Royals won’t rush him back. His left-handed swing isn’t “totally cleared yet.” Mondesi remains day-to-day.

Michael A. Taylor went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts during Thursday’s 4-0 loss to Cleveland.

Fantasy Impact: Taylor struck out twice in Thursday’s loss and has now whiffed eight times in his last three contests. Despite the increase in whiffs, the 30-year-old has been productive for the Royals in 2021. Taylor is slashing .266/.324/.351 across 102 plate appearances.

Andrew Benintendi went 1-for-4 with one strikeout during Thursday’s 4-0 loss to Cleveland.

Fantasy Impact: Benintendi logged a single during Thursday’s loss and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. He’s been one of the most consistent hitters for the Royals and should be rostered in all league formats. Benintendi is slashing .276/.345/.410 with three home runs, 10 RBI, 11 walks, 18 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 116 plate appearances in 2021.

Danny Duffy (4-2) allowed three runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out six across five 2/3 innings during Thursday’s 4-0 loss to Cleveland. He was tagged with his second loss of the season.

Fantasy Impact: Duffy’s three earned runs during Thursday’s loss were the most he’s allowed in his first five starts combined. He threw 107 pitches, landing 73 strikes. Despite the subpar performance, the 32-year-old is second in the majors with a 1.26 ERA. The left-hander also owns a 1.07 WHIP and a 40:10 K: BB across 35 2/3 innings in 2021. Duffy will look for better results in next week’s start against the Tigers.

Royals SS prospect Bobby Witt Jr. went 1-for-4 with a walk and two stolen bases on Wednesday night.

Fantasy Impact: Witt is off to a slow start at the plate but he has played just two games. It's great to see him running, as it's another remind of his five-category fantasy upside. Currently playing in Double-A, the former No. 2 overall pick could arrive in the majors later this summer should everything go as planned.

Asa Lacy struggled in his professional debut on Wednesday, allowing four runs on one hit and five walks in 2 1/3 innings.

Fantasy Impact: Lacy also struck out five, but obviously the walks were a big problem. He was pitching in High-A and it's important to remember that this was his first game action since last March. A first-round pick from the 2020 draft, Lacy is an exciting stash in dynasty leagues.

Jacob Junis allowed a solo home run across one inning and was charged with the blown save during Wednesday’s 5-4 loss.

Fantasy Impact: Junis continues to struggle out of the bullpen and was charged with his first blown save of the season. He yielded a solo homer to Cleveland’s star 3B Jose Ramirez and has now surrendered three long balls in his last two relief appearances. Junis owns a 5.19 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a 29:8 K: BB across 26 innings in 2021. Fantasy managers should hang onto Junis in deep-league and AL-Only formats, but can move on from the right-hander in shallower leagues.

Brady Singer allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three across five 2/3 innings in Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to Cleveland. He did not factor into the decision.

Fantasy Impact: Singer (heel) was hit by a comebacker in his previous start but showed no lingering effects in Wednesday’s loss to Cleveland. The right-hander wasn’t bothered by the injury and delivered a solid performance in Wednesday’s no-decision. Singer threw 92 pitches, landing 55 for strikes. He owns a (1-3) record along with a 3.41 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 29:11 K: BB across 29 innings in 2021. Singer is scheduled to face the Tigers on the road next week.

Hunter Dozier went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to Cleveland.

Fantasy Impact: Dozier took Cleveland’s ace Shane Bieber deep in the second inning for his fifth long ball of the season. He’s been on absolute fire lately, homering three in his last four games. Dozier should be rostered in all league formats while he’s wielding a hot bat. The 29-year-old is slashing .184/.245/.448 across 94 plate appearances in 2021.

Josh Staumont (0-1) allowed three runs on two hits and one walk while striking out one across 2/3 inning during Tuesday’s 7-3 loss to Cleveland. He was charged with his first loss of the season.

Fantasy Impact: Staumont entered the game in the seventh inning and recorded the final out before imploding in the eighth frame. He yielded three runs and one walk before exiting after 26 pitches. Despite the off night, Staumont remains the favorite to close for the Royals. The 27-year-old owns a 2.40 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and a 15:7 K: BB across 15 innings in 2021.

Ryan O’Hearn went 1-for-5 with a solo home run during Saturday’s 11-3 win over the Twins.

Fantasy Impact: O’Hearn took Matt Shoemaker deep in the fourth inning for his second long ball of the season. He’s now homered twice in his last five games. O’Hearn is mainly an option. in AL-Only Leagues after slashing .167/.286/.500 across 21 plate appearances in 2021.

The Kansas City Royals have recalled pitcher Kris Bubic from the team's alternate site. (Source: Alec Lewis on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: This comes after starter Brady Singer left his start early on Friday. Bubic provides depth on the mound for a Royals team that may need help if Singer misses time. Ryan McBroom was optioned as a corresponding move.