The Royals are giving Daniel “Danny Drips” Lynch IV another turn in the rotation on September 4, even though the move has already spent about a month making a pretty simple point: this is not working. The club was willing to give him a shot, and there was at least a logic to it at the time. It might have made Lynch happy, but it hasn’t done much for anyone else watching the results pile up.
That’s the awkward part here. Lynch is starting for Kansas City while a pitcher the Royals once pitched as a possible answer to next season’s rotation problems is back in Omaha.
It’s the kind of decision that makes it easier to point a finger at Matt Quatraro and J.J. Picollo, even if they’re not responsible for every bad thing that has happened to this team in 2026.
Across the diamond, the Blue Jays are going with Jameson Taillon. He’s been a reliable starter for years, but this season has brought a spike in both his walk rate and home run rate.
The Cubs moved on from him despite needing help in the rotation during their playoff push, and Toronto picked him up. He has made two starts for the Blue Jays, covering eight innings and allowing 3 runs, with 5 walks and 7 strikeouts.
That’s enough to keep the story from feeling like a turnaround just yet.
As for Kansas City’s lineup, there isn’t much new to unpack. The one thing worth watching is Jac’s power output. If he doesn’t start hitting dingers again soon, Carter Jensen could pass him, and Carter is already only one behind after his surge in the Marlins series.
In Other News...
Royals Win Took A Weird Turn Because Of Craig Kimbrel
A routine night at Kauffman Stadium took an unsettling turn when Craig Kimbrel started feeling nauseous in the middle of his appearance and eventually vomited on the mound. The Royals later confirmed the issue was nausea, and the bizarre scene quickly became a talking point as the Marlins broadcast showed footage of the incident.
Kimbrel stayed in long enough to throw one pitch after vomiting, and that pitch hit a batter before manager Matt Quatraro pulled him from the game. For a bullpen that has leaned on veteran arms to get through tight moments, it was an awkward and unexpected detour in a game the Royals were trying to finish without drama. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Fans Just Got A Hopeful Stephen Kolek Family Update
Stephen Kolek has spent the start of this stretch juggling the kind of life events that dwarf anything happening on a mound. The Royals right-hander had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow while his wife, Jessica, was giving birth to their daughter, Faye, who arrived seven weeks early, and the family has since been living through the long, nerve-racking routine of the neonatal intensive care unit.
After nearly 10 weeks in the NICU and two surgeries, Faye is finally home with her parents, a welcome milestone for a family that has already been through plenty. Kansas City is giving Kolek additional time away from the club so he can stay with them during this period, a small but meaningful allowance as he focuses on the more important recovery timeline unfolding off the field. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Fans Are Suddenly Wrestling With A Bobby Witt Jr. Reality
The Royals have plenty of young talent to keep their long-term outlook interesting, but a recent fan survey showed just how quickly the conversation around the roster can shift. Jacs breakout performance emerged as the clear favorite for excitement heading into the 2027 season, while Cameron, Carter Jensen and Bobby Witt Jr. drew less buzz than you might have expected for a player who had been viewed as the centerpiece of the future.
For Witt, the discussion is less about whether he still matters and more about what kind of star hes becoming. His power numbers have trended down, and his recent performance has not lined up with the MVP-level expectations that once followed him around, even if his youth still leaves room for a rebound. For a fan base that had been counting on him to anchor the next great Royals team, the broader question now is whether his ceiling has simply shifted or whether a bigger surge is still coming. [Read more 🡒]