Royals tap Lynch for first start since June

SAN FRANCISCO – In his limited time working out of Kansas City’s bullpen this season, Daniel Lynch IV has been one of the Royals' most efficient and effective relievers, pitching his way to a very respectable 1.29 ERA.

The Royals are hoping Lynch can keep that run going by starting Kansas City's series finale against the Giants on Wednesday. Lynch isn't stretched out as a starter, so he won't pitch deep into what will likely be a bullpen game.

Late Tuesday night following a 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants, the Royals announced that Lynch will make his first start of the season on Wednesday in place of Cole Ragans, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left groin strain earlier this week.

Lynch hasn’t made a start since June 7, 2024 and has been working strictly out of the bullpen since then. He retired one batter and allowed two hits and a run in Monday’s win at Oracle Park.

Afterward, manager Matt Quatraro initially declined to name a starter for Wednesday but indicated he had a good idea which way the Royals were leaning.

“I don’t think it’ll be tough for us to decide,” Quatraro said. “We just haven’t done it yet. We just finished the game.”

The Royals had plenty of options at their disposal.

There were initial thoughts that Kansas City might make Wednesday a bullpen game, an idea that Quatraro lent some credibility to when the series began when he indicated the decision would largely depend on how the starters in the first two games against the Giants – Kris Bubic and Michael Lorenzen – fared.

Bubic spun another gem Monday in a season that’s been filled with them as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery two years ago.

Lorenzen’s outing wasn’t nearly as strong and Quatraro had to go to the bullpen in the fifth inning. The right-hander allowed three runs (two earned) and seven hits with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings, matching his shortest start of the season.

“It was kind of an odd game to be honest,” Lorenzen said. “A couple hits that were weak contact that found holes, went off my glove. I thought we made some really good pitches and they did a good job of putting the ball in play.”

The good news was that four Kansas City relievers combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing only one hit.

“You want to go deep in games to protect those guys,” Lorenzen said. “When you can’t, it’s nice for them to be able to step up and do their job. They’re all really good at what they do.”

In the Royals clubhouse before the game, Luinder Avila – a 23-year-old right-hander from Venezuela who is on the team’s taxi squad – was seen milling about. That led to some speculation that he might be in line to start Wednesday.

That would have required a corresponding roster move. With the decision to go with Lynch, no move is needed.

Ragans, an 11-game winner in 2024 when he was a first-time All-Star honor, isn’t eligible to come off the IL until June 1. That means he’ll miss his next start as well.

If there’s any sort of light at the end of the tunnel it’s that the Royals will get a day off Thursday before beginning a three-game series in Minnesota on Friday.

The day off should come in handy, especially if Quatraro has to reach deep into the bullpen again Wednesday.

The Royals also expect to get back pitcher Seth Lugo soon. The right-hander has been on the IL with a finger sprain since May 17 and is eligible to come off the IL on May 28.