Garrett

Hampson

With Patrick Corbin starting for the Nationals, the Royals will sit Massey, MJ Melendez, Adam Frazier, and Kyle Isbel. This is the fourth straight game in which the Royals are facing a lefty starter. Paul DeJong will draw his first start in the last week and play third base, while Hunter Renfroe will play RF, and Garrett Hampson will play CF.

It’ll be Maikel Garcia taking over at the keystone with Garrett Hampson entering the lineup at the hot corner. Massey has ascended to the leadoff spot recently for Kansas City and was on-base three times during Friday’s loss to the Cardinals. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now.

The 24-year-old is hitting just .145 in 16 games in June with 12 strikeouts. He does have four steals and 10 runs scored and is coming off a month of May where he hit .305, so this might be nothing but a brief cold stretch. The Royals will hope a day off helps him get back on track. In the meantime, Garrett Hampson will start at second base and hit eighth with Nick Loftin moving over to third base.

Hampson drove in the Royals’ first run of the night when he singled home Nick Loftin in the fifth inning. It was a tough evening for the Royals, as the heart of their order failed to record a hit, leaving Hampson and the lower third of the order to act as run support. Hampson has now hit safely in five straight games but is off the fantasy radar due to his lack of offensive production. He’s driven in just six runs on the year.

Isbel fouled a ball off his face in the seventh inning and was removed from the game Saturday against Tampa Bay. He’ll miss at least one full game while recovering, and Garrett Hampson is starting in center field. For now, Isbel is listed as day-to-day.

Hampson figures to open next season in a versatile utility role for the rebuilding Royals. The 29-year-old former top prospect, who never quite blossomed into the elite batting average and stolen base threat fantasy managers envisioned during his Rockies tenure, posted a .729 OPS with three homers and five steals in 252 plate appearances last year for the Marlins in a bench role.

Hampson was a decent role player off the bench last season for the Marlins, but doesn’t offer enough long-term upside to merit consideration as a long-term component of a contending roster. He’ll head to free agency, but figures to land somewhere as a potential reserve utility specialist.

Hampson got the Marlins on the board — and started a four-run uprising in the fifth inning — with a 365-foot solo shot off of Phillies’ right-hander Aaron Nola. With his three-hit attack, the versatile 28-year-old is now slashing .290/.359/.420 with three homers, 16 RBI and three stolen bases in 184 plate appearances for the Marlins this season.

The Marlins had already taken a two-run lead in the 11th when Hampson hit his second homer of the year, but the insurance was nice. Hampson was making a second straight start at third after opening up on the bench in each of his first five games since being recalled from Triple-A. He’ll likely play primarily against lefties going forward.

Hampson has exceeded expectations offensively in 156 plate appearances in the majors this season, hitting .275/.346/.384. However, he hasn’t been very good defensively, particularly when asked to play center field. He probably won’t play much this time around.