Atlanta Braves infielder Nicky Lopez will take a seat on the bench for the first game of a series against the New York Mets on Monday with a left-hander on the mound. Vaughn Grissom will get the start at the keystone and will hit ninth in the batting order against Mets left-hander David Peterson. Lopez has essentially taken over starting duties at second base since Ozzie Albies (hamstring) landed on the injured list, and he's gone 9-for-23 (.391) with a homer, a double, eight RBI, a stolen base and five runs scored in nine games (seven starts) since being acquired from the Kansas City Royals at the trade deadline in early August. The 28-year-old is only hitting .235 (43-for-183) on the year, though, with just a homer and five stolen bases.

Kansas City Royals infielder Nicky Lopez has been traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for left-hander Taylor Hearn. This move makes sense considering the Royals have younger infielders that they want to give a chance on their rebuilding roster. Lopez is a skill defender, but has struggled with the bat this season. He's slashing .212/.323/.281 with 13 RBI and four stolen bases in 51 games. He'll provide depth and versatility to the Braves roster. Hearn was acquired by the Braves from the Texas Rangers last week. He hasn't pitched much in the majors this season, but threw over 100 innings with the Rangers during each of the last two seasons. He's a decent swingman option and is expected to head to the Royals bullpen.

Kansas City Royals infielder Nicky Lopez (hand) was hit in the hand by a pitch during Wednesday's 14-1 blowout loss to the Cleveland Guardians. He was removed from the game, but he underwent X-rays after the contest, which came back negative, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Consider Lopez day-to-day for now. Since 2021 when he hit .300, the 28-year-old has done almost nothing offensively and is batting just .206 with no home runs, 11 runs, seven RBI, and three steals over 48 games. Fantasy managers should leave Lopez on the waiver wire in all formats with that kind of production.

Kansas City Royals second baseman Nicky Lopez (abdomen) has been activated from the 10-day injured list on Monday. The 28-year-old has been sidelined since late April after undergoing an appendectomy procedure. Before that, Lopez was slashing .200/.323//.291 with seven RBI and two stolen bases in 18 games. The expectation is that he's going to heat up with the bat, so fantasy managers should monitor his performance. He'll bat seventh and play second base versus right-hander Michael Lorenzen on Monday.

Kansas City Royals infielder Nicky Lopez (abdomen) is expected to begin a rehab assignment in the next week. The 28-year-old has been out since the end of April after undergoing an appendectomy, so he continues to work his way back. Lopez hasn't played the best this season, batting .200 with 11 hits, five runs, and seven RBI in 55 at-bats, meaning there aren't many fantasy managers eagerly awaiting his return.

The Kansas City Royals are calling up shortstop Maikel Garcia, the team's No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, on Tuesday, according to a source. In a corresponding move, infielder Nicky Lopez (appendix) is going on the injured list with appendicitis. There's a good chance that Garcia will play regularly for the Royals while he's in the big leagues, possibly at third base, where he's mostly been playing for Triple-A Omaha. The 23-year-old was hitting just .242 (23-for-95) with seven doubles, a homer, 17 RBI and four steals in 24 games for Omaha, but he hit .285 with 34 doubles, 11 homers, 61 RBI and 39 thefts in 118 games with Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2022. Garcia is more of a contact-oriented hitter that stays in the gaps, and his plus speed is worth taking a chance on in deeper leagues.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Franmil Reyes and infielder Nicky Lopez are not in the team's starting lineup on Friday against right-hander Pablo Lopez and the Minnesota Twins. Reyes went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Thursday and is hitting just .200 (11-for-55) with two home runs, seven RBI and 22 strikeouts in 61 plate appearances through the first 18 games in 2023. He's hitless in his last 13 at-bats. Vinnie Pasquantino is serving as the designated hitter and batting second, while Hunter Dozier is starting at the hot corner and batting eighth in the lineup against Lopez on Friday. Recently recalled Nick Pratto is getting the start at first base and is hitting sixth.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Tuesday that the Chicago White Sox have expressed interest in trading for Kansas City Royals second baseman/shortstop Nicky Lopez. However, the Royals are not eager to move Lopez, as they view him as an important depth player. The team's plan is to start Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop, Michael Massey at second base, and use Lopez in a utility role. The 27-year-old slashed .227/.281/.273 with no home runs, 51 runs scored, 20 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 480 plate appearances in 2022. Lopez's fantasy value is already limited to stolen bases in roto leagues as is, and any dent in his playing time would further limit that.

The Kansas City Royals and middle infielder Nicky Lopez avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.7 million deal. Lopez went from hitting .300 in 151 games with the Royals in 2021 to slashing .227/.281/.273 with a .554 OPS in 480 plate appearances and 141 games in 2022. He added no homers, 20 RBI, 51 runs scored and 13 stolen bases. The 27-year-old has never been much of a threat with the lumber, but he's stuck around because of his excellent defensive skills up the middle. He can play second, third and shortstop and will be competing with Michael Massey at the keystone in spring training this year. Lopez isn't very attractive in fantasy for anything other than his modest speed.

Kansas City Royals infielder Nicky Lopez was in the lineup for both games of Tuesday's twin bill against the Chicago White Sox, and he came through with four hits in seven at-bats with a double and a walk. Lopez has been a mainstay at the bottom of the Kansas City lineup, but he's managed to slash just .215/.306/.252 with no homers, 11 runs scored, three RBI, and two steals in 118 plate appearances. With little to no output in any fantasy categories, Lopez should be far from rosters. He may improve enough in batting average and stolen bases to warrant an add later on, but he's simply not productive enough to hold for now.

Kansas City Royals shortstop Nicky Lopez helped lead the team to a 10-7 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday. He went 3-for-5 with a stolen base, an RBI and a run scored. Lopez has really come alive over the past few months. He slashed .317/.366/.375 and recorded 10 stolen bases in August. He's been even better at the plate so far in September. He already has eight multi-hit games this month to go along with 10 runs scored and a .375/.407/.482 slash line. He's cemented into the No. 2 spot in the team's lineup, which should allow for him to continue to score a good amount of runs while also helping fantasy managers in stolen bases and batting average.

Kansas City Royals shortstop Nicky Lopez was a single-hitting machine in the team's four-game series against the Seattle Mariners. In Sunday's series finale, he went 3-for-4 with three singles and a run scored. It was his third consecutive game with exactly three singles. He went 10-for-17 overall in the series with all 10 of his hits being singles. Lopez is slashing .292/.361/.362 on the season. He has 18 stolen bases on the year, 10 of which have come this month. He's cemented into the No. 2 spot in the team's batting order, so he should continue to produce runs and stolen bases going forward as long as he can keep hitting. Just don't expect any power production as he has only one home run over 119 games on the year.

It only took 109 games, but Nicky Lopez has finally lifted a ball over the fences. The Kansas City Royals shortstop went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in the team's 6-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. Lopez has had a solid year overall. Through his 109 games on the year, he's slashing .277/.347/.354 with 15 stolen bases, 30 RBI and 49 runs. He's been seeing more time near the top of the lineup lately, and it's resulted in more trips to the plate and more trips to the base paths. Seven of his 15 stolen bases on the year have come this month. Lopez's complete lack of power limits his fantasy appeal, but anyone looking for a boost in stolen bases can consider rostering him.

Kansas City Royals shortstop Nicky Lopez (jaw) was hit in the jaw by a ground ball off the bat of New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner in the 11th inning of Monday's game. He initially remained in the game, but was removed for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the 11th. He should be considered day-to-day for now. Lopez had a strong day at the plate on Monday, going 2-for-5 with a stolen base, an RBI and a run scored. He's hit second in the lineup in three of the team's past four games. If he sticks in that position, he could have some sneaky fantasy upside in runs, stolen bases and batting average. However, his complete lack of power (zero home runs over 100 games this year) gives him a pretty low ceiling.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Patrick Sandoval had his no-hit bid broken up with one out in the ninth inning on a soft double by rookie Brent Rooker and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Saturday night. Sandoval, a 24-year-old lefty who began the game with a 3-13 career record, struck out a career-high 13. There have already been seven no-hitters in the majors this season. The big league record of eight was set in 1884, the first year overhand pitching was permitted. The Twins hadn’t come close to a hit until Rooker, who fanned his first three times up, flared an opposite-field fly that fell just inside the line in right. Sandoval (3-4) smiled after the ball fell, retired the next batter and then was pulled after 108 pitches. He walked one and hit two. Closer Raisel Iglesias allowed an RBI double to Josh Donaldson before getting his 21st save in 25 chances. José Berríos (7-5) allowed two unearned runs in seven innings in perhaps his final start for Minnesota. ASTROS 4, RANGERS... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Patrick Sandoval had his no-hit bid broken up with one out in the ninth inning on a soft double by rookie Brent Rooker and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Saturday night. Sandoval, a 24-year-old lefty who began the game with a 3-13 career record, struck out a career-high 13. There have already been seven no-hitters in the majors this season. The big league record of eight was set in 1884, the first year overhand pitching was permitted. The Twins hadn’t come close to a hit until Rooker, who fanned his first three times up, flared an opposite-field fly that fell just inside the line in right. Sandoval (3-4) smiled after the ball fell, retired the next batter and then was pulled after 108 pitches. He walked one and hit two. Closer Raisel Iglesias allowed an RBI double to Josh Donaldson before getting his 21st save in 25 chances. José Berríos (7-5) allowed two unearned runs in seven innings in perhaps his final start for Minnesota. ASTROS 4, RANGERS... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Patrick Sandoval had his no-hit bid broken up with one out in the ninth inning on a soft double by rookie Brent Rooker and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Saturday night. Sandoval, a 24-year-old lefty who began the game with a 3-13 career record, struck out a career-high 13. There have already been seven no-hitters in the majors this season. The big league record of eight was set in 1884, the first year overhand pitching was permitted. The Twins hadn’t come close to a hit until Rooker, who fanned his first three times up, flared an opposite-field fly that fell just inside the line in right. Sandoval (3-4) smiled after the ball fell, retired the next batter and then was pulled after 108 pitches. He walked one and hit two. Closer Raisel Iglesias allowed an RBI double to Josh Donaldson before getting his 21st save in 25 chances. José Berríos (7-5) allowed two unearned runs in seven innings in perhaps his final start for Minnesota. ASTROS 4, RANGERS... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Patrick Sandoval had his no-hit bid broken up with one out in the ninth inning on a soft double by rookie Brent Rooker and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Saturday night. Sandoval, a 24-year-old lefty who began the game with a 3-13 career record, struck out a career-high 13. There have already been seven no-hitters in the majors this season. The big league record of eight was set in 1884, the first year overhand pitching was permitted. The Twins hadn’t come close to a hit until Rooker, who fanned his first three times up, flared an opposite-field fly that fell just inside the line in right. Sandoval (3-4) smiled after the ball fell, retired the next batter and then was pulled after 108 pitches. He walked one and hit two. Closer Raisel Iglesias allowed an RBI double to Josh Donaldson before getting his 21st save in 25 chances. José Berríos (7-5) allowed two unearned runs in seven innings in perhaps his final start for Minnesota. ASTROS 4, RANGERS... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Patrick Sandoval had his no-hit bid broken up with one out in the ninth inning on a soft double by rookie Brent Rooker and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Saturday night. Sandoval, a 24-year-old lefty who began the game with a 3-13 career record, struck out a career-high 13. There have already been seven no-hitters in the majors this season. The big league record of eight was set in 1884, the first year overhand pitching was permitted. The Twins hadn’t come close to a hit until Rooker, who fanned his first three times up, flared an opposite-field fly that fell just inside the line in right. Sandoval (3-4) smiled after the ball fell, retired the next batter and then was pulled after 108 pitches. He walked one and hit two. Closer Raisel Iglesias allowed an RBI double to Josh Donaldson before getting his 21st save in 25 chances. José Berríos (7-5) allowed two unearned runs in seven innings in perhaps his final start for Minnesota. ASTROS 4, RANGERS... [More]

Marcus Stroman pitched one-hit ball for eight innings, Dominic Smith launched a grand slam and the New York Mets cruised to a 7-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Stroman (7-8) gave up a leadoff single to Aristides Aquino in the third inning and little else. He struck out seven and walked one while giving New York’s beleaguered bullpen precious rest going into Thursday’s day off. Jeurys Familia struck out three in a hitless ninth. Luis Guillorme hit his first homer of the season and Jonathan Villar also connected for the NL East leaders. Mets manager Luis Rojas returned to the dugout after serving a two-game suspension for excessive arguing on Sunday. Jeff Hoffman (3-5) came off the 10-day injured list to make his first start since May 26 and lasted four innings, allowing seven hits — including Smith's slam — and five runs with three walks. GIANTS 4, DODGERS 2 LOS ANGELS (AP) — Wilmer Flores hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning and San Francisco... [More]