Isaac

Collins

Collins came through with a two-out, two-run single off of Gage Jump in the third inning that extended the Royals’ lead to 3-0. He also led off the fifth inning with a single and raced around to score on Michael Massey’s RBI double. The 29-year-old outfielder has struggled at the dish in his first season with the Royals, slashing an underwhelming .227/.326/.348 with just six homers, 38 RBI and six stolen bases (in 11 attempts) over 422 plate appearances, making him irrelevant in most fantasy leagues.

Collins opened the scoring in the ballgame as he tagged Troy Melton for a 390-foot (101.7-mph EV) two-run shot in the sixth inning. That would be his only hit in the ballgame. For the season, the 29-year-old outfielder is now slashing .245/.346/.372 with six long balls, 34 RBI and six stolen bases (in 11 attempts) over 340 plate appearances in his first season with the Royals.

Caglianone had to be removed from Monday’s game with right shoulder soreness. The good news is that the Royals placed Bobby Witt Jr. (back) on the injured list before this game, but not Caglianone, so he may not need to go on the IL after all. We will find out in another day or two. For now, Starling Marte will start in right field and bat seventh while Isaac Collins will start in left field and hit sixth.

Collins plated a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning that increased the Royals’ early lead to 2-0. He tacked on another with an RBI ground out in the sixth that made it a 3-3 ballgame. For the season, the 28-year-old outfielder is slashing an uninspiring .225/.345/.342 with three homers, 15 RBI and a pair of stolen bases (in five attempts).

Collins came in with a 38 percent hard-hit rate this season, but he topped 100 mph on all three of his balls in play tonight, and all three times against Gavin Williams. He’s 7-for-15 with four extra-base hits this month, raising his OPS from .637 to .760.

Collins was also caught stealing for the third time in four tries this season. That’s a definite issue for him as a fantasy outfielder, since he probably has more potential in steals than in any other category. But Collins should be a fourth outfielder anyway. The Royals have thus far started him 26 times in 34 games, and he’s responded by hitting .236/.343/337 with below average defense in left field.

It’s a well-deserved break for Perez on Saturday afternoon in New York following 20 consecutive starts between catcher and DH to open the season. The 35-year-old has gotten off to a rocky start at the dish, hitting .160 with three homers and six RBI during that span. Carter Jensen will handle the catching duties with Isaac Collins (knee) back in the lineup at DH after a three-game absence.

Collins injured his knee when he went crashing into the crowd at Comerica Park on Tuesday while attempting to run down a foul fly. If this lingers much longer, the Royals may be forced to make a move and shift him to the injured list. Lane Thomas will start in his place in left field on Friday night and will bat ninth against Yankees’ right-hander Cam Schlittler.

Massey has now started five of his last six games and six of the eight games since he came off the injured list. He has played both second base and left field, and will be in left field on Thursday with Isaac Collins (knee) still out. Massey is just 2-for-12 with a 4/1 K/BB ratio on the season, so he doesn’t need to be added anywhere right now.

The good news here is that Collins managed to avoid serious injury when he went crashing into the left-field seats while chasing a foul ball during the first inning of Tuesday’s game against the Tigers. The 28-year-old outfielder will likely need a couple days off to rest and recover after being diagnosed with a right knee contusion.