Lynch (6-2) earned the win Sunday against the Athletics. He struck out three over 2.1 perfect innings.
Lynch closed the regular season in dominant fashion, retiring all seven batters he faced with a trio of punchouts. His 4.76 FIP is worth noting, but the southpaw turned in solid surface numbers in 2025, recording a 3.06 ERA and 1.36 WHIP over 57 appearances and 67.2 innings. The Royals didn't lean on him consistently in high-leverage situations, but he generally delivered when used and often provided more than just a single inning, as he did Sunday.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Earns win Saturday
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Lynch (5-2) earned the win Saturday against the White Sox. He allowed a hit and no walks with no strikeouts over two scoreless innings.
The southpaw came on in relief after Michael Lorenzen worked four innings in his return from the IL. Since returning from the injured list himself with an elbow injury Aug. 3, Lynch has posted a 3.48 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across six appearances, picking up two wins over 10.1 innings.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Back from IL
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The Royals reinstated Lynch (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Sunday.
The left-hander has been sidelined nearly a month due to nerve irritation in his elbow, but he's ready to rejoin the Royals after making two rehab appearances in the minors. Lynch primarily works in middle relief but sees occasional high-leverage work with one save and four holds this season. He's been effective through 39 appearances with a 2.59 ERA, though his 1.42 WHIP and 29:22 K:BB could indicate some trouble on the horizon.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Starting rehab assignment
Rotowire
Lynch (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Saturday.
Nerve irritation in Lynch's left elbow landed him on the injured list July 6. Now that he has the green light to return to game action, the left-hander shouldn't require too many tune-up outings before being cleared to rejoin the Kansas City bullpen.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Shelved with elbow issue
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The Royals placed Lynch on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to left elbow nerve irritation.
The injury may have played a part in Lynch's recent struggles; the lefty reliever has allowed four earned runs on 10 hits and four walks in 7.2 innings over his last seven appearances. Kansas City recalled right-hander Jonathan Bowlan from Triple-A Omaha to replace Lynch in the bullpen.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Strikes out four
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Lynch allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out four in 2.2 innings Tuesday against the Reds. He did not factor into the decision.
Lynch made just his second start in what was his 23rd appearance overall this season. He allowed a second-inning home run to Tyler Stephenson but also recorded season highs in strikeouts and outs recorded. The numbers aren't flashy, but Lynch owns a 1.75 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 16:13 K:BB in 25.2 innings this season.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Kicks off bullpen game
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Lynch didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against San Francisco, allowing one hit and three walks across 1.2 innings. He struck out two.
Starters Cole Ragans (groin) and Seth Lugo (finger) hit the injured list Saturday, leaving an opening in the back end of Kansas City's rotation. Lynch has been used as a starter in past seasons, making him a candidate to fill the gap despite pitching only in relief to begin 2025. However, he threw just 40 pitches Wednesday and couldn't make it through two full frames in what ended up being a bullpen game for the Royals. It's unclear if Lynch will make another start and if the Royals will try to stretch him out, but Wednesday's outing shouldn't inspire much confidence in Lynch's short-term prospects as a rotation option.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Getting first start of season
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Lynch is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Giants in San Francisco, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Lynch has 54 career MLB starts on his ledger, but he's made all but three of his 36 appearances out of the bullpen since the 2024 season and has pitched exclusively in relief so far in 2025. The recent moves of Cole Ragans (groin) and Seth Lugo (finger) to the injured list will temporarily create an opening in the rotation, and Lynch could serve as the Royals' No. 5 starter until one of two injured hurlers is activated. Lynch has maxed out at two innings out of the bullpen this season and hasn't recorded more than four outs in an appearance since May 3, so the Royals could look to cap him at around 40-to-50 pitches Wednesday and treat the game as more of a bullpen day. Taylor Clarke and Angel Zerpa should be relatively fresh out of the bullpen and would likely be capable of giving the Royals multiple innings, if needed.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Poised for bullpen role
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Lynch is expected to open the season in the Royals' bullpen, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
He had been competing with Kris Bubic for the final spot in the rotation, but Lynch made a relief appearance Wednesday and is set for another one Friday as the Royals prep him for a bullpen role. Lynch proved to be a weapon in relief last season, collecting a 1.84 ERA and 27:8 K:BB over 29.1 regular-season innings.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: In mix for rotation spot
Rotowire
Lynch has put himself in contention for the fifth starter role with a strong spring, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. He has a 1.80 ERA with nine strikeouts and no walks in 10 Cactus League innings.
Kris Bubic was seen as the leading candidate for the fifth starter role but has struggled a bit this spring with a 5.59 ERA, although that comes with an 8:2 K:BB across 9.2 innings. It's more likely Lynch begins the season in the bullpen, but he could join the rotation if there's an opening -- and Alec Marsh is currently dealing with a shoulder injury.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Blasted for eight runs
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Lynch did not factor into the decision in Friday's victory over Seattle, allowing eight runs on six hits and four walks over four innings. He struck out four.
Lynch stumbled out the gate immediately as he yielded seven runs in the first inning, capped by a titanic 421-foot, two-run homer by Ryan Bliss. The Kansas City southpaw entered the contest with a sterling 1.50 ERA, which ballooned to 5.63 after the performance. Lynch's next outing doesn't look any easier as he's tentatively slated to face the vaunted Yankees lineup at home.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Called up, rejoining rotation
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Lynch from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
Lynch was optioned to Triple-A on Friday, but he'll be back with the big club just two days later after Michael Wacha was placed on the 15-day injured list with a fractured left foot. With Wacha's injury likely to keep him sidelined for several weeks, Lynch will take the right-hander's spot in the rotation, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Lynch previously made two spot starts and a two-inning relief appearance for the Royals last month, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight over 12 frames. The southpaw was similarly sharp over his four outings with Omaha in May (2.91 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 15:4 K:BB in 21.2 innings), and he'll look to carry over that strong form for what could be an extended run in the big-league rotation. He tentatively lines up to make his first start in place of Wacha on Thursday in Cleveland, though with an off day on tap Monday, the Royals could choose to push Lynch to the back of the pitching schedule and have him take the hill next weekend versus the Mariners in Kansas City.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Called up for Sunday's start
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Lynch was recalled from Triple-A Omaha and is starting Sunday against the Rangers.
The left-hander is taking the rotation spot of Alec Marsh (elbow), who is making a rehab start Sunday and could return from the 15-day injured list later this week. Lynch missed out on Kansas City's season-opening rotation after he posted a 2.77 ERA during spring training, though he hasn't pitched particularly well at Omaha in 2024 with a 5.86 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 22:9 K:BB across 27.2 innings. He'll be taking the hill on three days' rest after tossing four innings for Omaha on Wednesday, so Lynch could struggle to hit the five innings he would need to qualify for a win.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Getting start Sunday versus Rangers
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Lynch will be recalled from Triple-A Omaha to start Sunday's game against the Rangers, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
He'll be entering the rotation in place of the injured Alec Marsh (elbow). Lynch hasn't pitched well this season at Omaha, collecting a 5.86 ERA and 22:9 K:BB over 27.2 innings. He will be pitching on three days' rest Sunday, having thrown 48 pitches over four frames Wednesday in his last start for Omaha. Lynch won't make for a recommended streaming option.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Royals optioned Lynch to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
Lynch had been making a strong case to open the season in Kansas City's rotation by posting a 2.77 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 13 innings of spring ball. However, the 27-year-old left-hander will return to Omaha to begin the new campaign. Lynch allowed seven earned runs over 20 innings in Triple-A last season, and he could find himself back in Kansas City if he performs similarly in the minors.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Pitching in Arizona Fall League
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Lynch (shoulder) is pitching in an Arizona Fall League game Thursday, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
Lynch missed most of the second half due to a shoulder injury, but he logged one rehab start with Triple-A Omaha in late September and is now making up for lost time in the AFL. The 26-year-old left-hander could be a candidate for an Opening Day rotation spot with the Royals in 2024 if his health cooperates.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Setback with shoulder
Rotowire
Lynch (shoulder) was unable to complete a scheduled bullpen session Monday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lynch is scheduled to undergo follow-up testing later this week, and his IL stint is now certain to last longer than 15 days. He's been on the shelf since July 19 because of a left shoulder strain that was initially believed to be relatively minor.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Holds off Dodgers for victory
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Lynch (2-3) earned the win over the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four batters over five innings.
Kansas City staked Lynch to a 5-0 lead after one inning, but he gave three of those runs back in the second. However, Los Angeles didn't score against him again, and the southpaw managed to finish five frames despite needing 108 pitched to do so. The victory was the second in three starts for Lynch after he failed to notch a win over his first four outings. He's been solid over his past three starts, posting a 2.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP despite an unappetizing 8:6 K:BB over 18 innings.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Limits Rays to one run
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Lynch allowed one run on six hits and a walk while striking out two over six innings Sunday against the Rays. He did not factor into the decision.
The one run against Lynch came from a solo blast off the bat of Jose Siri in the third. The other five hits Lynch gave up all went for singles. He did register nine whiffs but had under five strikeouts for the fourth consecutive start. He's now allowed three earned runs or less in five of six starts this year and stands at a 3.96 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 24:10 K:BB over 36.1 innings. Lynch will hope to get back in the win column next weekend when the Dodgers come to town.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Blanks Detroit for first win
Rotowire
Lynch (1-3) earned the win Tuesday, allowing just one hit and two walks over seven scoreless innings against the Tigers. He struck out two.
Lynch was superb in a bounce-back performance that came in the wake of the southpaw surrendering seven runs and four homers to the Reds in his most recent start. Lynch lowered his ERA to 4.45 with a 1.19 WHIP and 22:9 K:BB across five starts (30.1 innings) this season. The veteran is currently in line for a tough road matchup with the Rays in his next outing.
