MLB Player News

Isbel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.

The Royals will stock up some extra right-handed bats to counter Yankees southpaw Ryan Weathers, so Isbel will hit the bench along with fellow left-handed hitters Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone. Isbel had started each of the last four games but went 1-for-10 at the dish, bringing his season average down to .265.

India is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.

On the bench for three of the Royals' previous four matchups with right-handed starting pitchers, India's playing time had already been tailing off, but the veteran infielder will now remain out Sunday despite a southpaw (Ryan Weathers) taking the hill for the Yankees. The Royals will go with the left-handed-hitting Michael Massey at second base instead of India, who has mustered a lowly .167/.310/.313 slash line across 58 plate appearances thus far during his second season with Kansas City.

The Royals optioned Spence to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.

Spence wasn't going to be available for at least a few days after he yielded six earned runs on four hits and five walks while covering four innings and tossing 84 pitches in long relief during Saturday's 13-4 loss to the Yankees, so Kansas City will send him to the minors in exchange for a fresh arm. Mason Black was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move and will give the Royals another right-handed arm capable of covering multiple innings out of the bullpen.

The Royals recalled Black from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.

Black was unable to crack Kansas City's Opening Day roster but will now get a look in the big-league bullpen. The 26-year-old has a 3.86 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 6:5 K:BB over 11.2 innings (seven appearances) with Omaha this year, and he'll provide the Royals with some bullpen depth after Mitch Spence covered four relief innings Saturday.

Mikolas is scheduled to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher PJ Poulin in Sunday's game against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

The Nationals will pair Mikolas with Poulin for a second straight turn through the rotation. After turning in a 12.41 ERA, 2.35 WHIP and 11:7 K:BB in 12.1 innings over his first three starts this season, Mikolas didn't fare dramatically better coming out of the bullpen Tuesday, as the Pirates tagged him for three earned runs on three hits and two walks across 3.1 innings. Despite the favorable matchup against a weak Giants offense, Mikolas hasn't provided reason for fantasy managers to include him in lineups with any level of confidence.

Poulin will serve as the Nationals' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Poulin will draw his third start of the season as an opener, again working in front of Miles Mikolas. The Nationals rode the Poulin-Mikolas pairing to a win over the Pirates on Tuesday, though the two pitchers combined to allow four earned runs over 4.1 innings. Poulin is unlikely to pitch more than an inning or two Sunday before turning the game over to the veteran right-hander.

The Brewers list Harrison (wrist/knee) as their probable starter for Tuesday's series opener in Detroit.

Harrison had been lined up to make a start this weekend in Miami, but the Brewers ended up pushing the southpaw back in their pitching schedule while he continued to tend to a sore left wrist and knee discomfort coming out of his previous outing April 11. Per MLB.com, Harrison completed a bullpen session Saturday, and with the 24-year-old apparently checking out fine following the workout, he'll be cleared to rejoin the rotation. Milwaukee called up Coleman Crow to make a spot start Friday in Harrison's stead, but Crow has since been optioned back to Triple-A Nashville.

Marquez took a no-decision Saturday against the Angels, allowing no runs on two hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out eight.

The veteran right-hander put together his longest outing of the year in what was also arguably his finest effort of 2026 so far. He surrendered a season-low two hits while also matching a season high in punchouts. Marquez has worked his way back into fantasy relevance following a couple of tough seasons in Colorado, posting a respectable 3.86 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB over 18.2 innings for the Padres this year. His next start tentatively projects to come versus Arizona.

Kikuchi took a no-decision Saturday against the Padres, allowing no runs on four hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out eight.

It was easily a season-best performance by the southpaw, who worked his longest outing of the year, turned in his first scoreless start and tied a season high with eight punchouts. Despite Saturday's strong showing, Kikuchi still has a rough 5.63 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 27:11 K:BB over his first 24 innings. His next start tentatively lines up to come against the Royals, who have a poor .605 OPS versus left-handed pitching thus far in 2026.

Keller walked one in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning Saturday in a loss to Atlanta. He struck out one.

Considering closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) hit the injured list Saturday, Keller's usage in the ninth inning of a 3-1 game is noteworthy. Duran will miss at least two weeks of action, and Keller appears initially to be worthy of a speculative add for fantasy managers in search of saves. Keller has four holds through his first 8.2 innings, registering a 4.15 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB.