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: Making case for rotation
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Lynch has allowed four runs on nine hits and five walks with nine strikeouts over 13 innings across five Cactus League appearances (three starts).
Lynch's role is still to be determined, but he's stretched out enough to at least be a multi-inning option out of the bullpen. Alec Marsh, who is also in the rotation competition, has started just one of his five appearances, though he has covered 14 innings. Both Lynch and Marsh are pushing for the No. 5 starter spot, which could be available after Jordan Lyles has been slowed by back pain in spring training. Roster decisions are likely to come over the next week or so as manager Matt Quatraro trims down the spring roster ahead of Opening Day.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Heathiest he's been in two years
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Lynch (shoulder) said Sunday that he's feeling "probably the best I've felt in two years," Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lynch wound up pitching just 52.1 innings in 2023 due to a left shoulder issue which ultimately ended his season in July. He returned to pitching in the Arizona Fall League and also the Dominican Winter League, though, and entered Royals came with no restrictions. Lynch is competing with Jordan Lyles and Alec Marsh for the fifth spot in Kansas City's rotation. Lyles would seem to have a leg up for the job, but Lynch has more upside and could push for the gig with a strong spring.
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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: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Lynch (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Lynch is on the 60-day injured list, and with just over a week left in the season, it seems unlikely he'll be able to get back to the majors. However, his rehab is far enough along that he should be good to go at the start of the 2024 campaign. He may be able to get in a couple of appearances with Omaha before shutting it down for the year.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Nearing rehab assignment
Rotowire
Lynch (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session with Triple-A Omaha this week and is expected to make at least one rehab appearance there soon, MLB.com reports.
It does not sound like Lynch will make it back to the Royals' active roster this season, but making some appearances before the season comes to a close could give the lefty some peace of mind heading into the winter. Lynch has been limited to just nine starts for Kansas City along with five rehab starts in 2023 due to shoulder issues.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Moves to 60-day IL
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Lynch (shoulder) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lynch has been sidelined by a shoulder strain since mid-July, and the move to the 60-day IL likely won't affect his return timeline. The left-hander has been throwing bullpen sessions but traveled to the Royals' spring facility Wednesday and will soon face live hitters. He could soon be cleared for a minor-league rehab assignment if the session of live batting practice goes well.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Bullpen session scheduled
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Lynch (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lynch has been shut down since late July after receiving an injection in his injured shoulder, but he resumed playing catch Aug. 11 and now appears ready to take another step forward by getting back on the bump. Since he'll require multiple bullpen sessions and then multiple live batting practice sessions to get stretched back out before he heads out on a minor-league rehab assignment, Lynch may not be a realistic option to start games for the Royals until mid-to-late September.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Shut down for multiple weeks
Rotowire
Lynch received an injection in his shoulder Friday and will be shut down for 2-3 weeks, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
After suffering a setback during his bullpen session Monday, Lynch is now facing an extended absence. There is currently no timeline in place for his return, but one could come into focus once he's cleared to resume throwing in mid-August.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Setback with shoulder
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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: Back to IL with shoulder strain
Rotowire
Lynch was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left shoulder strain.
It's the same injury which cost him the first two months of the season. Lynch had authored three quality starts in four tries prior to struggling Tuesday versus the Tigers (although he did get the win) and it appears he might have been pitching compromised. It's unclear at this point how long he might be on the shelf.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Struggles in win
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Lynch (3-4) earned the win Tuesday, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over five innings in an 11-10 victory over Detroit. He struck out three.
Lynch struggled with the long ball Tuesday, surrendering a two-run home run to Spencer Torkelson in the first inning and then being tagged again by Torkelson in the fifth for a three-run homer. Despite Torkelson's efforts, Lynch managed to pick up the victory, his third in five starts. During that stretch (29 innings), Lynch owns a 3.72 ERA and a 14:9 K:BB. He's tentatively scheduled for a road meeting against the Yankers for his next start.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Stuck with loss in quality start
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Lynch (2-4) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk over six innings as the Royals fell 3-0 to the Guardians. He struck out three.
The quality start was the third in Lynch's last four outings, but he got no help from a Kansas City offense that managed only two hits all night. The southpaw has a 2.63 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over that four-start stretch, but an 11:7 K:BB in 24 innings puts a damper on his fantasy appeal heading into the second half of the season.
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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
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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.
Royals' Daniel Lynch: Surrenders season-high seven runs
Rotowire
Lynch (0-3) took the loss Wednesday, allowing seven runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings against Cincinnati. He struck out three.
Lynch missed the first two months of the season with a strained left shoulder but was solid through his first three starts (16.1 innings), posting a 4.41 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 17:5 K:BB. However, he fell flat versus Cincinnati and gave up four home runs, recording season-worst marks in runs allowed and strikeouts. The left-hander did complete seven innings Wednesday for the first time this year and continues to be efficient in that regard (23.1 innings through four starts). Despite his struggles, Lynch figures to remain in the starting rotation until either Brad Keller (shoulder) or Ryan Yarbrough (head) is activated off the injured list.
