Daniel

Lynch IV

The former starter had a solid year out of the bullpen in Kansas City, pitching to a 3.06 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 45/25 K/BB ratio in 67 2/3 innings. The command will need to get better if Lynch is going to repeat that in 2026, but there is some upside with the 29-year-old in the bullpen.

Lynch returns to Kansas City’s bullpen mix following a one-month absence due to nerve irritation in his left elbow. The 28-year-old former starter has posted a respectable 2.59 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 29/22 K/BB ratio across 41 2/3 innings (39 appearances) this season.

Lynch has been out since early July recovering from nerve irritation in his left elbow. The 28-year-old southpaw should be ready to rejoin Kansas City’s bullpen mix at some point in early August.

No word yet on how much time Lynch will wind up missing. The 28-year-old lefty has compiled a respectable 2.59 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 29/22 K/BB ratio across 41 2/3 innings (39 appearances) this season out of Kansas City’s bullpen.

The 28-year-old southpaw punched out four batters on the night while issuing one walk. The lone blemish on his night came on a solo homer off the bat of Tyler Stephenson in the second inning. Lynch got six swings and misses on 42 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 29 percent. He has been terrific for the Royals this season, registering a 1.75 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 16/13 K/BB ratio over 25 2/3 innings in his first 23 appearances.

Lynch was brought into a tie game in the ninth and then replaced after throwing 21 pitches to get one out. Steven Cruz went on to surrender a walkoff single afterwards. With a 1.57 ERA in 23 innings, Lynch has been a very valuable member of the Royals pen to date. However, that the ERA comes with a 12/12 K/BB doesn’t seem to bode very well.

This will amount to a bullpen game for the Royals with both Seth Lugo (finger) and Cole Ragans (groin) on the injured list. Lynch has been good this season, but he hasn’t pitched a full inning of relief since May 9 and hasn’t pitched two innings or more since May 3, so it’s highly unlikely he gives the Royals more than two innings on Wednesday.

After the Royals scratched out a run to take a lead in the home half of the eighth inning, John Schreiber stuck around to get the first two outs of the ninth. Lynch was then brought on to face Edouard Julien and he needed just two pitches to get him to ground out to shortstop to end the ballgame. While he’s probably fourth in line for save chances behind Carlos Estevez, Lucas Erceg and Hunter Harvey, Lynch has shown that he’s capable of handling the occasional opportunity that comes his way as well.

It’ll be Kris Bubic opening the year as Kansas City’s fifth starter. Royals manager Matt Quatraro added that Carlos Hernández, who is out of options, is not on the Opening Day roster. He’ll presumably be designated for assignment at some point in the coming days since he can’t be shipped to Triple-A Omaha without clearing waivers.

The Royals turned Lynch into a one-inning reliever tonight, suggesting he’s out of the mix for a rotation spot. A place in the bullpen remains up for grabs, but he didn’t help the cause in giving up three hits in his inning of work. He still could prove useful in middle relief.