Isbel (head) will start in center field and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
After exiting Sunday's 4-3 win over the Padres when he was kneed in the head in a collision with teammate Bobby Witt, Isbel was withheld from the lineup for Tuesday's 8-5 loss, but he's back in action Wednesday. Garrett Hampson spelled Isbel in center field Tuesday but will move to second base for the second game of the series in Cleveland.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Sitting out Tuesday
Rotowire
Isbel (head/neck) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Cleveland.
Isbel departed Sunday's game against the Padres after taking a knee to the head during a collision with teammate Bobby Witt. He avoided a concussion, but Isbel isn't feeling well enough to play even after Monday's team off day. Garrett Hampson will cover center field Tuesday.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Leaves Sunday's game
Rotowire
Isbel was removed from Sunday's 4-3 win over the Padres in the top of the sixth inning with a non-concussive head/neck injury. He went 0-for-1 prior to leaving the game.
The 27-year-old took a knee to the head as he collided with shortstop Bobby Witt in the outfield in the top of the fifth inning, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Isbel was initially able to stay in the contest, but after the Royals returned to the field for the top of the sixth, Garrett Hampson came on to replace him in center field. He'll have Monday's team off day to aid in his recovery ahead of Tuesday's series opener in Cleveland.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Day off Saturday
Rotowire
Isbel is out of the starting lineup Saturday versus San Diego.
Isbel will get a day off after he went 2-for-13 with a double, an RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base while starting the last four contests. Dairon Blanco will take over in center field and bat ninth against the Padres.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Records steal in return
Rotowire
Isbel went 0-for-2 with one RBI, one walk and one stolen base in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Twins.
Isbel missed two games after taking a foul ball off his face Saturday. The outfielder is just 1-for-10 over his last four contests, but he was able to pick up his first RBI since May 18 on a groundout Tuesday. Isbel is at four steals, four home runs, 13 RBI, 18 runs scored and a .212/.260/.336 slash line through 147 plate appearances as the Royals' primary center fielder this year.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Returns to lineup
Rotowire
Isbel (face) will start in center field and bat ninth in Tuesday's game in Minnesota.
Isbel missed two games after fouling a ball off his face over the weekend, but he's feeling well enough to take part in Tuesday's contest. The 27-year-old has just a .599 OPS this season as the Royals' primary center fielder.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Held out again Monday
Rotowire
Isbel (face) remains out of the lineup for Monday's contest in Minnesota.
Isbel suffered a facial injury Saturday and will now miss a second straight start. He's considered day-to-day. Dairon Blanco will get the call in center field Monday.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Sitting out Sunday
Rotowire
Isbel (face) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
Isbel will get at least one day off to heal up from the facial injury he suffered in the Royals' 7-4 win Saturday, when he fouled a ball off himself in the seventh inning. Garrett Hampson will spell Isbel in center field.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Exits with injury
Rotowire
Isbel was removed from Saturday's game against the Rays after getting hit in the head by a foul tip, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Isbel was hit in the face by a fastball that deflected off the handle of his bat during the seventh inning of Saturday's contest. The Royals will take a look at him and should offer an update relatively soon, but there is a good chance the 27-year-old outfielder misses at least a game or two.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Gets break Friday
Rotowire
Isbel is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.
With southpaw Tyler Alexander expected to serve as the primary pitcher for Tampa Bay, the lefty-hitting Isbel will sit Friday and pass center field duties to Garrett Hampson. Isbel will get a break after going 2-for-11 with two runs in a three-game series against Detroit.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Idle against southpaw
Rotowire
Isbel is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against Oakland.
With southpaw JP Sears taking the mound for the Athletics, the lefty-hitting Isbel will get a rest day. Garrett Hampson will take over center field duties and bat ninth while Dairon Blanco and Hunter Renfroe round out Kansas City's outfield.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Homers in Saturday's win
Rotowire
Isbel went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Athletics.
The homer was Isbel's first since April 29. The outfielder has seen a dip in playing time in May, in part because he's hitting .222 (8-for-36) over 11 contests this month. Overall, he has a .218/.262/.361 slash line with four homers, three stolen bases, 12 RBI, 15 runs scored, three doubles and a triple over 127 plate appearances. Isbel will likely continue to be out of the lineup versus most southpaws, with Garrett Hampson or Dairon Blanco options to pick up the short-side at-bats in center field.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Takes seat Tuesday
Rotowire
Isbel is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners.
Isbel will give up center-field work to Garrett Hampson for a third consecutive game. Isbel has gone hitless in four of his last six starts.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Sitting against southpaw
Rotowire
Isbel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
The lefty-hitting Isbel will cede center field to Garrett Hampson while the Angels bring southpaw Patrick Sandoval to the hill for the series finale.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Sits down against southpaw
Rotowire
Isbel isn't in the Royals' lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels.
Isbel will step out of the lineup as the Angels prepare to send left-hander Reid Detmers to the mound to start Thursday's contest. Garrett Hampson will fill in as Kansas City's center fielder and bat ninth.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Taking seat Monday
Rotowire
Isbel is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Cleveland.
The left-handed-hitting Isbel will take a seat against Milwaukee right-hander Bryse Wilson while Dairon Blanco gets the start in center field. Isbel had started each of the last 13 contests when the Royals faced a right-hander.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Pops homer in loss
Rotowire
Isbel went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI single in Monday's 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays.
Isbel's bat has started to come around -- he's gone 7-for-21 (.333) with four extra-base hits over his last seven games. The outfielder has held onto a strong-side platoon role in center field this season. He's slashing .225/.262/.388 with three homers, three stolen bases, eight RBI, 10 runs scored, two doubles and a triple over 85 plate appearances. Isbel still most frequently bats at the bottom of the Royals' lineup when he's playing.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: On bench versus lefty
Rotowire
Isbel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
Isbel will be joined on the bench by fellow lefty-hitting regulars Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Massey and MJ Melendez while the Royals stock up on extra right-handed bats to counter Tigers southpaw Tarik Skubal. Dairon Blanco will replace Isbel in center field.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Goes deep off bench
Rotowire
Isbel went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Blue Jays.
Isbel's homer was in the ninth inning, but the Royals weren't able to turn it into a rally. The outfielder had gone 0-for-12 across his previous four contests. He's batting .197 with a .533 OPS through 64 plate appearances while adding two homers, five RBI, three stolen bases and five runs scored. Isbel should remain on the strong side of a platoon in center field, with Garrett Hampson seeing most of the playing time versus southpaws.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Sits against left-hander
Rotowire
Isbel is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.
Isbel will stick on the bench for the second game in a row while the Royals oppose a second straight left-handed starting pitcher in Yusei Kikuchi. Garrett Hampson will spell Isbel in center field.
