Dozier (face) will bat cleanup and play first base in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers.
Dozier was scratched Thursday after getting hit in the lip by a ball during batting practice, but the injury wasn't a significant one. He's expected to begin the season as Kansas City's primary third baseman.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Scratched from lineup
Rotowire
Dozier was scratched from the Royals' Cactus League lineup against the Padres on Thursday after taking a ball off the lip during batting practice, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Dozier will be fine, but the Royals wanted to give him a little time for the swelling to go down. Vinnie Pasquantino will move to first base and Jakson Reetz has entered the lineup at designated hitter for Friday's contest.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Back in action Friday
Rotowire
Dozier (illness) will start at third base and bat third in Friday's Cactus League game versus the Athletics.
Dozier was scratched from Wednesday's lineup with an illness, but it was never expected to be a long-term issue. The 31-year-old is expected to be the Royals' primary starter at the hot corner this season. Entering Friday, he's gone 3-for-6 with a home run, a stolen base and two total runs scored across two Cactus League games.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Falls ill Wednesday
Rotowire
Dozier was scratched from Wednesday's Cactus League lineup against the Rockies due to an apparent illness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
With Dozier feeling under the weather, the Royals will turn to Nick Loftin to fill in as their starting third baseman. The 31-year-old infielder likely won't miss than a day or two of game action, provided his illness isn't anything too severe.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Will be primary 3B for KC
Rotowire
Dozier will be the primary third baseman for Kansas City to open the 2023 season according to Royals general manager J.J. Picollo, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
"We want [Dozier] to get at-bats," Picollo said. "That's the best place for him to play." The Royals want Bobby Witt to settle in at shortstop, and while Dozier has played in the outfield as well, Kansas City wants the 31-year-old to man the hot corner to begin the 2023 season. He will have to hit better in order to justify staying in the lineup, however, as he hasn't posted an OPS above .750 since his breakout 2019 season.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Dozier is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.
Dozier went 0-for-5 with a run and a strikeout Saturday and will sit Sunday for the second time in Kansas City's past three games. Edward Olivares will serve as the designated hitter while Ryan O'Hearn starts in right field.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Retreats to bench Friday
Rotowire
Dozier isn't starting Friday against the Guardians.
Dozier is getting a day off after he went 6-for-14 with a home run, a triple, a double, four RBI, two runs, a walk and three strikeouts over the last four games. Edward Olivares will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Pops 12th homer
Rotowire
Dozier went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Tigers.
Dozier opened the scoring with his second-inning blast. The versatile 31-year-old has found his swing over his last seven games, going 9-for-26 (.346) with two homers, five RBI and a pair of doubles in that span. He's up to a .240/.298/.392 slash line with 12 long balls, 41 RBI, 50 runs scored and four stolen bases through 125 contests this season.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Perfect at plate Sunday
Rotowire
Dozier went 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 13-12 win over the Mariners.
Dozier produced RBI singles in the second and sixth innings. This was his third multi-hit effort in his last four games, a solid rebound after he went just 3-for-33 in his first 13 contests in September. The utility man is up to a .240/.298/.387 slash line with 39 RBI, 49 runs scored, 11 home runs and four stolen bases through 124 games this year.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Not in Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Dozier will sit Saturday against the Mariners.
Dozier remains locked into the lineup against lefties, but his playing time against righties is slipping. He's now sat against seven of the last 11 right-handers the Royals have faced.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Goes yard Tuesday
Rotowire
Dozier went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Twins.
Dozier tied the game at 3-3 with his fifth-inning solo shot. It was his first long ball since July 31, snapping a 34-game power drought. During that span, he slashed only .168/.210/.212 with five doubles, two RBI and nine runs scored. Dozier has had another forgettable season with a .234/.292/.380 slash line, 11 homers, 37 RBI, 47 runs scored and four stolen bases through 121 contests. He's still finding regular time in the corner infield and corner outfield spots, though he lacks one clear path to the starting nine on a daily basis, and he's been benched on occasion recently to allow the Royals to evaluate prospects.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Late add to lineup
Rotowire
Dozier will start in left field and bat seventh Friday against the Red Sox.
The 31-year-old was originally absent from Friday's lineup but will join the starting nine after Drew Waters was scratched with a sore ankle. Dozier is hitless in eight games since Sept. 3, having gone 0-for-16 with a walk, a run and seven strikeouts.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Not in Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Dozier isn't starting Friday against the Red Sox.
Dozier is on the bench for a second consecutive matchup after going 0-for-16 with a run, a walk and seven strikeouts over his last eight games. Drew Waters will start in right field and bat eighth.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Riding pine Thursday
Rotowire
Dozier isn't starting Thursday against the Twins.
Dozier has gone 0-for-16 with a run, a walk and seven strikeouts over his last eight games and will retreat to the bench for the fifth time in the last nine matchups. Kyle Isbel is starting in right field and batting eighth.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Not starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Dozier is not in the lineup Tuesday against Minnesota, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
With Dozier on the bench, Kyle Isbel will start the game in right field and bat seventh.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Absent from Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Dozier isn't starting Saturday against the Tigers.
Dozier has gone just 2-for-19 with a double, two runs and six strikeouts since the start of September, and he'll head to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Kyle Isbel is starting in right field and batting eighth.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Day off Monday
Rotowire
Dozier isn't in the lineup Monday against Cleveland.
Dozier started the last three games and went 2-for-13 with a double, two runs and three strikeouts. He'll get a breather while Drew Waters starts in right field and bats eighth.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Heads to bench Thursday
Rotowire
Dozier is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
After going 7-for-19 with three runs, two stolen bases and an RBI while starting in each of the past four games, Dozier will retreat to the bench for the series finale in Chicago. He'll cede his spot in the lineup to Brent Rooker, who will serve as Kansas City's designated hitter and No. 7 batter.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Collects four hits
Rotowire
Dozier went 4-for-6 with a double and three runs scored in a 15-7 win over the Padres on Sunday.
Dozier joined in on an offensive outburst off Sean Manaea and Josh Hader with four hits of his own. It was his third game with at least four hits this season and the performance lifted his season-long average to .246. Dozier came into the game slashing .169/.217/.215 over the month of August even though his 2022 numbers are comparable to his career standard. Like many players, Dozier's best offensive season came in 2019. He hit .279 with 26 home runs that year.
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Royals' Hunter Dozier: Not in Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Dozier is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Padres, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.
Dozier is 2-for-23 over his past six games and will head to the bench for Friday's contest. Drew Waters will start in right field and bat eighth in the series opener.
