Jac Caglianone Returning to Saturday's Lineup
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (hand) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third in Saturday's contest on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates and right-hander Bubba Chandler, per MLB.com. Caglianone suffered a minor hand injury before Friday's series opener at PNC Park, but he is back in action on Saturday and should be returned to fantasy lineups against a right-hander, despite his cold streak of late. The 23-year-old former first-rounder has produced a .277/.328/.483 slash line with an .811 OPS, 23 home runs, 70 RBI, 66 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 484 at-bats in 2026 in his first full big-league season with the Royals. Cags was red-hot in August, slashing .411/.429/.684 with a 1.113 OPS, six home runs, eight doubles, 26 RBI, 17 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 24 games, but he has been banged up in September and has gone just 4-for-27 (.148) with zero homers, four RBI, one walk, and 11 strikeouts. He has never faced Chandler in the majors.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jac Caglianone Out With Hand Injury
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (hand) is out of Friday's starting lineup against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to a hand injury that he suffered on Thursday night, manager Matt Quatraro told Royals broadcaster Joel Goldberg. "It was in the dugout after one of the at-bats. It was my decision to not play him today," Quatraro said. Nick Loftin is making the start in right field for the Royals and will bat eighth in the order against Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes. For now, fantasy managers should consider Caglianone to be day-to-day and check back to see if he is available to play as the series continues in the Steel City on Saturday. The 23-year-old former sixth overall pick from Florida has had a great first full season in the big leagues in 2026, hitting .277/.328/.483 with an .811 OPS, 23 home runs, 70 RBI, 66 runs scored, and six stolen bases across 484 at-bats. However, he has been banged up lately and is limping to the finish line. Cags has gone 4-for-27 (.148) with four RBI, a walk, and 11 strikeouts in 10 games so far in September.
Source: Joel Goldberg
Source: Joel Goldberg
Jac Caglianone Missing his Sixth Straight Game
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (elbow) will sit out for a sixth straight game on Saturday at Fenway Park against the hosting Boston Red Sox, per MLB.com. John Rave will make yet another start in right field for the Royals while batting seventh against Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez. Caglianone has been slow to recover from a flexor strain in his left elbow, but the Royals continue to say that he is day-to-day, so the left-handed slugger could have an opportunity to return for the series finale in Boston on Sunday. It is a terrible time for the 23-year-old former first-rounder to miss time with an injury during the fantasy playoffs in most leagues. Caglianone has developed into a must-start asset in fantasy leagues for his power in what has been a strong first full season in the big leagues in 2026. He came into Saturday's action slashing .283/.331/.494 with an .825 OPS, 23 home runs, 70 RBI, 66 runs scored, and six stolen bases across his 474 at-bats. Cags tore the cover off the ball in 24 games in August, hitting .411 (39-for-95) with six home runs, eight doubles, 26 RBI, 17 runs scored, and three steals.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jac Caglianone Remains Out With Elbow Injury
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (elbow) remains out of Friday's lineup at Fenway Park against the hosting Boston Red Sox with a left flexor strain in his elbow, according to MLB.com. It will be Caglianone's fifth straight missed game, and if he cannot return during the weekend series in Boston, the Royals might have to put him on the 10-day injured list. John Rave will make another start in right field for KC and will bat sixth against Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray. Caglianone got off to a rather slow start in 2026 in his first full season in the big leagues, but he turned it around quickly and became a must-start for fantasy managers for his power from the left side of the plate. The former first-rounder from Florida is missing valuable games during the fantasy postseason, but hopefully he can return to the field at some point this weekend in Beantown. Over 474 at-bats this year, Caglianone is slashing a strong .283/.331/.494 with an .825 OPS, 23 long balls, 70 RBI, 66 runs scored, and six stolen bases. He has even hit .260 (39-for-150) with seven homers and 18 RBI against left-handed pitchers. Check back on Saturday to see if he is active for the Royals.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jac Caglianone Still Out on Wednesday
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (elbow) remains sidelined for Wednesday's contest against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks at Kauffman Stadium, according to MLB.com. John Rave will make the start in right field and will bat seventh for the Royals against Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen, who is making his return from the injured list. Caglianone is dealing with a flexor strain in his left elbow and will miss a fourth straight start for the Royals. If he is not ready to return to the starting nine for Friday's series opener against the Boston Red Sox after another day off on Friday, the Royals may consider moving him to the injured list. That would be really bad timing for fantasy managers who are in the playoffs right now, as the 23-year-old left-handed slugger has turned into a must-start power bat in KC in his first full MLB season in 2026. Caglianone is currently hitting .283/.331/.494 on the season with an .825 OPS, 23 home runs, 70 RBI, 66 runs scored, and six stolen bases across his 474 at-bats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jac Caglianone Still Out With Elbow Injury
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (elbow) remains sidelined with an elbow injury on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Kauffman Stadium, according to MLB.com. Matthew Lugo is making the start in right field for the Royals and will bat eighth against Diamondbacks right-hander Corbin Burnes (elbow), who is making his 2026 debut. This will be Caglianone's third straight missed start due to a flexor strain in his left elbow. His next chance to play will be in Wednesday's series finale against Arizona, but with an off day coming on Thursday, the Royals might hold the left-handed slugger out until Friday's series opener at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. It is bad timing for Caglianone to be banged up with the fantasy playoffs starting in many leagues this week. After a slow start in 2026, the former sixth overall pick from Florida has taken off and is now sporting 23 home runs, 70 RBI, 66 runs scored, six steals, and a .283/.331/.494 slash line in 474 at-bats. When he returns to the Royals' lineup, he will be a must-start for his left-handed power.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jac Caglianone Leaves with Elbow Soreness
Kansas City Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone (elbow) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. According to Joel Goldberg, Caglianone was removed in the third inning due to left elbow soreness. It's unclear when or how Caglianone suffered the injury. He notched an RBI single during his lone plate appearance in the first inning. For now, fantasy managers should consider Caglianone as day-to-day. The Royals should give an update on his status ahead of Sunday's contest. Nick Loftin and John Rave are candidates to see increased playing time if Caglianone misses time.
Source: Joel Goldberg
Source: Joel Goldberg
Jac Caglianone Peaking Late in the Season
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone recently missed a few games with ankle soreness, but he is back now and just had a monster performance offensively in Thursday night's 13-2 blowout win on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays. Caglianone carried the Royals' offense, going 5-for-6 at the plate with a home run, a double, a career-high six RBI, three runs scored, and a strikeout to raise his season batting average to .282 and his OPS to .832 in his first full year in the majors. The five hits by Cags were also a career high to boost his overall season line to .282/.332/.500 with 23 home runs, 66 RBI, and six stolen bases in 479 plate appearances. The former first-rounder and two-way player from the University of Florida has come into his own in 2026 after a slow start at the plate, and he should now be rostered in all fantasy baseball leagues. Caglianone has been one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball in August, coming into Thursday's big game with a .382/.405/.658 slash line and a 1.063 OPS, five home runs, six doubles, 20 RBI, 12 runs scored, and three steals in 20 games played. Scoop him up immediately if he is available in your league.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jac Caglianone Returns From Ankle Soreness
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (ankle) is starting in right field and batting third on Wednesday against the hosting Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Spencer Miles at the Rogers Centre, according to MLB.com. Caglianone will return to action after missing the last two games with minor soreness in his right ankle. Fantasy managers will want to get him back into their starting lineups in all leagues, especially after the young left-handed slugger has been crushing baseballs in August. The 23-year-old returns to an overall .276/.328/.491 slash line with an .819 OPS, 22 home runs, 60 RBI, 59 runs scored, and six stolen bases in his 434 at-bats in his first full season in the big leagues. Cags, a first-rounder in 2024 and former two-way player at the University of Florida, has never faced Miles, but he's gone 29-for-72 (.403) with five home runs, six doubles, 20 RBI, 12 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 19 games during the month. He's one of the hottest hitters in baseball, with 15 of his 22 long balls on the year coming against right-handed pitchers.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jac Caglianone Out Tuesday With Sore Ankle
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (ankle) will sit out of Tuesday's tilt against the Toronto Blue Jays on the road due to soreness in his right ankle, per MLB.com. Caglianone will miss a second straight start with an ankle injury that has been bothering him for the last week. For now, fantasy managers should consider Cags to be day-to-day and check back on him to see if he is playing on Wednesday. If his injury lingers into the weekend, though, the Royals could consider placing him on the 10-day injured list. John Rave is making the start in right field on Tuesday and will hit eighth for the Royals at the Rogers Centre against Blue Jays veteran right-hander Max Scherzer. Caglianone, a former sixth overall pick in 2024 from the University of Florida, has quickly developed into a strong left-handed power bat for fantasy managers in his first full year in the big leagues in 2026. The 23-year-old came into Tuesday's action sporting a .276/.328/.491 slash line with an .819 OPS, 22 home runs, 60 RBI, 59 runs scored, and six steals in 434 at-bats. He is now rostered in 82% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jac Caglianone Scratched on Sunday With Ankle Soreness
The Kansas City Royals announced that first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (ankle) has been scratched from Sunday's starting lineup against the division-rival Detroit Tigers due to ankle soreness. John Rave will make the start in right field for KC and will bat sixth against Tigers right-hander Jacob Waguespack. Caglianone left Wednesday's contest early against the Athletics with a right-ankle injury and was also kept out in the series finale on Thursday. Apparently, the left-handed slugger is not over his ankle injury and will miss another game, but fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. The next opportunity he will have to play will be for Monday's series opener in Toronto against the Blue Jays. The 23-year-old former sixth overall pick from the University of Florida in 2024 got off to a slow start in 2026 in his first full year in the majors, but he's rebounded nicely and has become a must-start for his left-handed power in KC. Cags currently holds a .276/.328/.491 slash line, an .819 OPS, 22 homers, 60 RBI, 59 runs scored, and six steals in his 434 at-bats.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
Jac Caglianone Leaves Early Wednesday With Ankle Soreness
The Kansas City Royals announced that first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (ankle) exited Wednesday night's game early against the visiting Athletics with soreness in his right ankle. Caglianone went 1-for-1 at the plate with a hit-by-pitch before being pulled from the game in the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium. The extent of the injury is undisclosed right now, so fantasy managers will want to check back on Caglianone's status for the series finale against the A's on Thursday. John Rave replaced the power-hitting left-hander in right field and could be in line for more playing time there if Cags misses more time with his ankle injury. After a somewhat slow start to his first full major-league season in 2026, Caglianone has picked it up with the lumber and entered Wednesday's contest with a .278/.329/.494 slash line, an .823 OPS, 22 home runs, 60 RBI, 58 runs scored, and six stolen bases in his 118 games played. Since the All-Star break, he has been a must-start in fantasy leagues, hitting .330 (35-for-106) with a .949 OPS, seven long balls, seven doubles, 25 RBI, 14 runs scored, and three steals in 28 games across 110 plate appearances.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
Vinnie Pasquantino Back From Injured List, Starting on Monday
The Kansas City Royals announced on Monday that they reinstated first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (wrist) from the 10-day injured list, and he is starting at first base and batting fifth in the series opener at Kauffman Stadium against the Athletics and right-hander Mason Barnett. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger has only six home runs and 33 RBI in 79 games so far in 2026 after hitting 32 home runs and driving in 113 runs in 160 games played a year ago. Pasquantino had surgery back on June 14 to fix a broken hamate bone in his right hand, and he had to go back on the IL due to soreness in his right wrist that kept him out for almost three more weeks. The Pasquatch's hand/wrist issues this year have sapped him of his power, but he is worth picking back up to see if he can help in the power department the rest of the way. Although he has disappointed in his fifth year in the majors with the Royals, Pasquantino has only struck out 17.9% of the time and has walked 11% of the time in his 336 plate appearances. He has gone hitless in just three career at-bats against Barnett.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
Salvador Perez Not Ready to Return on Friday
Kansas City Royals catcher/first baseman Salvador Perez (elbow) remains out of action for Friday's series opener on the road against the Los Angeles Angels, according to MLB.com. Carter Jensen is doing the catching for right-hander Seth Lugo and is batting leadoff against Angels right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. Perez was pulled early from Wednesday's contest, and he's not ready to return just yet despite having a scheduled day off on Thursday. The 36-year-old Venezuelan veteran still has some power with 16 home runs on the year, but he comes into Friday's action hitting just .216 (94-for-436) with a 3.8% walk rate in his 473 plate appearances. The 15-year veteran and nine-time All-Star should be considered day-to-day, but fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if his elbow injury turns into a stint on the injured list. Perez has gone 8-for-35 (.229) with a single homer, two doubles, seven RBI, two runs scored, one walk, and two strikeouts in 10 games so far in August. His offensive decline has become very real after hitting 30 homers and driving in 100 runs just last year.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Salvador Perez Suffers Elbow Injury on Wednesday
The Kansas City Royals announced on Wednesday evening that catcher/first baseman Salvador Perez (elbow) left the contest early against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to right-elbow irritation. It's unclear exactly how serious Perez's injury is right now, so we'll consider him day-to-day until more information is available. The good news is that KC has a scheduled day off on Thursday, giving the veteran catcher an extra day to recover before potentially returning for Friday's series opener in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels. The 36-year-old has primarily been working as the Royals' designated hitter to keep him off his feet as much as possible. Perez went 1-for-2 with an RBI in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Dodgers before leaving early. The nine-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger winner hit 30 homers in 2025, but he's been in full offensive decline in 2026 with a .216/.262/.369 slash line, a career-low .631 OPS, 16 homers, 52 RBI, and 41 runs scored in his 15th year in the big leagues. Check back on Friday to see if he's included in the Royals' starting nine.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
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