Kansas City Royals DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

The Kansas City Royals optioned right-hander Alec Marsh to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday to make room on the roster for right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg, who was acquired in a trade from the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday. Marsh gets booted from the starting rotation as the No. 5 starter for KC, with recently acquired right-hander Michael Lorenzen taking his spot and making his team debut this Saturday against the Detroit Tigers. The 26-year-old Marsh will have his workload scaled back a bit as he returns to the minors to give him a little rest. The former second-round pick in 2019 out of Arizona State has gone 7-7 in the big leagues in 2024 with a 4.71 ERA (4.21 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with a 93:32 K:BB in 101 2/3 innings in his second year in the majors. Marsh has had a tough July in five outings (four starts), allowing 15 earned runs on 22 hits (four homer) in 19 2/3 frames.

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen will join the Kansas City Royals' starting rotation and make the start on Saturday versus the division-rival Detroit Tigers, according to manager Matt Quatraro. There was some question as to whether Lorenzen would be a starter with KC after being acquired from the Texas Rangers in a trade on Monday, but he'll take over the rotation spot of right-hander Alec Marsh after Marsh was sent to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday. The 32-year-old veteran's fantasy value shouldn't change all that much with the move to KC, but he'll maintain his value rotation depth in deep mixed leagues now that he'll continue in a starting role. In 19 appearances (18 starts) for the Rangers this year, Lorenzen had a 3.81 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 75 strikeouts and 48 walks in 101 2/3 innings pitched. He'll be a popular streamer this weekend against Detroit.

The Kansas City Royals are acquiring veteran shortstop Paul DeJong from the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, according to a source. It's unclear what the return will be heading back to the White Sox. The Royals already have one of the best shortstops in the game in Bobby Witt Jr., so DeJong will give the contending Royals more infield depth as they look to secure a wild-card spot in the American League down the stretch. The 30-year-old DeJong has hit only .228 (77-for-337) in Chicago in 2024, but it's come with 18 home runs, 41 RBI and 39 runs scored in 363 plate appearances and 102 games. His clearest path to playing time with his new squad will probably come at second base. As long as DeJong is playing regularly, this trade will be a nice boost to his fantasy value in deeper leagues for his right-handed power stroke. DeJong is riding a five-game hitting streak with a homer and two doubles.

The Kansas City Royals are finalizing a deal to acquire right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg from the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday, according to sources. It's unclear what the return is going to the A's in exchange for Erceg. The 29-year-old was stepping in for the A's as their primary closer with flamethrowing closer Mason Miller (finger) currently on the injured list, and it's unclear exactly how the Royals plan to use him as a high-leverage reliever. Erceg has secured the first three saves of his career in 2024 while also posting a 3.68 ERA (3.46 FIP) with a 1.20 WHIP, 41 strikeouts and 13 walks in 36 2/3 relief innings. Now that Erceg is gone in Oakland, Tyler Ferguson figures to jump into the primary closing role, at least until Miller returns. If James McArthur continues to struggle securing ballgames, there's a chance that Erceg is given an opportunity to close out games with his new team.

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. went 4-for-5 with four runs batted in during Monday's 8-5 win at the Chicago White Sox. Witt hit his 19th homer, a grand slam in the top of the eighth, that capped off a game that included his 30th double, a pair of singles, and two runs scored. Witt leads the majors with a .347 average, is second with 87 runs scored, and is fourth with a .988 OPS while driving in 75 runs and adding 23 stolen bases. Few players are delivering the manner Witt has for fantasy managers, as he bids for a 30-homer, 30-stolen base campaign.