Kansas City Royals outfielders Kyle Isbel and Hunter Renfroe are both starting on the bench for Thursday's tilt against the hosting Tampa Bay Rays. Drew Waters will start in center field and bat ninth, while Mark Canha gets the nod in right field and is hitting seventh against Rays right-hander Shane Baz. Isbel did have two hits in Wednesday's win over Tampa, but he's gone 6-for-31 (.194) with six RBI, a steal, no walks and five strikeouts in his last 11 games played. Renfroe, meanwhile, will probably continue to lose playing time in the Royals outfield after starting the year with a .167 average (11-for-66) with no home runs and only four RBI. Waters and Canha will both be low-upside DFS plays on Thursday, and neither player has faced Baz in their careers. Canha hasn't homered yet but has gone 9-for-26 with two RBI and five runs scored in his limited playing time.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe is out of the starting lineup for Monday's series opener in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. With Renfroe starting this one on the bench, Cavan Biggio will start in right field and hit seventh against Yankees veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco. Renfroe started off the year as a lineup regular in right field for the Royals, but his playing time has been slipping after a slow start with the lumber. The 33-year-old veteran has gone just 5-for-39 (.128) with no home runs, a double, three RBI, four walks and 12 strikeouts in 12 games played. Renfroe hit just .229 last year but clubbed 15 home runs. The power is waning, though, and the strikeouts are piling up. Biggio hasn't been much better, hitting .217 (5-for-23) with no homers and two RBI in 11 games played. While Carrasco is a good matchup, fantasy managers setting DFS lineups can probably do better than Biggio.

Kansas City Royals outfielders Kyle Isbel and Hunter Renfroe and second baseman Michael Massey are all sitting in Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Minnesota Twins. Drew Waters is starting in center field and batting ninth, Cavan Biggio is in right field and hitting fifth, and Maikel Garcia is at the keystone and is batting sixth against Twins right-hander Bailey Ober. Isbel has gone 8-for-30 with a homer, double and three RBI in his first 11 games, while both Renfroe and Massey have struggled to get going early on in the 2025 season for the Royals. Garcia is probably the best DFS bet as a sleeper on Thursday, as he's hitting .308 (12-for-39) with two homers, three doubles, six RBI and a steal in 12 games so far this year. He's hit just .143 in seven career at-bats against Ober, but it's come with a home run and two RBI.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe is out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium. MJ Melendez is starting in right field and batting eighth, while Cavan Biggio is serving as the designated hitter and is batting sixth versus Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer. Melendez and Biggio have a combined 10 career at-bats against Kremer without a single hit. The 33-year-old Renfroe could find himself on the bench more frequently in 2025 if his bat is cold, regardless of whether he still has some power in his lumber. He's off to a rough 2-for-18 start with a double, three RBI, three walks and six strikeouts in 21 plate appearances over five contests. Outside of some modest power at this stage of his career with infrequent playing time, Renfroe is really only valuable in AL-only formats.

Kansas City Royals outfielder/first baseman Hunter Renfroe is not in the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon. Instead, MJ Melendez will shift to right field, which will open first base for Cavan Biggio. On Opening Day, Renfroe went 0-for-4 at the plate with one strikeout. Last season, Renfroe appeared in 120 games for the Royals. Across this stint, Renfroe held a .229/.297/.392 slash line with 18 doubles and 15 round-trippers. He was an elite defender in right field as he placed in the 87th percentile in arm value and 91st percentile in arm strength. However, in the batter's box, he generated an underwhelming .291 xwOBA and .223 xBA, which placed him in the 18th and 13th percentile, respectively. Given his lack of consistent production, he should only be rostered in deeper AL-only formats.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe and relief pitcher Chris Stratton both had their 2025 club options exercised according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Renfroe had a down year in 2024 as he hit just 15 home runs, his lowest total in a full season throughout his career. He held a .229/.297/.392 slash line. Stratton served as a high-leverage reliever this past summer and posted a 5.55 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP with four saves and five holds. Fantasy managers should expect Renfroe to be deployed as a platoon option early on in right field with the opportunity to grow into a full-time role if he can get back on track. He could be worth a look as a late-option for power in deeper formats. Stratton should be in the mix to see a handful of save opportunities in 2025.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe is not in the team's starting lineup for Game 1 of the wild-card series on Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. With Renfroe riding pine, the Royals will roll with Tommy Pham in right field, and he will hit seventh against Orioles right-hander Corbin Burnes. Renfroe's playing time in the postseason might be more spotty now that first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (thumb) is back from the injured list to take over designated hitter duties, at least for the wild-card series. If the 32-year-old Renfroe does get into a game at any point during the series in Baltimore, it will likely come against a left-handed pitcher. In his first year with the Royals in 2024, Renfroe hit just .229/.297/.392 with a below-average .689 OPS, 15 home runs and 52 RBI in 120 games played. In 23 games with KC, Pham went 23-for-101 (.228) with two homers and eight RBI.

The Kansas City Royals reinstated outfielder Hunter Renfroe (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Thursday and optioned right-hander Steven Cruz to Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. The team also designated right-hander Dan Altavilla (oblique) for assignment. Renfroe, who is hitting just .237/.312/.398 with a .710 OPS, 12 home runs and 47 RBI in 334 at-bats for the Royals this year, will be a platoon bat for the Royals against left-handed pitchers, at best, upon his return after the addition of right-handed-hitting outfielder Tommy Pham. With Vinnie Pasquantino (thumb) expected to miss the rest of the regular season, some of Renfroe's playing time could come at first base down the stretch. He has been out since late August with a strained right hamstring. He went 8-for-21 (.381) with a homer and three RBI in six games before landing on the IL, so KC will be hoping he can pick up where he left off.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe (hamstring) hit on the field with the team before the game on Monday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium and also ran the bases. The Royals need to decide whether to send Renfroe on a minor-league rehab assignment, but either way, he could be back by this weekend. Renfroe strained his right hamstring while running in the outfield on Aug. 24 and was placed on the 10-day injured list a day later. The Royals were hopeful it wasn't going to be a long stint on the IL. The 32-year-old veteran slugger doesn't offer much upside anywhere for fantasy managers in mixed leagues, but he could see regular playing time at first base when he returns now that Vinnie Pasquantino (thumb) is out for the rest of the regular season. Renfroe will return to a weak .237/.312/.398 slash line with 12 homers and 47 RBI in his 334 at-bats in 2024.

The Kansas City Royals reinstated outfielder Hunter Renfroe (toe) from the injured list on Friday and optioned catcher Austin Nola to Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. Renfroe spent the minimum 10 days on the injured list while dealing with a bruised toe. The 32-year-old veteran slugger should be back in the starting lineup for Friday's contest against the Twins in Minnesota. Fantasy baseball managers in deeper leagues will be hoping he can pick up where he left off prior to his toe injury, as Renfroe had gone 7-for-18 with two home runs, two doubles and six RBI in six games before landing on the IL. Overall, though, Renfroe has mostly struggled in 2024, batting an even .200 (34-for-170) with only six home runs, 26 RBI and 22 runs scored for the Royals.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe will head to the bench for Wednesday's contest as the Royals go for the sweep against the visiting Detroit Tigers in the series finale. Renfroe has gone 6-for-24 (.250) with a homer and five RBI in his last seven games since May 12, but overall he's been bad this year with a .160/.236/.282 slash line with four home runs, 18 RBI and 15 runs scored in 144 plate appearances over 43 games played in his first year in KC. With Renfroe on the bench, Dairon Blanco is getting the start in right field and will bat seventh against Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal. Blanco has three hits and two RBI in six career at-bats against Skubal. The 31-year-old Cuban outfielder has been useful for his speed this year in AL-only leagues, as he has 11 thefts in just 44 at-bats in 2024.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe will retreat to the bench on Wednesday as the team faces the Toronto Blue Jays. Adam Frazier will get the nod in right field for the Royals and will hit eighth against Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt. Renfroe has gone 1-for-12 in the last four games to drop his season line to a weak .150/.218/.268 in 80 at-bats. The 32-year-old veteran right-handed slugger has added just two home runs, 10 RBI and seven runs scored for the Royals and could lose playing time moving forward unless he turns it around soon. Frazier hasn't been much better at all, though, and should be avoided in DFS formats on Wednesday. The left-handed batter is hitting .185 (12-for-65) with no homers, five RBI and one stolen base.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe finds himself on the bench again on Friday against the Detroit Tigers. This will be the second straight game that Renfroe will be starting on the bench. In his absence, the left-handed-hitting Adam Frazier will make the start in right field for the Royals and will hit eighth against Tigers right-hander Reese Olson. The 32-year-old Renfroe has hit just .149 (10-for-67) with two home runs, 10 RBI, five walks and 16 strikeouts in his first 72 plate appearances in 2024 and is quickly losing playing time in Kansas City's outfield rotation. Frazier, also 32, hasn't been much better, going 11-for-55 (.200) with no homers, four RBI and one stolen base in 22 games. He's never faced Olson in his career.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe (back) has been dealing with some lower-back tightness in camp, according to manager Matt Quatraro, which is why he hasn't appeared in a Cactus League game yet. Renfroe will take part in the team's workout on Monday, though, and he's scheduled to make his spring training debut on Wednesday. Quatraro said there is no concern about Renfroe's availability. The 32-year-old right-handed-hitting veteran should be fine for Opening Day in late March and is projected to serve as Kansas City's starting right fielder in 2024 after signing a two-year deal with the club in free agency in the offseason. Renfroe didn't square the ball up often in 2023 despite managing to hit 20 home runs in 140 games. Outside of being a decent source of power, Renfroe shouldn't excite fantasy managers all that much in mixed leagues at this stage.

Free-agent outfielder Hunter Renfroe agreed on a two-year, $13 million with the Kansas City Royals on Friday. Renfroe will have the ability to opt out of the deal (player option) after Year 1 at $6.5 million. The deal also includes incentives. Renfroe will add a veteran presence for a rebuilding Royals team and will have an everyday outfield role as he makes the move to the American League Central. The 31-year-old right-handed slugger spent 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds, slashing a disappointing .233/.297/.416 with 20 home runs, 31 doubles, 60 RBI and 60 runs scored in 140 total games. The 20 homers were the fewest he's had in a season in his eight-year big-league career. Renfroe should still provide decent power for KC and as outfield depth in fantasy leagues, but nobody should be banking on a return to the 30-homer plateau in 2024.

The Cincinnati Reds designated outfielder Hunter Renfroe for assignment on Monday and activated outfielder Stuart Fairchild (illness) from the COVID-19 injured list in a corresponding move. The Reds claimed Renfroe off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels last month, but he went just 5-for-39 (.128) with a home run, four RBI and four runs scored in 14 games for the Reds before they decided to go in another direction. With Harrison Bader (groin) also going on the injured list on Monday, the Reds are going to have more opportunities in their outfield down the stretch of the 2023 season. In 140 games overall for the Halos and Reds this year, Renfroe hit .233/.297/.416 with 20 home runs, 31 doubles, 60 RBI and 60 runs scored in 548 trips to the plate.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Hunter Renfroe (hamstring) has been scratched ahead of Tuesday's game against the Seattle Mariners. The 31-year-old slugger was pulled from the lineup due to left hamstring tightness. The organization believes the injury is day-to-day, so Renfroe shouldn't require a trip to the injured list. In his absence, Harrison Bader will cover center field and bat seventh versus right-hander Bryce Miller. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups with Renfroe sidelined.

The Cincinnati Reds on Thursday claimed outfielder Hunter Renfroe off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels, according to sources. The Reds are just a game out of the final wild-card spot in the National League, so they decided to add some outfield depth on Thursday by picking up both Renfroe and Harrison Bader. The 31-year-old Renfroe should be a lineup regular for Cincinnati the rest of the way, either in a corner-outfield spot or at designated hitter. In 126 games for the Angels in 2023, he's hit .242/.304/.434 with 19 home runs, 31 doubles, 56 RBI and 56 runs scored in 504 plate appearances. Will Benson and Nick Senzel will most likely move back to bench roles in Cincinnati for the final month of the regular season.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Hunter Renfroe had a big day Thursday, going 6-for-9 with a homer, two doubles, two runs, and two RBI over their doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers. It's a much-needed strong showing for the 31-year-old, who has struggled mightily since a strong April, especially in July where he had slashed just .179/.313/.304 coming into today. He probably doesn't need to be rostered in standard leagues, but given his power profile he should be watched closely in those leagues. He still has appeal in five-outfielder leagues and other deeper formats.