Kansas City Royals DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Kansas City starting pitcher Seth Lugo (9-1) picked up his ninth win Wednesday, allowing one run on six hits with five strikeouts and three walks in a 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins. The ninth win leads the American League in that category and ties him for the MLB lead with Philadelphia Phillies starter Ranger Suarez. Safe to say, Lugo has been a bargain for the Royals after signing the veteran right-hander to a three-year $45 million contract in the offseason. He currently lies at the top in wins, ERA, and innings pitched on the season while having an impressive 1.01 WHIP as well. His next start will put him against the red-hot Cleveland Guardians next Tuesday, whom he has yet to match up against this season.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Nelson Velazquez swatted his seventh home run of the year, a three-run homer, Wednesday night while going 2-for-4 with a second run scored in a 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins. After recording only one home run and seven RBI in April, Velazquez found his power stroke in May, with five home runs and 11 RBI recorded. His .221 batting average lies right around his .224 career average, but if you require some power in your lineup, Velazquez is a solid add. His 19 RBI are little to be desired, but he makes for a solid deeper league add especially while he's hitting in the middle of a Royal's lineup that is much improved this season.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith put on a power display in Wednesday's blowout win over the hosting New York Mets, going 3-for-5 with two solo home runs. Smith launched his eighth and ninth homers on Wednesday, first belting a solo home run to left field to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the second inning and later smacking a go-ahead home run to left-center field to give the team a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning. The 29-year-old slugging backstop is now slashing .296/.360/.516 with nine home runs, 14 doubles, 36 RBI, and 32 runs scored over 186 at-bats (49 games) as LA's primary option behind the dish. Continue to roll with Smith in all fantasy leagues.

Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (shin) is not in the team's starting lineup on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins. Pasquantino collided with Twins outfielder Byron Buxton on Tuesday and was forced to leave the game early, but he avoided any structural damage and should be considered day-to-day with a left-shin injury. With Pasquantino sitting out, Nick Loftin will play first base for the Royals and bat sixth against Twins right-hander Bailey Ober. Fantasy managers will need to bench Pasquantino on Wednesday and check back on Thursday to see if he's in there for the series finale in Minnesota. Loftin comes into the start with a .265 average (9-for-34) and six home runs, and he's still looking for the first home run of his big-league career in his 35th game dating back to last season.

Updating a previous report, Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (leg) left Tuesday night's game against the Minnesota Twins early with a lower left-leg contusion. X-rays came back negative and he is considered day-to-day for now. Pasquantino collided with Twins outfielder Byron Buxton in the third inning and took a knee to the shin that forced him to hit the showers early. Thankfully, the injury doesn't appear to be very serious, although the 26-year-old left-handed-hitting first baseman could get the day off on Wednesday as a precaution. Before leaving the game, Pasquantino struck out in his only plate appearance to drop his season average to .224. Salvador Perez moved from catcher to first base to replace Pasquantino. He has looked better at the plate in May, but he also hasn't homered since May 9.