Fantasy News

• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Sits down against southpaw

  Rotowire May 9, 2024

  Isbel isn't in the Royals' lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels. Isbel will step out of the lineup as the Angels prepare to send left-hander Reid Detmers to the mound to start Thursday's contest. Garrett Hampson will fill in as Kansas City's center fielder and bat ninth.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Taking seat Monday

  Rotowire May 6, 2024

  Isbel is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Cleveland. The left-handed-hitting Isbel will take a seat against Milwaukee right-hander Bryse Wilson while Dairon Blanco gets the start in center field. Isbel had started each of the last 13 contests when the Royals faced a right-hander.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Pops homer in loss

  Rotowire Apr 30, 2024

  Isbel went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI single in Monday's 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays. Isbel's bat has started to come around -- he's gone 7-for-21 (.333) with four extra-base hits over his last seven games. The outfielder has held onto a strong-side platoon role in center field this season. He's slashing .225/.262/.388 with three homers, three stolen bases, eight RBI, 10 runs scored, two doubles and a triple over 85 plate appearances. Isbel still most frequently bats at the bottom of the Royals' lineup when he's playing.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: On bench versus lefty

  Rotowire Apr 28, 2024

  Isbel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers. Isbel will be joined on the bench by fellow lefty-hitting regulars Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Massey and MJ Melendez while the Royals stock up on extra right-handed bats to counter Tigers southpaw Tarik Skubal. Dairon Blanco will replace Isbel in center field.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Goes deep off bench

  Rotowire Apr 23, 2024

  Isbel went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Blue Jays. Isbel's homer was in the ninth inning, but the Royals weren't able to turn it into a rally. The outfielder had gone 0-for-12 across his previous four contests. He's batting .197 with a .533 OPS through 64 plate appearances while adding two homers, five RBI, three stolen bases and five runs scored. Isbel should remain on the strong side of a platoon in center field, with Garrett Hampson seeing most of the playing time versus southpaws.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Sits against left-hander

  Rotowire Apr 22, 2024

  Isbel is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays. Isbel will stick on the bench for the second game in a row while the Royals oppose a second straight left-handed starting pitcher in Yusei Kikuchi. Garrett Hampson will spell Isbel in center field.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Not starting nightcap

  Rotowire Apr 17, 2024

  Isbel isn't in the Royals' lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the White Sox, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. An 0-for-4 performance during Game 1 will send Isbel to the bench for the second contest, giving Garrett Hampson a chance to start in center field while batting in the leadoff spot.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Day off against lefty

  Rotowire Apr 13, 2024

  Isbel isn't in the Royals' lineup Saturday against the Mets. Isbel will take a seat to begin Saturday's game as southpaw Sean Manaea starts on the hill for the Mets. Garrett Hampson will step in to cover center field while batting sixth.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Registers third steal

  Rotowire Apr 11, 2024

  Isbel went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 11-2 win over the Astros. Isbel is just 4-for-20 (.200) over his last seven games, but he has three steals in that span. The 27-year-old continues to see a strong-side platoon role in center field, sharing the position with utility man Garrett Hampson. Isbel has a .235/.257/.353 slash line with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored over 36 plate appearances this season, so it's unlikely he'll hit higher than the bottom third of the order.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Not starting versus southpaw

  Rotowire Apr 7, 2024

  Isbel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports. Lefty Garrett Crochet is starting Sunday for Chicago, so Isbel will hit the bench for the second time this season. Garrett Hampson will start in center field and bat ninth.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Records steal Wednesday

  Rotowire Apr 4, 2024

  Isbel went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Orioles. Isbel has seen steady time in center field, starting five of the first six games this season, though he's routinely hit at the bottom of the order. The outfielder's steal Wednesday was his first of the season. He's hitting .278 with one home run and one double over 18 plate appearances. Isbel offers only modest speed -- he had 18 steals over 225 major-league contests over the previous three seasons.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Takes seat Tuesday

  Rotowire Apr 2, 2024

  Isbel is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles. Isbel started the first four games of the season but will hit the bench Tuesday with southpaw Cole Irvin pitching for Baltimore. Garrett Hampson will start in center field and bat seventh.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Homers in Sunday's win

  Rotowire Apr 1, 2024

  Isbel went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a double in Sunday's 11-0 win over the Twins. Isbel had started the season quietly prior to his big Sunday. He was one of five Royals to slug a homer in the contest. He's started all three games in center field to begin the season, though he's also hit at the bottom of the batting order. The Royals have yet to face a left-handed starter, so it's still unclear if Isbel will be a full-time starter or just a platoon player.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Set to start in center field

  Rotowire Mar 24, 2024

  Isbel is positioned to begin the season as the Royals' starting center fielder after Drew Waters was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Friday, which was reported by Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Isbel was the favorite for the job early in camp, and he had a strong showing during spring training with a .344/.417/.500 slash line in 36 plate appearances. The 27-year-old played in 91 contests last year but struggled to a .662 OPS, and his hold on the job could wane quickly this season if he repeats that performance.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Favorite to start in center field?

  Rotowire Feb 22, 2024

  The Royals believe Isbel is their best option in center field, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. Isbel has graded out as an elite defensive center fielder the last two seasons, which looks to give him a leg up over Drew Waters even as he hasn't hit much. Waters is viewed as a quality defender himself but has played as much right field as center field. The left-handed hitting Isbel appears to be the favorite to at least start against righties, with Waters representing an option versus lefties.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Three-hit night

  Rotowire Sep 30, 2023

  Isbel went 3-for-4 with one double, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 12-5 win over the Yankees. Isbel was the ninth of 10 consecutive Kansas City batters to reach base to begin the game, belting a bases-loaded double that drove in two runs. It's just the second time this season he's recorded more than two hits in a game. Isbel heads into the final two games of the season slashing .240/.282/.366 with five homers, 34 RBI, 45 runs and seven steals in 91 games.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: On bench Friday

  Rotowire Sep 15, 2023

  Isbel is out of the lineup Friday against the Astros. MJ Melendez, Drew Waters and Nelson Velazquez will start across the outfield for Kansas City. Isbel has shown a bit more life at the plate in recent weeks, but he is slashing just .232/.272/.380 across 81 major-league games this year.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Not in lineup for afternoon game

  Rotowire Sep 12, 2023

  Isbel is out of the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the White Sox. The Royals are going with Drew Water is center field against Dylan Cease. Isbel figures to be back in the lineup for the second game of the double dip.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Not in starting nine

  Rotowire Sep 9, 2023

  Isbel will be on the bench for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports. Isbel recently missed five games with a tight hamstring but returned to start both Wednesday and Friday, going a combined 1-for-6 with two walks and four strikeouts. He'll retreat to the bench Saturday, with Drew Waters taking over in center field.

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• Royals' Kyle Isbel: Returns to lineup

  Rotowire Sep 6, 2023

  Isbel (hamstring) is starting in center field and batting eighth Wednesday against the White Sox in his return to the lineup. Isbel missed the previous five games with a tight hamstring but is feeling well enough to give it a go in this one. He and his teammates will be squaring off against Touki Toussaint.

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