The Kansas City Royals have made a major change to their pitching plans after Thursday night's 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins, moving left-hander Daniel Lynch IV from the bullpen into the starting rotation.
MLB.com beat writer Anne Rogers first reported the decision on X after the Royals dropped the series opener. The move comes as Kansas City continues searching for answers after injuries decimated its starting staff.
The Royals enter the weekend with a 48-68 record, sitting fourth in the American League Central and nine games behind the division-leading Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins.
Lynch has been one of Kansas City's most reliable relievers this season, posting a 4-2 record with a 1.96 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP across 46 appearances. He has struck out 35 batters over 46 innings while emerging as one of the American League's most effective high-leverage arms.
The 29-year-old enters the rotation healthy after dealing with left elbow nerve irritation that sidelined him during parts of the 2025 season. His success this year has been fueled by a transition away from relying primarily on a four-seam fastball, instead leaning on a sinker and a five-pitch mix.
David Richard-Imagn Images
Kansas City's decision is largely driven by necessity after losing multiple starters to season-ending injuries. Stephen Kolek and Luinder Avila both underwent Tommy John surgery, while Cole Ragans required UCL repair and Ryan Bergert also suffered a season-ending elbow injury.
Because Lynch has worked exclusively out of the bullpen, the Royals are expected to manage his workload carefully. He has recorded more than four outs only three times this season and has not thrown more than 37 pitches in an outing, making a gradual build-up likely as he transitions back into a starting role.
ALSO SEE: NRFI and YRFI MLB Bets Today: Best First-Inning Predictions for Thursday, Aug. 6
