Isbel is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.
Isbel will stick on the bench for the second game in a row while the Royals oppose a second straight left-handed starting pitcher in Yusei Kikuchi. Garrett Hampson will spell Isbel in center field.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Not starting nightcap
Rotowire
Isbel isn't in the Royals' lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the White Sox, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
An 0-for-4 performance during Game 1 will send Isbel to the bench for the second contest, giving Garrett Hampson a chance to start in center field while batting in the leadoff spot.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Day off against lefty
Rotowire
Isbel isn't in the Royals' lineup Saturday against the Mets.
Isbel will take a seat to begin Saturday's game as southpaw Sean Manaea starts on the hill for the Mets. Garrett Hampson will step in to cover center field while batting sixth.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Registers third steal
Rotowire
Isbel went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 11-2 win over the Astros.
Isbel is just 4-for-20 (.200) over his last seven games, but he has three steals in that span. The 27-year-old continues to see a strong-side platoon role in center field, sharing the position with utility man Garrett Hampson. Isbel has a .235/.257/.353 slash line with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored over 36 plate appearances this season, so it's unlikely he'll hit higher than the bottom third of the order.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Not starting versus southpaw
Rotowire
Isbel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.
Lefty Garrett Crochet is starting Sunday for Chicago, so Isbel will hit the bench for the second time this season. Garrett Hampson will start in center field and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Records steal Wednesday
Rotowire
Isbel went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Orioles.
Isbel has seen steady time in center field, starting five of the first six games this season, though he's routinely hit at the bottom of the order. The outfielder's steal Wednesday was his first of the season. He's hitting .278 with one home run and one double over 18 plate appearances. Isbel offers only modest speed -- he had 18 steals over 225 major-league contests over the previous three seasons.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Takes seat Tuesday
Rotowire
Isbel is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles.
Isbel started the first four games of the season but will hit the bench Tuesday with southpaw Cole Irvin pitching for Baltimore. Garrett Hampson will start in center field and bat seventh.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Homers in Sunday's win
Rotowire
Isbel went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a double in Sunday's 11-0 win over the Twins.
Isbel had started the season quietly prior to his big Sunday. He was one of five Royals to slug a homer in the contest. He's started all three games in center field to begin the season, though he's also hit at the bottom of the batting order. The Royals have yet to face a left-handed starter, so it's still unclear if Isbel will be a full-time starter or just a platoon player.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Set to start in center field
Rotowire
Isbel is positioned to begin the season as the Royals' starting center fielder after Drew Waters was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Friday, which was reported by Anne Rogers of MLB.com.
Isbel was the favorite for the job early in camp, and he had a strong showing during spring training with a .344/.417/.500 slash line in 36 plate appearances. The 27-year-old played in 91 contests last year but struggled to a .662 OPS, and his hold on the job could wane quickly this season if he repeats that performance.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Favorite to start in center field?
Rotowire
The Royals believe Isbel is their best option in center field, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Isbel has graded out as an elite defensive center fielder the last two seasons, which looks to give him a leg up over Drew Waters even as he hasn't hit much. Waters is viewed as a quality defender himself but has played as much right field as center field. The left-handed hitting Isbel appears to be the favorite to at least start against righties, with Waters representing an option versus lefties.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Three-hit night
Rotowire
Isbel went 3-for-4 with one double, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 12-5 win over the Yankees.
Isbel was the ninth of 10 consecutive Kansas City batters to reach base to begin the game, belting a bases-loaded double that drove in two runs. It's just the second time this season he's recorded more than two hits in a game. Isbel heads into the final two games of the season slashing .240/.282/.366 with five homers, 34 RBI, 45 runs and seven steals in 91 games.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Heads to bench Sunday
Rotowire
Isbel is out of the lineup Sunday against the Astros.
Isbel went 1-for-4 with an RBI single and a run scored in the Royals' defeat of Houston on Saturday, but he'll ride the pine in Sunday's series finale. Nelson Velazquez, Drew Waters and Dairon Blanco are starting across the outfield.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: On bench Friday
Rotowire
Isbel is out of the lineup Friday against the Astros.
MJ Melendez, Drew Waters and Nelson Velazquez will start across the outfield for Kansas City. Isbel has shown a bit more life at the plate in recent weeks, but he is slashing just .232/.272/.380 across 81 major-league games this year.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Not in lineup for afternoon game
Rotowire
Isbel is out of the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the White Sox.
The Royals are going with Drew Water is center field against Dylan Cease. Isbel figures to be back in the lineup for the second game of the double dip.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Not in starting nine
Rotowire
Isbel will be on the bench for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.
Isbel recently missed five games with a tight hamstring but returned to start both Wednesday and Friday, going a combined 1-for-6 with two walks and four strikeouts. He'll retreat to the bench Saturday, with Drew Waters taking over in center field.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Returns to lineup
Rotowire
Isbel (hamstring) is starting in center field and batting eighth Wednesday against the White Sox in his return to the lineup.
Isbel missed the previous five games with a tight hamstring but is feeling well enough to give it a go in this one. He and his teammates will be squaring off against Touki Toussaint.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Held out again Tuesday
Rotowire
Isbel (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the White Sox.
Isbel hasn't played since Friday because of a tight hamstring. The Royals consider the injury to be minor and expect Isbel to avoid the injured list, but the longer his absence drags on, the odds of an IL stint certainly increase. Drew Waters is in center field again Tuesday.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Nursing hamstring injury
Rotowire
Isbel hasn't played since Friday due to hamstring rightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Isbel is missing a third straight start Monday, but the hamstring issue is considered mild and his pregame workouts haven't been interrupted. It sounds like he has a good shot to avoid the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: On the bench again Monday
Rotowire
Isbel is not in the lineup for Monday's contest versus the White Sox.
Isbel has now been on the bench for three straight games, and this is the second one that's been against a right-hander. Drew Waters is in center field and Nelson Velazquez is in right.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Kyle Isbel: Idle against southpaw
Rotowire
Isbel isn't in the Royals' lineup Sunday against the Red Sox.
Chris Sale will start Sunday's game for the Red Sox, so the left-handed bat of Isbel will retreat to the bench for the start of the game. Dairon Blanco will man center field in Isbel's absence and bat ninth.
