Jac

Caglianone

Caglianone is on a nice little surge to end the year, having collected 12 hits in his last six games. That he has 23 homers and 31 doubles this year isn’t much of a surprise, but his .287 average is extremely impressive. He came in at .157 in 62 games as a rookie. .157!

Both players have been battling injuries over the last few weeks, so it makes sense for the Royals to give them a rest with a day game after a night game and the team eliminated from playoff contention. Nick Loftin will start at third base and hit sixth while John Rave will be in right field and bat seventh.

It’s a tough break for fantasy managers in extremely deep leagues since Loftin has been red-hot recently, hitting .400 (8-for-20) with one homer, three RBI and one steal over his last seven games. It’ll be Isaac Collins and John Rave getting outfield starts with Jac Caglianone back in right field for the second straight game.

Caglianone didn’t play Friday after cutting his hand being a dolt in the dugout after a strikeout on Thursday, He has been limited to DH, ostensibly splitting time with Salvador Perez in the process, since suffering a flexor strain earlier this month that has caused him to miss eight of their last 11 games.

That makes two of the last three games on the bench for Caglianone, who may not be completely over getting beaned in the forearm on Tuesday (or his elbow injury that kept him out for much of last week) at this point. John Rave will be in there against RHP Paul Skenes.

It’s a bit surprising to see Caglianone taking a seat against righty Cristian Javier, but he’s been playing through a flexor strain in his elbow, which has basically limited him to DH. It’ll be Salvador Perez drawing back into the lineup in that spot with Carter Jensen, who is one homer away from breaking Kansas City’s single-season rookie home run record, handling the catching duties.

It’s an extremely positive sign that Caglianone is ready to roll after making an early exit from Sunday’s game against the Red Sox following a hit-by-pitch. The 23-year-old slugger made his return to Kansas City’s lineup after missing five games with a flexor strain earlier in the week. He’s put together a phenomenal second half, hitting .323 (51-for-158) with eight homers, 35 RBI and three steals in 43 games since the All-Star break.

There was no injury announcement from the Royals, but hitting for Caglianone against a right-hander isn’t something the team would typically do, even if it was Vinnie Pasquantino replacing him. Caglianone struck out in both of his plate appearances before being plunked by Payton Tolle.

The 23-year-old slugger missed six consecutive games due to a mild flexor strain in his elbow. He took batting practice on the field without issue on Saturday though and is finally ready to return. He’ll start as the Royals’ designated hitter and will bat third against Red Sox’ southpaw Payton Tolle on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.

Caglianone remains out for the sixth consecutive game after taking on-field batting practice prior to Friday’s series opener at Fenway Park. Clearly, the Royals are proceeding with an abundance of caution after Caglianone was diagnosed with a mild flexor strain last weekend. It’s impossible to rule out a trip to the injured list at this juncture, but fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. It’ll be Matthew Lugo drawing another start in right field in his place.