The Kansas City Royals believe that outfielder Kyle Isbel is their best center field option heading into the 2024 season. They are counting on power at the corner-outfield spots from MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe. Drew Waters can play all three outfield spots and could easily play into an Opening Day starting spot. While Waters has nice upside, he could benefit from more at-bats to begin the year in the minors as well. Isbel, 26, hasn't hit much so far in the big leagues, but he has an elite glove. At the very least, Isbel should find himself starting in center field for the Royals in 2024 against right-handed pitching. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues can ignore him. In 313 plate appearances last year, Isbel had only five home runs and seven stolen bases.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel is out of the starting lineup on Monday against the visiting Chicago White Sox for the third straight game. The Royals are rolling with Drew Waters in center field, and he'll hit in the eight-hole against White Sox right-hander Jesse Scholtens. Nelson Velazquez is in right field and batting sixth. The left-handed-hitting Isbel has gone just 4-for-23 (.174) with a homer, a double, seven RBI and four runs scored in eight starts since Aug. 21, so he's getting a couple days to reset offensively. On the year as a whole, the 26-year-old third-year player is batting .236 (59-for-250) with a career-high-tying five home runs, 19 doubles, a triple, 29 RBI, six stolen bases and 34 runs scored for the Royals in 76 games.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel (hamstring) will head to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment. Isbel injured his left hamstring back on May 4 while running out a bunt for a base hit. Kansas City plans to have him spend a couple of weeks with Omaha until he's 100%. Isbel will take over as the Royals' starting center fielder when he's ready to return from injury.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel is not in the starting lineup on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox. Isbel will get a normal day of rest on Thursday. The 25-year-old is hitting .222 (8-for-36) with a homer, six RBI and nine runs scored in 16 games since the All-Star break. Overall in 70 games in his second MLB season, he's slashing just .223/.258/.360 with three home runs, 19 RBI, 22 runs scored and six stolen bases for KC in 186 plate appearances. Nate Eaton will take over in right field and hit ninth in the batting order against White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease. This will only be Eaton's 11th big-league game, and he's gone 6-for-24 (.250) with a homer, three RBI and five runs scored. You can find better DFS options.

The Kansas City Royals placed relief pitcher Amir Garrett and outfielder Kyle Isbel on the injured list on Thursday. No injury designation was given, suggesting they have landed on the COVID-19 injured list. Right-handed pitcher Dylan Coleman and outfielder Brewer Hicklen were recalled from Triple-A in corresponding moves. Garrett has had a rocky first season with the Royals so far, pitching to a 4.61 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP over 16 appearances. Isbel, meanwhile is slashing .276/.295/.345 over 24 games with four doubles, two stolen bases and zero home runs.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel had a memorable game in the team's 10-7 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday. He went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBI and three runs scored. The home run was the first of his career. The 24-year-old made his MLB debut on Opening Day this year and kicked off his big league career with a pair of multi-hit efforts. He struggled after that and was demoted to Triple-A in late April. He was recalled by the team this past Sunday after Michael A. Taylor was placed on the family medical emergency list. Isbel may not stay up in the majors much longer unless he can have a few more games like he did on Tuesday.