16 Billy Butler, DH

Royals DH Billy Butler has adjusted well since being moved to the cleanup spot May 9. Butler is batting .345 (10 for 29) with two home runs, three doubles, six runs and 10 RBI in seven games since the change.

Butler primarily hit third before being moved down in the lineup. He hit .247 with three home runs, five doubles and 19 RBI in 28 games batting third.

Royals DH Billy Butler followed up Monday's five-hit masterpiece with his fifth home run in Tuesday's game against the Angels.

Butler finished 2 for 4 with a run scored, a double and two RBI to go with the home run. Butler has a .268/.377/.455 line and has raised his OPS by a whopping 104 points over the last two games.

Based on some of the feedback we've been getting in all its various forms, some Fantasy owners had begun to lose faith in the Royals' Billy Butler prior to Monday's game. Maybe his five-hit performance put those doubts to rest.

In terms of predictability, a .290-plus batting average for Butler ranks up there with the phases of the moon. He's done it each of the last four seasons, averaging .306 during that stretch. If you're looking for something to doubt, you can doubt the 29 home runs he hit last year. I tend to trust them considering they came at an age (26) when power breakthroughs are common, but at least with them you can point to track record as a reason they won't happen again.

But you can't doubt his batting average, not unless you choose to wipe the slate clean on every player, assessing them only on what they've done so far, which is a risky and ill-advised strategy that will likely result in a last-place finish. I'm just sayin'.

Royals manager Ned Yost believed it was only a matter of time before All-Star first baseman Billy Butler emerged from his severe offensive slump. Butler proved he was right after finishing 5 for 5 with five RBI during Monday's rout over the Angels.

It was the third time in the slugger's major-league career he totaled five or more RBI, including a seven-RBI outing earlier this season at Philadelphia. He entered the game mired in a 4-for-35 rut with a .228 average and one RBI over his previous six games.

"Billy's one of the best hitters I've ever seen," Yost said. "I've seen a lot of really good hitters go into little slumps, and Billy's slumps are usually 0 for 9 or 0 for 10. But you also know that any day he's capable of breaking out and really carrying the team for a period of time. Billy's like a light switch. All of a sudden he can walk in, flip it, and there he goes."

Royals first baseman Billy Butler broke out of his slump in Monday's series opener against the Angels. After batting just .114 (4 for 35) in his previous nine games, he went 5 for 5 with five RBI and two runs scored in an 11-4 win.

The 27-year-old doubled home a run in his first at-bat before plating two with a single his next time up. He singled again in the fifth inning and added two more RBI with his second double in the sixth. Butler posted another base hit in the eighth to cap off his perfect night at the plate.

Butler saw his average rise from .228 to .261 in the victory. He has 25 RBI through 35 contests.