Michael

Massey

The homer is Massey’s first since Sept. 11, and it was his first with a man on base since May 24. Despite missing a month with a back injury and playing at less than 100 percent after returning, he ends the year with a decent .259/.295/.449 line. More walks would be nice, but that he greatly reduced his strikeout rate this year (16%, down from 22% previously) while actually improving his power numbers is encouraging.

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.

Offense was limited in this game, but the Royals hit enough to win and keep their playoff hopes alive. Massey has improved his power output this season with a more free-swinging approach to mix with an already pull-happy profile. The Royals have moved him up in the lineup as their season reaches a breaking point as this whole lineup will be playing with their backs against the wall through this week.

Massey had as many hits tonight as he did in going 3-for-23 in his previous eight games. He’s definitely the Royals’ preferred option at second base against righties, but he’s primarily a platoon guy right now.

Even with the Guardians likely using a left-handed bulk reliever, the Royals will start Michael Massey at second base, moving Maikel Garcia to third base and sliding Dejong to the bench. Perhaps Dejong will come into the game as a pinch hitter once the Guardians make a pitching change.

Massey is 21-for-61 (.344) with two home runs, 11 runs scored and six RBI in his last 17 games. He doesn’t have a stolen base on the season, but he can hit. Massey is hitting .273 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI this year. He’s been a valuable player in AL-Only formats this season.

Massey’s back still isn’t quite right after his month-long absence in May and June, and it sounds like more DH time will be required to help manage it. Massey has hit .235/.275/.431 in 31 games since returning June 24.

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 only out Massey recorded in this game was a 402 foot sac fly that looked destined for the center field seats. The Royals have rotated the lead-off spot a lot over the course of the season and have given Massey a shot there in six of their last nine games against right-handed pitchers. He’s not known for his patience, but will put plenty of balls in play and keep a relatively high batting average.

Massey gave the Royals their first run of the night when he went a 427-foot homer into the stands off of Jonathan Cannon. It was the ninth homer of the season for Massey, who entered the day going hitless in his last 12 at-bats. Massey is hitting .250 on the season and hasn’t offered much in the way of fantasy production on the year.