City Royals consecutively win their 3rd game against counterparts and so securing…

The Kansas City Royals are pleased to welcome Michael Massey back to the lineup, albeit in a hitting capacity rather than his usual position at second base.

In the ongoing four-game series, the Royals have triumphed over the visiting Cleveland Guardians twice, with the series set to continue on Saturday afternoon.

After missing the initial 19 games of the season due to a back injury, Massey returned to action for 29 games before being sidelined for 27 more matches due to a lower back ligament sprain. He made his comeback on Monday.

Prior to his recent absence, the third-year player was batting .294. Since his return, Massey has gone 2-for-11 in four games, all while serving as the designated hitter or a pinch hitter, as the team is taking a cautious approach to reintegrating him into the field.

“We will heed his feedback,” stated Royals manager Matt Quatraro. “If he is not feeling well or if things are not working out, we will not rush his return, as we highly value his presence in the lineup.”

Batting fifth behind Salvador Perez, Massey boasts a .283 average and six home runs. The Royals have a 22-11 record when Massey is in the lineup, compared to a 24-27 record without him.

Following Adam Frazier’s injury this week due to a right thumb strain, Maikel Garcia shifted to second base, while prospect CJ Alexander was called up from the minors to play third base.

Quatraro mentioned that Maikel is a skilled infielder, primarily a shortstop, making the transition to third base more natural. Although he will play third again, the team aims to avoid constant back-and-forth changes. Alexander was benched on Friday after struggling in his first two games, with Loftin taking his place at third. The Royals will have Ragans pitching against Bibee on Saturday.

Rangers have had mixed results recently, with one win in his last six starts. On the other hand, Bibee has been consistent, with two no-decisions against the Royals despite a solid ERA. Bibee has been a key player for Cleveland this season, winning four of his last six starts. Vogt praised Bibee’s performance, highlighting his ability to deliver quality starts consistently.

Cleveland’s pitching staff is poised to receive a boost with the recent signing of left-hander Matthew Boyd to a major league deal, pending a physical examination. Additionally, right-hander Gavin Williams, who has been sidelined with right elbow discomfort, could soon return from the injured list.

Boyd underwent Tommy John surgery after making 15 starts for Detroit last year. Despite owning a 4.94 ERA over parts of nine seasons, injuries have limited him to just 163 innings since the beginning of the 2021 campaign.

As for Williams, the rookie made 16 starts in 2023 and ended the season with a 3.29 ERA. Although he has been on the 60-day injured list since spring training, he recently completed his sixth rehab start for Triple-A Columbus, striking out six batters in four innings of one-run ball.

“He made it through 80-something pitches,” Vogt said. “Obviously, we’ll have a decision to make in the next few days. We’re still sorting through what we’re going to do.”