Nicky Lopez
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MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
May 28 2025Lopez agreed to a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran infielder was let go by the Cubs last week, and it didn't take long for him to latch on with a new team. Lopez has gone 1-for-24 in 19 games between the Cubs and Angels this season and isn't likely to be a significant contributor even if he's added to the Diamondbacks' big-league roster.
May 19 2025The Cubs designated Lopez for assignment Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The club needed to free a spot on the active roster for Matt Shaw, and Lopez is the casualty. Lopez is just 1-for-24 at the plate this season and is likely to pass through waivers unclaimed, but his solid glovework and defensive versatility should help land him a minor-league contract somewhere.
Apr 20 2025Lopez cleared waivers and elected free agency Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old was designated for assignment by the Angels on Friday, and he won't remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. Lopez appeared in just five games after inking an MLB deal with the Halos in late March and went 0-for-6 with a strikeout.
Apr 18 2025The Angels designated Lopez for assignment Friday, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez signed a major-league contract with the Angels in late March, but he's appeared in just six games for the Halos while going 0-for-6 at the plate. If he goes unclaimed off waivers or isn't traded, Lopez will have the option of remaining in the organization in Triple-A or exploring other opportunities by entering free agency. Zach Neto (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.
Mar 25 2025Lopez agreed to a major-league contract with the Angels on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs in February, but he was unable to earn a roster spot with the Cubs despite posting a .450/.542/.550 slash line in 24 plate appearances during spring training. Lopez will provide infield depth and could see regular playing time early in the season with Yoan Moncada (thumb) banged up and Zach Neto (shoulder) recovering from shoulder surgery.
Mar 9 2025Lopez is expected to be granted his release after the Cubs informed him Sunday that he won't be part of the team's 31-man travel roster for its season-opening series in Japan versus the Dodgers on March 18 and 19, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs on Feb. 2 and had been competing for a utility infielder job with the big club during spring training. Even though second baseman Nico Hoerner (forearm) won't be available for the two-game series in Tokyo, Lopez wasn't able to beat out Rule 5 pick Gage Workman or Vidal Brujan for a bench role. Lopez shouldn't have much trouble catching on with another organization on a minor-league deal.
Nov 12 2024Lopez elected free agency Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The White Sox removed Lopez from their 40-man roster and the veteran infielder has opted for free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. Lopez, who turns 30 in March, slashed just .241/.312/.294 over 124 games for the White Sox in 2024. He might have to settle for a minor-league contract this winter.
Sep 29 2024Lopez is absent from Sunday's lineup against Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will be out of the White Sox's lineup for a second straight game. Unless he pinch hits during Sunday's contest, he'll end the season with a slash line of .241/.312/.294 with five stolen bases, one home run and 21 RBI over 445 plate appearances. Jacob Amaya will start at shortstop and bat ninth.
Sep 28 2024Lopez isn't in the White Sox's lineup Saturday versus the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will grab a seat on the bench Saturday after going just 1-for-16 over his last five games. Jacob Amaya will take over as Chicago's shortstop and bat ninth.
Sep 26 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez typically serves as the White Sox's leadoff hitter against right-handed pitching, but he'll hit the bench for the fourth time in five games while Chicago opposes another lefty (Tyler Anderson) in the series finale with the Angels. Miguel Vargas will serve as Chicago's table setter Thursday, while Jacob Amaya takes Lopez's usual spot at shortstop.
Sep 25 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-handed-hitting Lopez will bow out of the starting nine while the Angels send southpaw Jose Suarez to the bump. Jacob Amaya will spell Lopez at shortstop and bat ninth.
Sep 22 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After sitting against lefty Martin Perez on Saturday, the lefty-hitting Lopez will bow out of the lineup against a righty (Yu Darvish) in the series finale. Jacob Amaya will pick up a second straight start at shortstop in place of Lopez, while Miguel Vargas assumes Lopez's usual spot atop the batting order.
Sep 21 2024Lopez isn't in the White Sox's lineup for Saturday's game versus San Diego. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-handed-hitting Lopez will step out of the starting lineup Saturday with southpaw Martin Perez set to toe the slab for the Padres. Lopez's absence will allow Jacob Amaya to pick up a start at shortstop while batting seventh.
Sep 15 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Lopez starts more often than not against right-handed pitching, but he's been routinely exiting the lineup against left-handed pitching of late. With southpaw JP Sears toeing the rubber for Oakland, Lopez will give way to Jacob Amaya at shortstop.
Sep 11 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With lefty Matthew Boyd on the bump for the Guardians, the lefty-hitting Lopez will give way to Jacob Amaya at shortstop. Lopez had started in five of the White Sox's six matchups with right-handed pitchers in September, so he should maintain a strong-side platoon role in the middle infield, at least until Brooks Baldwin (wrist) comes off the injured list.
Sep 9 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez and fellow left-handed batters Gavin Sheets and Dominic Fletcher will head to the bench Monday while the Guardians send southpaw Joey Cantillo to the hill for the series opener. Jacob Amaya will fill in for Lopez at shortstop.
Sep 8 2024Lopez is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will begin Sunday's game in the dugout after going 2-for-9 with one run scored across the first two games of the series. Jacob Amaya will start at shortstop and bat ninth against Red Sox right-hander Richard Fitts.
Sep 4 2024Lopez went 3-for-4 with a solo homer, a walk and a second run scored in Wednesday's 8-1 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez opened the scoring on the second pitch of the game, taking an Albert Suarez fastball over the right-field fence to put Chicago ahead 1-0 in the first inning. It's the first long ball of the year for the 29-year-old Lopez, who'd been stuck in a 6-for-39 (.154) slump in 12 contests coming into Wednesday. Overall, the shortstop is slashing .241/.313/.299 with 37 runs scored, 18 RBI and five stolen bases across 405 plate appearances this year.
Sep 3 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has a .472 OPS in his past 12 games and will sit Tuesday as southpaw Cade Povich takes the mound for Baltimore. Jacob Amaya will start at shortstop and bat ninth for Chicago.
Sep 1 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With lefty Sean Manaea on the hill, the lefty-hitting Lopez will retreat to the bench for the series finale. The White Sox recently placed Lopez on waivers, but with the 29-year-old going unclaimed, he appears set to stick around in the organization for the rest of the season. Lopez should continue to play regularly against right-handed pitching.
Aug 29 2024The White Sox placed Lopez on waivers Thursday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In his first season with the Southsiders, Lopez has slashed .238/.310/.290 with 17 RBI across 387 plate appearances. The other 29 clubs now have the opportunity to add the 29-year-old to their roster for the final month of the season and pay what's left of his $4.3 million salary; however, his poor performance makes it likely that he passes through waivers unclaimed and remains with the Sox.
Aug 24 2024Lopez isn't in the White Sox's lineup for Saturday's game against Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With formidable lefty Tarik Skubal set to start on the hill for the Tigers, the lefty-hitting Lopez will step out of the lineup Saturday. His absence will move Brooks Baldwin to shortstop while Lenyn Sosa starts at second base and Miguel Vargas covers third.
Aug 20 2024Lopez isn't in the White Sox's lineup for Tuesday's game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-handed bat of Lopez will take a seat to begin Tuesday's contest while southpaw Robbie Ray starts on the hill for San Francisco. As a result, Brooks Baldwin will shift to shortstop while Lenyn Sosa starts at the keystone and bats leadoff.
Aug 13 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has gone 6-for-18 with three walks, two doubles, two RBI and a run through five games in August but will sit for Tuesday's contest. Brooks Baldwin will shift to shortstop while Lenyn Sosa starts at second base and Miguel Vargas mans the hot corner.
Aug 10 2024Lopez isn't in the White Sox's lineup for Saturday's game versus the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will get a breather Saturday after he went 3-for-5 with an RBI during a loss in Friday's series opener. While he rests, Brooks Baldwin will shift to shortstop while Lenyn Sosa and Miguel Vargas start at second and third base, respectively.
Aug 3 2024Lopez is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will sit for a second straight game Saturday after starting five straight. Brooks Baldwin will start at shortstop and bat second against Minnesota right-hander Bailey Ober.
Aug 2 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez started the previous five games but will receive a day off after going 4-for-18 with two walks, a triple and three runs during that span. Brooks Baldwin will shift to shortstop while Lenyn Sosa receives a start at second base.
Jul 31 2024Lopez went 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored and a walk Tuesday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez led off for the third straight contest and has tallied at least one hit on each occasion while scoring three runs. He has just a .049 ISO across 320 plate appearances for the season, though he has only a 14.7 percent strikeout rate and a 7.7 percent walk rate. If Lopez sticks as the leadoff hitter, he could be a decent source of runs for the final two months of the campaign.
Jul 26 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Even with right-hander George Kirby on the mound for Seattle, Lopez will take a seat. Brooks Baldwin will play second base while Paul DeJong fills in at shortstop.
Jul 19 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Lopez will take a seat against Royals right-hander Michael Wacha in the White Sox's first game out of the All-Star break. With the White Sox calling up prospect Brooks Baldwin from Triple-A Charlotte and installing him as the starter at second base Friday in his MLB debut, Lopez's time as a regular in the infield could be over. Lopez went hitless over his final three starts before the All-Star break, bringing his season-long batting line down to a dismal .240/.297/.287 over 285 plate appearances.
Jul 12 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has an .805 OPS through seven games in July and will sit Friday as southpaw Marco Gonzales takes the mound for the Pirates. Lenyn Sosa will shift to second base while Danny Mendick receives a start at third.
Jul 10 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll cede his spot in the infield to Danny Mendick in the second leg of the twin bill. Lopez started at shortstop in the White Sox's 3-1 win in the first game of the day, going 0-for-3 at the dish.
Jul 9 2024Lopez went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base Monday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has just a .607 OPS for the season, but he's in the midst of a very productive stretch. Across his last 15 games dating back to June 22, he's gone 15-for-43 with nine RBI, six runs scored and two stolen bases. Lopez is still hitting in the bottom third of the order and sitting against lefties, limiting his overall value.
Jul 7 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will take a seat for the series finale in Miami in what appears to be a routine maintenance day. Lenyn Sosa will cover the keystone in place of Lopez, who had started each of the past five games while going 4-for-17 with three doubles, three walks, three runs and three RBI.
Jun 30 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With southpaw Kyle Freeland on the hill for Colorado, the lefty-hitting Lopez will move to the bench. Danny Mendick will replace Lopez at second base.
Jun 27 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Southpaw Chris Sale is on the hill for Atlanta, so the lefty-hitting Lopez will retreat to the bench. Platoon mate Danny Mendick will spell Lopez at second base.
Jun 24 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez and fellow left-handed hitters Gavin Sheets and Andrew Benintendi will hit the bench as the White Sox go with an all-right-handed-hitting lineup versus Dodgers southpaw James Paxton. Danny Mendick will replace Lopez at second base and bat ninth.
Jun 22 2024Lopez went 3-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in a 5-1 win over the Tigers on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez singled in the third inning then hit an RBI double in the fourth to give the White Sox a 2-0 lead. In the sixth frame, he singled, stole second and came around to score on a single by Lenyn Sosa. Lopez entered the contest just 10-for-50 in June, but it was his fourth multi-hit game of the month. The second baseman is now hitting .239 with six RBI and three steals over 209 at-bats this season.
Jun 18 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will avoid a matchup with southpaw Framber Valdez on Tuesday. Instead, Danny Mendick will bat ninth and play second base.
Jun 16 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Lopez will take a seat while southpaw Jordan Montgomery starts for the Diamondbacks. Danny Mendick will fill in for Lopez at the keystone.
Jun 15 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The White Sox will turn to Danny Mendick at second base Saturday with southpaw Tommy Henry expected to pitch in bulk relief for Arizona. Lopez is batting .244 with a pair of RBI over 10 games in June.
Jun 8 2024Lopez is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite Boston sending right-hander Brayan Bello to the mound Saturday, the lefty-hitting Lopez will begin the game in the dugout while Danny Mendick starts at second base. Lopez started in the first two games of the series, going 1-for-8 with two strikeouts.
Jun 4 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will dodge a matchup with southpaw Shota Imanaga on Tuesday. Danny Mendick will fill in at second base and bat seventh.
Jun 1 2024Lopez is not in the starting lineup Saturday versus the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will take a seat as Chicago faces left-hander Robert Gasser on the mound Saturday. Danny Mendick will slide over to second base while Lenyn Sosa enters the lineup at third base and bats sixth against Milwaukee.
May 23 2024Lopez went 2-for-4 with a run scored Wednesday against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez had a strong series against Toronto, as he collected six hits across 12 at-bats with an RBI and a run scored. He entered the three-game set having hit just .171 with one extra-base hit across his first 11 games in May. Lopez is still hitting only .223/.284/.238 with two stolen bases across 145 plate appearances for the season.
May 15 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the White Sox playing a day game following Tuesday's doubleheader and with a lefty (Patrick Corbin) on the hill for Washington, the lefty-hitting Lopez will get the afternoon off. Zach Remillard checks in for Lopez at second base.
May 12 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With southpaw Logan Allen on the hill for Cleveland, the lefty-hitting Lopez will take a seat. Zach Remillard will replace Lopez at second base in the series finale.
May 8 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez recently overcame a sore adductor and started at second base in the first two contests of the series in Tampa, going 2-for-7 at the plate. The White Sox haven't indicated that Lopez suffered a setback with the injury, so his absence Wednesday is presumably maintenance-related.
May 6 2024Lopez (adductor) will start at second base and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez was held out of the lineup for Sunday's 5-1 win over the Cardinals with adductor soreness, but the injury was apparently just a minor concern. After serving as the White Sox's leadoff hitter in each of his last 12 starts, the lefty-hitting Lopez will drop the bottom of the order Monday, likely because Chicago is opposing a southpaw in Tyler Alexander.
May 5 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox and is dealing with adductor soreness, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Pedro Grifol indicated Lopez could have played through the issue, but the skipper decided to provide a day off. The 29-year-old should be considered day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener in Tampa Bay. Braden Shewmake is manning the keystone while Bryan Ramos starts at third base Sunday.
May 1 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez's streak of six consecutive starts will come to an end Wednesday as White Sox manager Pedro Grifol gives the second baseman the afternoon off in a day game after a night game. Braden Shewmake will spell Lopez at the keystone, while designated hitter Robbie Grossman takes over as the White Sox's leadoff hitter.
Apr 27 2024Lopez went 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base Saturday against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has at least one hit in six straight starts, and even as the White Sox's primary leadoff hitter, that's translated to only three runs scored. He also managed his first successful stolen base of the season after having been caught on four previous occasions. Through 85 plate appearances, Lopez has offered very little at the dish by maintaining a .219 batting average and by tallying only one extra-base hit.
Apr 24 2024Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will get a breather after starting each of the last nine games, with the last four coming as the White Sox's leadoff hitter. Danny Mendick will replace Lopez at the keystone and set the table for Chicago on Wednesday.
Apr 2 2024Lopez went 0-for-2 with a walk and was caught stealing Monday against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has started four of the White Sox's first five games, hitting in the bottom third of the order. He's reached base just twice in 10 plate appearances, though he has attempted a stolen base on each occasion. While that aggressiveness would be a potential boost to his fantasy value, he's been caught both times.
Feb 24 2024Lopez has worked exclusively at second base early in spring training, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has worked evenly at second base and shortstop throughout his big-league career, but the White Sox are having him focus on the latter position for the time being. Van Schouwen reports that the club envisions him and Paul DeJong as the pairing in the middle infield this season, though Lopez could still lose playing time against lefties. Since a solid 2021 campaign, his performance has slipped considerably, and he posted just a .231/.236/.307 line across 262 plate appearances in 2023.
Jan 11 2024Lopez agreed to a one-year, $4.3 million deal with the White Sox on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez, who is an excellent defensive infielder, is expected to play somewhat regularly in the middle infield early this season, which will help the Chicago's pitching staff even if it doesn't help the offense much. Once Colson Montgomery gets the call, one of Lopez or Paul DeJong will presumably move to a bench role.
Nov 16 2023Lopez was traded from Atlanta to the White Sox on Thursday along with Michael Soroka (forearm), Jared Shuster, Braden Shewmake and Riley Gowens in exchange for Aaron Bummer. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez was dealt for the second time in the last five months as Atlanta looks to clear space on its 40-man roster. After handling a full-time role in 2021 and 2022, Lopez served primarily as a bench bat in 2023 and maintained only a .632 OPS. While he's shown stolen base upside in the past, Lopez managed only six steals across 262 plate appearances last season, though he could see an uptick in playing time with his new club given his ability to play across the infield.
Aug 28 2023Lopez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After three consecutive starts at the keystone, Lopez will shift back to the bench for Monday's series opener. He'll likely find himself in a lightly-used utility role moving forward after Atlanta brought Ozzie Albies (hamstring) back from the 10-day injured list Monday.
Aug 23 2023Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will join fellow left-handed hitter Eddie Rosario on the bench for the series finale while the Mets bring southpaw Jose Quintana to the hill. Vaughn Grissom will cover second base in place of Lopez, who has produced a pair of base hits in both of his last two starts.
Aug 21 2023Lopez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez appears to have taken over as Atlanta's primary second baseman since Ozzie Albies (hamstring) landed on the injured list last week. While starting each of the past six games, Lopez went 5-for-17 with two walks, three RBI, one run and one stolen base. Each of those starts came against right-handed pitching, but the lefty-hitting Lopez will retreat to the bench Monday in favor of Vaughn Grissom while Atlanta opposes southpaw David Peterson.
Aug 15 2023Lopez is starting at second base again Tuesday versus the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Atlanta will ride the hot hand with Lopez, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's win over New York. Vaughn Grissom should also get some starts at second while Ozzie Albies (hamstring) is on the shelf.
Aug 14 2023Lopez went 3-for-4 with three RBI, a run scored and a steal in Monday's victory over the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has been on a tear since joining Atlanta, going 7-for-10 with eight RBI through his first four games. Overall, he's slashing .241/.342/.329 with one homer, 24 runs scored, 21 RBI and five steals across 200 plate appearnces between Atlanta and Kansas City. While Lopez has mainly played a utlity role with Atlanta so far, he could see an extended run at second base with Ozzie Albies (hamstring) going on the IL.
Aug 12 2023Lopez went 4-for-6 with a double, a home run, three runs scored and five RBI in a 21-3 rout of the Mets during the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Getting the start at shortstop and batting ninth, Lopez not only socked his first homer of the season in the ninth inning off Danny Mendick, he took the mound himself in the bottom of the frame and walked a batter over a scoreless inning of relief. Lopez's only other action so far for Atlanta since being acquired at the trade deadline was an appearance as a pinch runner Tuesday, so despite this impressive effort, at-bats will likely be few and far between down the stretch for the 28-year-old infielder.
Jul 30 2023Lopez was traded from Kansas City to Atlanta on Sunday in exchange for Taylor Hearn. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez recorded double-digit steals in the past two seasons, but he's had a slow start to the 2023 campaign, hitting .210 with 18 runs, 13 RBI and four steals over 67 games. The 28-year-old has defensive versatility that makes him a solid utility man, but he'll likely need to contribute more at the plate if he hopes to carve out playing time with a contending Atlanta club.
Jul 29 2023Lopez went 0-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 8-5 extra-inning win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The steal was Lopez's first since May 29. He's got decent speed, though he's had trouble getting on base lately, as he's hitting just .143 over 10 contests since the All-Star break. Lopez lacks an everyday place in the lineup, instead serving as depth in the infield and left field. He's at a poor .210/.322/.280 slash line with four steals, 13 RBI, 18 runs scored, five doubles and three triples through 67 contests, and he's yet to hit a home run this season.
Jul 23 2023Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will sit for the fifth time in six games and appears to be the odd man out of the lineup for Kansas City in the wake of Edward Olivares' recent return from the injured list. Considering that Lopez is slashing .194/.237/.250 thus far in July, the Royals likely won't go out of their way to include him in the lineup.
Jul 17 2023Lopez will start at third base and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Tigers, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will stay in the lineup for the fifth time in six games, this time filling in for a resting Maikel Garcia at third base following a pair of starts at second base and left field. The 28-year-old owns an unremarkable .233/.281/.300 slash line thus far in July, but he could continue to see steady at-bats nonetheless while the Royals are without Edward Olivares (oblique).
Jul 3 2023Lopez went 2-for-5 with a double, four RBI and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez tied his career-high with four RBI after he had a two-run double in the fourth followed by run scoring single and fielder's choice. Though he's only had 144 plate appearances this year, Lopez currently leads the Royals in on-base percentage (.355) and sports a career-best 14 percent walk rate. He's primarily only in the lineup against righties and is now up to a slash line of .222/.355/.308 with seven extra-base hits, 11 RBI, 14 runs and a 19:26 BB:K.
Jul 1 2023Lopez isn't in the Royals' lineup Saturday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With southpaw Julio Urias set to return from his hamstring injury Saturday, the lefty-hitting Lopez will remain in the Royals' dugout to begin the game. Matt Duffy will fill in at second base and bat sixth.
Jun 30 2023Lopez (hand) is starting at second base and batting ninth Friday against the Dodgers, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez suffered a bruised hand after getting hit by a pitch Wednesday and sat out Thursday's game. Now, he'll return for Friday's series opener with Los Angeles and look to keep things going with a .600 OBP across his last four games.
Jun 29 2023Lopez (hand) is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez was lifted from Wednesday's contest against Cleveland after being hit in the right hand by a pitch. X-rays came back clean, but it's no surprise he's not in there for this one. Samad Taylor will play second base and Matt Duffy will be at third.
Jun 28 2023Lopez was removed from Wednesday's game with a right hand contusion. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez had to be removed from Wednesday's contest after taking a pitch to the hand, and he's now officially listed as day-to-day. It's possible the Royals hold Lopez out of the lineup Thursday, though it likely depends on how the 28-year-old infielder is feeling. Lopez is slashing .128/.277/.179 since the beginning of June.
Jun 25 2023Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez started the past two games and will hit the bench Sunday after going 1-for-6 with a hit-by-pitch and a run scored. Samad Taylor will man the keystone Sunday for Kansas City.
Jun 21 2023Lopez is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest with the Tigers, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Lopez will take a seat against southpaw Matthew Boyd after he went 1-for-7 with a walk and two strikeouts while starting the first two games of the series with Detroit. Matt Duffy will replace him at second base and bat cleanup in the series finale Wednesday.
Jun 19 2023Lopez will start at third base and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Tigers, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will stick in the lineup for the third straight game after he reached base five times in the final two contests of the Royals' series with the Angels over the weekend. While Mike Massey (hand) is on the injured list, Lopez could get the chance to re-establish himself as a lineup regular for Kansas City, though the newly recalled Samad Taylor will likely challenge Lopez for playing time.
May 29 2023Lopez went 4-for-5 with one run scored and one steal in Monday's 7-0 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Since returning from the injured list, Lopez has operated almost exclusively as a defensive replacement behind Maikel Garcia. Monday's start marked Lopez's first since May 22, and he made the most of his opportunity by notching the second four-hit game of his career. However, the 28-year-old may have to deliver a few more performances like this before he's awarded a full-time role again.
May 28 2023Lopez remains out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll be on the bench for the fourth time in five games and looks to have moved into a utility infielder role. Maikel Garcia will pick up another start at third base Sunday and appears to have eclipsed Lopez on the depth chart after going 8-for-16 with three doubles and a pair of stolen bases over his past four games.
May 24 2023Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After returning from the 10-day injured list Monday and going 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk and a run scored, Lopez has been left on the bench for two straight contests. Both of those absences have come against left-handed pitching, however, so the lefty-hitting Lopez could still be on track to fill a strong-side platoon role now that he's healthy again.
May 22 2023Lopez was activated from the 10-day injured list by the Royals on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has been out of commission all month following an appendectomy. He'll see some starts between second and third base for the Royals but offers very little with the bat.
May 15 2023Lopez (appendicitis) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will likely need a handful of games or more to get back into game shape after missing close to two weeks with appendicitis. The infielder should be back with the Royals early next week if there are no setbacks in his rehab action.
May 12 2023Lopez (appendicitis) is expected to start a rehab assignment with the Royals next week, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez didn't travel with the team during the team's road trip. The infielder will likely need a handful or so of games in his rehab assignment with a chance to return to the infield for Kansas City near the end of May.
May 2 2023Lopez was placed on the 10-day injured list by the Royals on Tuesday due to appendicitis, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Presumably, Lopez will need a few weeks of recovery time following an appendectomy. The infielder hasn't had a set starting position this season but has essentially been a regular between third base, second base and shortstop. Maikel Garcia is taking his roster spot.
Apr 30 2023Lopez is out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has been swinging the bat better as of late with hits in three of his last four appearances, but he's one of several regulars for the Royals who are getting Sunday off. Hunter Dozier is getting the start at third base with Matt Duffy lined up at second.
Apr 28 2023Lopez is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Twins, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will take a seat after he went 3-for-10 with an RBI and two strikeouts over the last three contests. Hunter Dozier will draw the start at third base and bat eighth against Minnesota.
Apr 4 2023Lopez went 1-for-2 with a triple, two walks, two RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in Monday's 9-5 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Royals' offense was virtually non-existent for the first couple games of the season, but they were active Monday. The steal was Lopez's first of the season, and he also sparked a four-run rally in the fourth inning by plating Jackie Bradley and Hunter Dozier with his triple. Lopez's speed is about the only appealing part of his profile -- especially since he doesn't have an everyday spot in the lineup to begin 2023, though he could certainly earn one if he plays well.
Mar 15 2023Lopez went 8-for-16 across four games for Italy during group-stage play at the World Baseball Classic. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a great showing for the light-hitting infielder, who also had seven RBI and a stolen base in those games. Lopez struggled at the dish in Cactus League play prior to the international competition, going 0-for-6 with two walks and two strikeouts across three games with the Royals. Lopez's best path to playing time is likely at second base, where he could challenge second-year infielder Michael Massey for a starting role. Lopez is also versatile enough to see time at third base and shortstop, so while he might lack an everyday role, he could push for playing time by carrying over his strong hitting from the WBC into the regular season.
Jan 13 2023Lopez signed a one-year, $3.7 million contract with the Royals on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A case could have been made for Lopez to be a non-tender candidate after he had one of the worst seasons at the plate as a regular in recent memory with a .227/.281/.273 batting line in 2022. However, he's still excellent defensively and the Royals will hope he can regain his form from 2021 when he slashed .300/.365/.378. Lopez is slated to compete with Michael Massey for playing time at second base and offers depth at third behind the perpetually injured Adalberto Mondesi (knee).
Sep 20 2022Lopez isn't in the starting lineup Tuesday against Minnesota, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has now missed three consecutive starts in the Royals' infield, sitting each time in favor of rookie Nate Eaton. Eaton will start the game at third base, batting ninth.
Sep 17 2022Lopez isn't starting Saturday against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez went 0-for-6 with a strikeout over the last two matchups and will head to the bench for the third time in the last six games. Bobby Witt is starting at shortstop and batting second.
Sep 14 2022Lopez isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez went 0-for-2 during Tuesday's loss to Minnesota and will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Bobby Witt is taking over at shortstop and batting second.
Sep 11 2022Lopez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez singled in a run in Saturday's game, but that was the only hit he recorded over his last four games, so manager Mike Matheny decided to hold him out Sunday.
Sep 6 2022Lopez is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez is hitting .290 with a double, a triple and a stolen base in 31 at-bats over his last 10 games. He has started seven of the last 10 games.
Sep 4 2022Lopez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and an RBI in a 3-2 win Sunday in Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez had an RBI single in the fourth, singled and stole second in the sixth and walked in the eighth. It was just the second time he reached base safely three times in a game since July 7. He is now 13-for-16 in stolen base attempts on the season and has six steals since the beginning of August.
Sep 2 2022Lopez will sit Friday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez owns a poor .571 OPS since the start of August, though that's barely a downgrade from the .584 OPS he posted through the end of July. He continues to start regularly, but it will be Bobby Witt Jr. who slides to shortstop Friday, with Hunter Dozier entering the lineup at third base.
Aug 27 2022Lopez isn't starting Saturday against the Padres, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will get a day off after he went 4-for-14 with a triple, a double, five runs, an RBI, two walks and two strikeouts over the last five games. Bobby Witt will shift to shortstop while Kyle Isbel enters the lineup in right field.
Aug 17 2022Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maikel Garcia will crack the lineup at shortstop while Lopez rests for the day game after a night game. Lopez's day off comes after he went 4-for-10 with a run scored while starting in each of the Royals' past three contests.
Aug 13 2022Lopez will sit Saturday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez sits after starting five straight games, a stretch in which he went 3-for-18 at the plate. Bobby Witt shifts to shortstop Saturday as Hunter Dozier starts at third base.
Aug 12 2022Lopez went 1-for-4 with a two-run single, a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 5-3 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez hadn't driven in a run since July 15 entering Thursday's contest. He changed that with a two-run single in the seventh inning before stealing second and scoring on an MJ Melendez single. Since the All-Star break, Lopez is hitting .271 (16-for-59) with six stolen bases and nine runs scored, but he has only one extra-base hit in that span. The light-hitting infielder continues to find playing time as a versatile defender, but he's put up a meager .246/.301/.290 slash line with 12 steals, 15 RBI and 40 runs scored through 106 games this season.
Aug 7 2022Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Lopez gets most of his days off against left-handed pitching, but he'll cede his spot in the infield to Michael Massey while right-hander Kutter Crawford takes the hill for Boston. Lopez had started each of the Royals' last six games while going 5-for-17 with four walks, four stolen bases and four runs.
Aug 6 2022Lopez went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has seen some increased freedom to run in August -- he's already recorded four steals in six games this month after logging just two thefts in all of July. He's gone 5-for-17 (.294) in August, putting his season slash line at .247/.305/.294 with 11 steals, 13 RBI, 39 runs scored, 11 doubles and two triples through 102 contests. Lopez should continue seeing steady playing time in the middle infield and occasionally at third base as one of the more veteran infielders on the Royals' young roster.
Aug 4 2022Lopez went 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs and two stolen bases in a 7-3 victory over Boston on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez singled and stole second in second inning, walked, stole second and scored in the fifth and walked and scored in the seventh in recording his first game with multiple walks since April 28. The pair of thefts give Lopez three in four contests to open August as the 27-year-old has posted 4-for-11 line with four walks in the stretch. He's slashing .249/.308/.297 with 38 runs, 13 RBI and 10 stolen bases without a home run through 100 games.
Aug 1 2022Lopez went 2-for-3 with a stolen base in Monday's 2-1 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez was the only Royal with multiple hits in the contest, and he added a steal in the seventh inning. He's gone 4-for-20 (.200) over his last eight games, which isn't doing much to earn him more playing time. Maikel Garcia is hitting .316 in the majors this year and appears to have taken over as the starting shortstop with Bobby Witt (hand) sidelined. That's left Lopez to compete with Hunter Dozier for time at third base. For the season, Lopez has a mediocre .248/.300/.297 slash line with eight steals, 13 RBI, 35 runs scored, 11 doubles and two triples. He'll likely be in the lineup mostly against right-handed pitchers.
Jul 31 2022Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With southpaw Jordan Montgomery on the bump for the Yankees, the lefty-hitting Lopez will retreat to the bench for the second time in the series. Hunter Dozier will pick up the start at third base in Lopez's stead.
Jul 28 2022Lopez is not in the starting lineup Thursday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will get a breather after he went 0-for-9 with a walk and three strikeouts over the series against the Angels. Hunter Dozier will take over at third base while Ryan O'Hearn enters the lineup in right field and bats fifth versus New York.
Jul 24 2022Lopez is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale versus the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will get a day off after he went 4-for-8 with two runs scored and a stolen base in the first two games of the series. Emmanuel Rivera will take over at the hot corner and bat seventh against Tampa Bay.
Jul 23 2022Lopez went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 7-3 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has hit .364 (8-for-22) during a six-game hitting streak, and he's picked up a pair of stolen bases in that span. The light-hitting infielder is up to a .244/.296/.290 slash line with seven steals, 13 RBI, 32 runs scored, 11 doubles and a triple through 87 contests. Even with more consistency at the plate, Lopez's lack of power makes it likely his contributions are limited to speed and a fairly empty average.
Jul 16 2022Lopez went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 8-1 loss to the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A depleted Kansas City lineup couldn't get much going as a group, but Lopez was able to produce a little fantasy value. The steal was only his sixth of the season and his first since June 20, snapping a 20-game drought. Lopez is showing signs of regaining last year's form at the plate -- he's batting .333 (10-for-30) over his last 10 games.
Jul 8 2022Lopez will sit Friday versus the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will get a day off after he went 4-for-16 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in the series against Houston. Emmanuel Rivera will take over at third base and bat ninth in the series opener Friday.
Jul 3 2022Lopez went 4-for-4 with an RBI in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Unsurprisingly, the light-hitting infielder contributed four singles Sunday, including one that knocked in Edward Olivares for an insurance run in the ninth inning. Lopez has hit fairly well over his last 14 games, going 14-for-43 (.326) in that span. He's up to a .232/.295/.281 slash line for the season, and he's added seven RBI, 24 runs scored and five stolen bases. While he's maintained a strong-side platoon role at third base lately, Lopez is almost exclusively hitting at the bottom of the order and adds almost nothing in the power categories.
Jun 27 2022Lopez will sit against lefty Martin Perez and the Rangers on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez had close to an everyday role for much of the year, but it looks as though he's slipped into a platoon in recent weeks. His off day Monday means he's now been on the bench against the last five lefties the Royals have faced. Whit Merrifield will be the second baseman Monday, with Emmanuel Rivera starting at third.
Jun 25 2022Lopez is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the A's. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez finds himself on the bench for the fourth time in the past six games. Each absence, including Saturday versus Jared Koenig, has come against a left-handed pitcher. Hunter Dozier will shift to the hot corner while MJ Melendez rests his legs as the designated hitter.
Jun 24 2022Lopez will sit Friday against Oakland, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez finds himself on the bench for the third time in five games. All three absences, including Friday's game against Cole Irvin, have come against lefties, so it looks like he may be slipping into the strong side of a platoon. Whit Merrifield will be the second baseman Friday while Emmanuel Rivera starts at third.
Jun 21 2022Lopez will sit for the second time in three games Tuesday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez's .300 average and 22 steals last season put him on the fantasy map, but he hasn't looked like the same guy so far this year. He's hitting just .220, while his five steals put him on pace for a modest 12. Emmanuel Rivera will start at third base Tuesday against the left-handed Reid Detmers.
Jun 20 2022Lopez went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a stolen base in Monday's 6-2 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez recorded his first steal since May 27 in this contest. He's hit safely in four of his last six games, going 6-for-19 (.316) in that span, though he's started to slip into more of a utility role in the Royals' infield of late. The light-hitting 27-year-old has a .220/.288/.260 slash line with no home runs, six RBI, five stolen bases, 21 runs scored and eight doubles through 63 contests overall. He started at third base for the third time in six games, and it appears he'll take the strong side of a platoon with Emmanuel Rivera at the hot corner. Lopez also has experience at second base and shortstop, but Whit Merrifield and Bobby Witt have commanded starting roles at those positions.
Jun 19 2022Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will take a seat for the series finale after he went 4-for-13 with two runs while starting in each of the Royals' previous four games. Whit Merrifield will pick up the start at the keystone while Emmanuel Rivera starts at third base, the position where Lopez has been seeing more work of late as he transitions into more of a utility role for Kansas City.
Jun 17 2022Lopez signed a one-year, $2.55 million contract with the Royals on Friday after losing his arbitration case, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the first year of arbitration eligibility for Lopez, and he's coming off a .300/.365/.378 slash line with two home runs, 43 RBI, 78 runs and 22 steals last season. However, he's struggled so far in 2022 and has a .537 OPS and only four steals through 59 games. Lopez is starting at third base and batting ninth Friday against the A's.
Jun 12 2022Lopez is not in Sunday's lineup against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will sit for the second time this weekend, and he could continue to lose out on playing time, given that he is 2-for-25 over his last nine games. Carlos Santana slots in at first base with Hunter Dozier moving to the outfield and Whit Merrifield starting at the keystone.
Jun 10 2022Lopez is not in the starting lineup for Friday's contest against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will sit after he went 0-for-12 over the last four games. Whit Merrifield will get the start at second base while MJ Melendez takes over in right field and bats fifth.
Jun 5 2022Lopez is not in Sunday's lineup against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez is hitting .286 with one steal over his last 10 games. Whit Merrifield will start at the keystone.
May 30 2022Lopez went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Monday's 7-3 loss to the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has a pair of three-hit efforts in his last four games as he begins to steer out of a slump that's bogged him down for much of May. The 27-year-old infielder still hasn't posted an extra-base hit in his last 10 contests. Overall, he's slashing .229/.306/.261 with four stolen bases, five RBI, 17 runs scored and five doubles in 171 plate appearances. His strong defense has kept him in the lineup, but he's often hit at the bottom of the order lately.
May 28 2022Lopez went 3-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 10-7 loss to the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old infielder appears to be regaining something close to his 2021 form. Over his last 12 games, Lopez has hit .279 (12-for-43) and notched all four of his steals on the season.
May 19 2022Lopez went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has gone 5-for-11 with a double and a pair of stolen bases in the first four contests of a rare five-game series versus the Pale Hose. He's gotten off to a slow start in 2022, posting a .216/.304/.252 slash line with three RBI, 12 runs scored and three stolen bases in 36 games. His solid defense will keep him in the lineup at either second base or shortstop most days, but he'll often hit at the bottom of the order as he has for much of May.
May 18 2022Lopez went 4-for-6 with a walk, a double and a stolen base across both games of Tuesday's doubleheader split with the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Getting the start at shortstop in the matinee, Lopez reached base in all four of his plate appearances and swiped his second bag of the season before shifting over to second base for the nightcap and going 1-for-3. The 27-year-old hadn't had a multi-hit performance since May 1, and his 2021 breakout is increasingly looking like a mirage, as Lopez has stumbled to a .215/.306/.252 slash line through 35 games so far this year.
May 16 2022Lopez is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez sits for just the third time this season. He's been very disappointing at the plate thus far, hitting .190/.283/.220, and he's stolen just a single base after swiping 22 bags last year. Bobby Witt Jr. will slide over to shortstop in his absence, with Emmanuel Rivera starting at third base.
May 11 2022Lopez went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run in Wednesday's win over Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez used his legs to help generate a run in the ninth inning, reaching on a single, taking part in a double-steal with Whit Merrifield and subsequently coming around to score. The theft was his first of the campaign. Lopez went 22-for-23 in stolen-base attempts last season, but he hadn't even attempted a steal in 2022 before Wednesday.
May 8 2022Lopez is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Orioles, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez went 0-for-3 with a walk and run during the matinee, and he'll head to the bench with lefty Bruce Zimmermann pitching in Game 2 for Baltimore. Bobby Witt will shift to shortstop while Emmanuel Rivera starts at the hot corner.
Apr 24 2022Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With a tough southpaw (Robbie Ray) on the bump for Seattle, the lefty-hitting Lopez will retreat to the bench for the first time this season. After opening the campaign as the Royals' No. 9 hitter, Lopez has hit either first or second in the order in each of the past five games, going a collective 4-for-19 with two doubles and two walks.
Apr 21 2022Lopez will lead off for the first time this season Thursday against the Twins, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bobby Witt was bumped down to seventh in the order, so Lopez will take the leadoff spot against righty Joe Ryan while Whit Merrifield hits second. Lopez is hitting .367/.406/.467 with zero home runs and zero steals this season.
Apr 20 2022Lopez went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, a walk and an RBI in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez hit second in this contest after often hitting in the bottom third of the order to start the year. The move up was partially due to Carlos Santana's (undisclosed) absence from the lineup, but Lopez has also earned more at-bats. He's batting .385 with three doubles, two RBI and three runs scored through nine games, while both Whit Merrifield and Bobby Witt are sporting .139 batting averages. Lopez's solid contact skills at the plate and strong defense at second base will keep him as a fixture in the lineup, though fantasy managers would see more of a benefit if he stays closer to the top of the order.
Apr 14 2022Lopez will start at second base and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez served as the Royals' No. 8 hitter in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to St. Louis, but he's otherwise slotted in at the bottom of the order in each of Kansas City's games this season. With Adalberto Mondesi back to full health and with Bobby Witt breaking camp with the big club, the Royals don't have room for Lopez near the top of the lineup, even though he posted a .365 on-base average in 2021 and finished the campaign as the team's No. 2 hitter. For his part, Lopez hasn't let the move down the lineup affect his performance thus far, as he enters Thursday's game with a .357/.400/.429 slash line across 16 plate appearances.
Mar 16 2022Lopez is likely to open the season as the Royals' primary second baseman, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Getting Adalberto Mondesi back on a regular basis, plus the expected arrival of Bobby Witt, gives the Royals a lot of flexibility in the infield. Lopez primarily played shortstop last season with Mondesi battling a number of injuries. It was a breakout season for Lopez -- he slashed .300/.365/.378 with 22 stolen bases, six triples and two home runs in 151 games. With a shift back to the keystone for Lopez, Whit Merrifield would likely take on an everyday role in right field, though his versatility could see him spell a number of players around the diamond.
Oct 2 2021Lopez went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks, a stolen base and two runs scored in Friday's 11-6 win over Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The shortstop has hit safely in 24 of his last 26 games, posting a scorching .352/.388/.463 slash line in that span. Lopez has finished strong in an impressive and unexpectedly successful 2021. He owns a .301/.366/.380 line with 22 stolen bases, two home runs, 43 RBI, 78 runs scored and six triples through 149 contests overall as Kansas City's everyday No. 2 hitter.
Sep 25 2021Lopez went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in Saturday's 5-1 loss to Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez singled and swiped second in the sixth inning -- his 21st stolen base of the year -- then added a double in the eighth. It was the fourth multi-hit game in the last seven contests for Lopez, who has emerged as a viable fantasy asset in 2021, hitting .303 with a .367 on-base percentage to go with his perfect 21-for-21 performance on the basepaths.
Sep 21 2021Lopez went 4-for-8 with a double and three runs scored in Monday's doubleheader against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Getting the start at shortstop and hitting second in both games, Lopez did an exceptional job setting the table and helping the Royals to a sweep. The 26-year-old has hit safely in five straight games and 16 of the last 17, slashing .397/.429/.493 over that latter stretch with one homer, two steals, seven RBI and 17 runs.
Sep 15 2021Lopez went 3-for-5 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 10-7 win over Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The infielder is on quite a hot run at the plate, going 20-for-45 (.444) during his current 10-game hitting streak. Lopez has put up eight multi-hit efforts in that span, lifting his season slash line to .303/.368/.380 in 488 plate appearances. He's added 20 stolen bases, two home runs, 39 RBI and 65 runs scored while recently solidifying his role in the No. 2 spot in the order.
Sep 9 2021Lopez went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 6-0 win over Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old went deep in the first inning, and that was the only run until he added an RBI single in the eighth. Lopez is far from a power hitter, as Thursday's homer was just his second of the year. He's still been hot at the plate lately, with multiple hits in five of six games during his current hitting streak. The shortstop owns a .297/.365/.375 slash line with 38 RBI, 62 runs scored and 19 stolen bases across 469 plate appearances.
Sep 5 2021Lopez went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and two runs scored in Sunday's 6-0 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The shortstop went 4-for-12 with four runs scored in the three-game series versus the White Sox this weekend. Lopez is up to 19 stolen bases without getting caught this year. He's added a solid .291/.362/.362 slash line in 449 plate appearances, serving mainly as a contact hitter while earning a starting gig at shortstop even with Adalberto Mondesi back from the injured list and playing at third base.
Aug 29 2021Lopez went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The shortstop finished the four-game series in Seattle at 10-for-17 with two RBI and four runs scored. All 10 of Lopez's hits in the series were singles, as he continues to make light but efficient contact from the No. 2 hole in the order. He raised his slash line to .292/.361/.362 with Sunday's third consecutive three-hit effort.
Aug 28 2021Lopez went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Saturday's 4-2 win over Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The shortstop has rattled off three-hit efforts in each of the last two games, and four times in his last 11 contests. Lopez lifted his batting average to .287 with a home run, 34 RBI, 54 runs scored and 18 stolen bases through 419 plate appearances. Saturday was his sixth three-hit game of the year.
Aug 23 2021Lopez went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, one RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The shortstop has taken quite nicely to batting second in the order against right-handed pitching. Lopez has slashed .361/.425/.472 with a home run, four RBI and seven runs scored in his last 10 games. He's emerged as an effective contact hitter this year with a .282 average, and he's added speed when he gets aboard by going a perfect 18-for-18 on stolen base attempts.
Aug 21 2021Lopez went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two stolen bases in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The top of the order did its job and then some for Kansas City, as Lopez and Whit Merrifield combined for six hits and three steals. Lopez is now up to 17 steals on the season, including seven in the last six games.
Aug 19 2021Lopez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 6-3 extra-inning loss to Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The light-hitting shortstop took Luis Garcia deep in the third inning for what would be Kansas City's last runs of the game. That was the first long ball of the season for Lopez, and just the fourth of his career in 268 games -- he's not expected to suddenly evolve into a power threat. The 26-year-old has added some speed (15 stolen bases, five triples) while slashing .277/.347/.354 with 30 RBI and 49 runs scored through 375 plate appearances.
Aug 18 2021Lopez went 3-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases and a run scored in Wednesday's 3-2 win over Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In his last 10 games, Lopez has stolen seven bases without getting caught. He's hitting 10-for-37 (.270) in that span, but that hasn't reduced his effectiveness on the basepaths. The shortstop owns a .277/.347/.345 slash line with no home runs, 28 RBI, 48 runs scored and 15 steals in 371 plate appearances. Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) has suffered another shutdown in an injury-plagued campaign, which should keep Lopez locked in as Kansas City's starting shortstop for the foreseeable future.
Aug 16 2021Lopez went 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and three steals in Monday's 7-6 win over Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez drew a walk in the seventh inning and came around to score after stealing second and third. He then knocked a single, collected his third steal of the night and scored another run in the ninth. After a 24-game stolen base drought, the 26-year-old infielder has swiped five bags in his last eight games. Lopez is now slashing .270/.343/.340 with 13 steals and 47 runs scored this season.
Aug 10 2021Lopez went 2-for-5 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 8-6 extra-innings loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The shortstop extended his hitting streak to five games, and he also stole a base for the second straight game. Lopez is now a perfect 10-for-10 in steals this year while adding 26 RBI, 44 runs scored and five triples through 100 games. The light-hitting 26-year-old has yet to swat a home run, but he's shown excellent plate discipline with a 9.7 percent walk rate compared to a 13.6 percent strikeout rate.
Aug 8 2021Lopez went 1-for-4 with an RBI single and a stolen base in Sunday's 6-5 win over St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The shortstop didn't get cold during a lengthy rain delay, as he delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning. Lopez stole second with two outs, but he was left on base. While he's usually hit at or near the bottom of the order, Lopez was bumped up to the No. 2 spot for his two starts in St. Louis. He's gone 5-for-16 during a modest four-game hitting streak. The 26-year-old is batting .277 with nine stolen bases, 25 RBI and 43 runs scored through 333 plate appearances.
Aug 7 2021Lopez is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez hits the bench after starting 10 straight games, a stretch in which he hit .265/.265/.412. Hanser Alberto will start at shortstop in his absence.
Jul 26 2021Lopez will sit Monday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will sit against veteran southpaw Dallas Keuchel, marking the second straight day he's been on the bench against a lefty. Hanser Alberto will get another start at shortstop in his absence.
Jul 25 2021Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hanser Alberto will pick up the start at shortstop for the lefty-hitting Lopez, who takes a seat with southpaw Tarik Skubal on the hill for Detroit. Lopez had started in each of Kansas City's first 17 games of July, slashing .339/.413/.429 with zero home runs, one stolen base, nine runs and 10 RBI.
Jul 16 2021Lopez went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and four RBI in a 9-2 victory versus Baltimore on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez twice came up with two runners on base, and he delivered in each instance. The infielder knocked a two-run single in the second inning and a two-run double in the seventh. The four RBIs were a season-high mark for Lopez, who entered the contest with only 15 runs batted in across 81 games.
Jul 4 2021Lopez has hit .342 with two stolen bases and five runs scored in his last 12 games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has found some success as a contact hitter recently. He's filled in as the near-everyday shortstop since Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) went on the injured list for the third time this season. Overall, Lopez is slashing .266/.353/.329 with no home runs, eight stolen bases, 12 RBI and 33 runs scored through 243 plate appearances.
Jun 30 2021Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hanser Alberto will step in at shortstop for Lopez, who has taken the reins of the position since Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) was moved to the injured list last week for the third time this season. While starting in each of the Royals' last 11 games, Lopez has gone 14-for-36 (.389 average) with six runs and a stolen base.
Jun 22 2021Lopez will start at shortstop and bat ninth Tuesday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) heading back to the injured list Monday for the third time this season, Lopez once again appears poised to recapture an everyday role in the middle infield. Aside from going an impressive 7-for-7 on stolen-base attempts while batting .260 and getting on base at a strong .350 clip, Lopez provides little excitement from a fantasy standpoint. He possesses minimal power (three home runs in 799 career MLB plate appearances), and his placement in the bottom third of the Kansas City lineup will limit his run-scoring and run-producing opportunities.
Jun 20 2021Lopez went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 7-3 win over Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The infielder has found a groove, going 10-for-17 (.588) across his last five games. Lopez is now slashing .260/.350/.329 with seven stolen bases, 12 RBI and 29 runs scored through 205 plate appearances this year. Adalberto Mondesi left Sunday's game with a side injury -- if he's forced to miss time, Lopez would likely pick up playing time at shortstop.
Jun 16 2021Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After starting at shortstop in 10 of the Royals' first 14 games of June while slashing a respectable .267/.389/.300, Lopez's time as an everyday player looks to be over. Adalberto Mondesi (hamstring) was limited to a bench role Tuesday after being reinstated from the injured list, but he'll handle shortstop duties Wednesday and should be able to play the position on a regular basis moving forward. Lopez will likely operate as the top backup for both Mondesi and Whit Merrifield in the middle infield.
Jun 14 2021Lopez isn't starting Monday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez had started each of the last two games and went 1-for-4 with an RIB, two walks and a stolen base during that time. Hanser Alberto will start at shortstop and bat eighth.
Jun 12 2021Lopez went 0-for-1 with a walk and a stolen base in Saturday's 11-2 loss to Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Adalberto Mondesi (hamstring) out again, Lopez has regained a regular presence in the starting nine. The 26-year-old has a .224/.320/.301 slash line with six stolen bases, 10 RBI and 25 runs scored through 186 plate appearances this year. He's added three triples and six doubles. Lopez is likely to see the strong side of a platoon at shortstop, with Hanser Alberto handling the weak side.
Jun 11 2021Lopez is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has filled in at shortstop since Adalberto Mondesi suffered a hamstring injury on May 31, but he'll get a breather Friday. Hanser Alberto will start at shortstop and bat ninth Friday.
Jun 6 2021Lopez will start at shortstop and bat ninth Sunday against the Twins, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Adalberto Mondesi (hamstring) moving back to the injured list Sunday, Lopez should have a fairly clear path to an everyday role in the middle infield in the short term. Lopez had already started in three of the past four games for Mondesi, who was placed on the IL once it became apparent his injury was more than a day-to-day concern. Lopez has chipped in five stolen bases this season, but a .229 average, little power and a low placement in the batting order will render him mostly a one-category play in fantasy.
May 28 2021Lopez will sit for the second straight game Friday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez's .609 OPS this season actually represents the best mark of his three-year career, so it's no surprise to see him lose playing time. Adalberto Mondesi's return from an oblique injury Tuesday dealt the first blow to Lopez's starting chances, while Hunter Dozier's return from a concussion Friday could send him to the bench on a regular basis. Dozier starts in right field Friday, keeping Whit Merrifield at second base and Lopez on the bench.
May 27 2021Lopez isn't starting Thursday's game against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three games after he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Wednesday. Whit Merrifield will start at second base while Jorge Soler takes over in right field. Lopez is still the likely favorite for playing time at second base, but he could see a slight downtick in playing time now that Adalberto Mondesi has returned to action at shortstop.
May 16 2021Lopez went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Saturday's 5-1 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The infielder has picked up two stolen bases in his last three games. He's up to four steals in 128 plate appearances overall. Lopez sports a .234/.331/.308 slash line while often hitting at the bottom of Kansas City's order. He has yet to hit a home run, but he's picked up three triples, two doubles, seven RBI and 19 runs in 38 games as the near-everyday shortstop.
May 14 2021Lopez went 1-for-6 with a stolen base and a run scored across both halves of Friday's doubleheader versus the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez contributed to Kansas City's 6-2 win in Game 1. He got aboard with a single in the seventh inning, stole second and came around to score on a Carlos Santana single. Lopez has shown some modest speed with three stolen bases in 37 games this year. He's slashed .233/.333/.311 with no home runs, seven RBI and 19 runs scored across 124 plate appearances while filling in for Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) at shortstop.
May 11 2021Lopez went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored in Tuesday's 8-7 loss to Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez walked and scored a Jorge Soler three-run home run in the eighth inning. In the ninth, Lopez hit a single and scored on Soler's three-RBI double. The 26-year-old Lopez hadn't produced multiple hits in a game since April 20. He's slashing .220/.327/.308 with no home runs, two stolen bases, seven RBI and 17 runs scored in 111 plate appearances. With only four hits in his last 35 at-bats, Lopez has gone fairly cold at the plate.
May 8 2021Lopez isn't starting Saturday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez has gone hitless with a walk and six strikeouts in 14 at-bats across his last four games. Hanser Alberto will start at shortstop and bat seventh.
Apr 24 2021Lopez isn't starting Saturday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez had started each of the last five contests and went 4-for-17 with two doubles, four RBI and three runs during that time. Hanser Alberto will start at shortstop while Hunter Dozier starts at the hot corner Saturday.
Apr 21 2021Lopez went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 14-7 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez lined a two-RBI single in the third inning and came around to score on a Carlos Santana double. In the sixth, Lopez got aboard with a double and scored on a Whit Merrifield single. Through 52 plate appearances, Lopez is slashing .304/.353/.391 with two stolen bases, five RBI and eight runs scored. He has yet to hit a homer, but he has a triple and two doubles among his 14 hits. The 26-year-old has filled in admirably as the primary shortstop while Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) remains out.
Apr 18 2021Lopez went 1-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In the second inning, Lopez and Whit Merrifled executed a double steal, but neither of them was able to score. The 26-year-old Lopez is slashing .282/.341/.359 with two steals, three RBI, six runs scored and no homers through 45 plate appearances. The infielder doesn't supply much power or speed, and he often hits at the bottom of the Royals' order.
Apr 17 2021Lopez isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez went 1-for-2 with a run while starting at shortstop in Saturday's matinee. Hanser Alberto will take over at short during the second game of the twin bill, batting seventh.
Apr 11 2021Lopez went 0-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez drew a walk and stole second in the eighth inning. He came around to score on an Andrew Benintendi single to put the Royals ahead 2-1. Lopez has yet to show any power -- all seven of his hits this year are singles -- but he's produced a stolen base, two RBI and three runs scored through seven games. He'll continue to log playing time at shortstop until Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) returns.
Apr 5 2021Lopez went 2-for-3 with a run scored in Monday's 3-0 win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez showed some speed to get aboard with an infield single in the second inning. He came around to score on Whit Merrifield's two-run homer. The 26-year-old Lopez has served as Kansas City's primary shortstop with Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) out to begin the season. Lopez is hitting .429 with two runs scored and an RBI in four games, although he'll likely return to a bench role when Mondesi is able to play again.
Mar 31 2021Manager Mike Matheny said Lopez would start at shortstop in the Royals' season opener Thursday against the Rangers, Josh Vernier of 610 Sports reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Texas is bringing a right-hander (Kyle Gibson) to the mound Opening Day, so the lefty-hitting Lopez looks on track to at least occupy the strong side of a platoon at shortstop while Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) is sidelined to begin the season. Per Vernier, Matheny said that he expects Mondesi to miss "a couple of weeks" with the injury, so Lopez could be in store for a near-everyday role until around at least mid-April. With a .228 lifetime average and three home runs and one stolen base across 159 career games, Lopez shouldn't be counted on to deliver much fantasy value even if he receives steady at-bats.
Mar 28 2021Lopez was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez appeared to be the favorite to start at second base to begin camp, but he struggled during spring training and will begin the season at Triple-A Omaha as a result. The 26-year-old hit just .118 with one double, four RBI and 13 strikeouts in 16 Cactus League games. Whit Merrifield could now shift to second base to begin the year with Jarrod Dyson potentially starting in center field.
Mar 27 2021Lopez could lose playing time at second base due to a poor spring as Whit Merrifield has seen the most time at second base recently, MLB.com reports. Lopez is hitting just .118 (4-for-34) this spring. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez hit just .201 with a .552 OPS last season, so he'll need as strong start to the season to remain a starter. It's possible he could move to a platoon or reserve role if the Royals decide to give a prospect like Kyle Isbel playing time in right field or call up top prospect Bobby Witt early in the season.
Mar 19 2021Lopez (undisclosed) is starting at second base and batting ninth in Friday's spring game against the Angels, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old was removed from Wednesday's lineup for an unspecified reason, but he's back in the starting nine Friday. Lopez is expected to open the season starting at the keystone for the Royals.
Mar 17 2021Lopez was removed from the lineup for Wednesday's spring game against the Athletics for an unspecified reason. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's not yet clear whether Lopez's removal from Wednesday's lineup is due to an injury, but Gabriel Cancel will now play second base and bat ninth. The 26-year-old has gone just 2-for-21 with two RBI, one run, one stolen base, four walks and nine strikeouts to begin spring training, but he should have a starting role for the Royals this year if he's fully healthy for Opening Day.
Sep 7 2020Lopez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Indians, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: On the bench for the second time in three days, Lopez's grip on an everyday role looks to be loosening. Whit Merrifield will cover the keystone in place of Lopez, who is slashing a mediocre .214/.290/.286 on the season.
Sep 5 2020Lopez isn't starting Saturday against the White Sox, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez recorded hits in each of the past two games, and he'll get a breather Saturday. Whit Merrifield will shift to second base with Bubba Starling starting in center field.
Aug 30 2020Lopez will start at second base and will bat eighth Sunday against the White Sox, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez batted second in the Kansas City order over a stretch of seven games earlier this month, but after failing to heat up at the plate, he's since returned to the bottom third of the lineup. He'll stick in the No. 8 spot for the sixth game in a row after going 2-for-16 over the previous five contests, dropping his season slash line to .205/.286/.284 in the process.
Aug 8 2020Lopez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 9-6 win over the Twins. He was also caught stealing. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez did not let his caught stealing in the second inning get him down; the second baseman bounced back in the fourth with his first long ball of the year. It was just his second extra-base hit of the season and Lopez still has a ways to go before he can be considered a viable mixed-league candidate.
Aug 5 2020Lopez (lower leg) is starting at second base and hitting ninth Wednesday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez is back in action after missing a couple of games with a bruised shin. He's 3-for-18 (.167) with a double through nine games this season.
Aug 3 2020Lopez (shin) remains on the bench Monday against the Cubs, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez left Saturday's game against the White sox after bruising his shin while turning a double play, though he appeared off the bench in Sunday's contest. Whit Merrifield remains the starter at second base Monday.
Aug 2 2020Lopez (shin) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez exited early in Saturday's loss to the White Sox with a shin contusion, and while the injury is believed to be minor, manager Mike Matheny evidently thought that the youngster could benefit from a day of rest. Whit Merrifield will cover second base in place of Lopez in the series finale.
Aug 1 2020Lopez was removed from Saturday's game against the White Sox with a shin contusion, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 25-year-old sustained the injury when he was slid into while turning a double play, but it doesn't appear to be a serious injury. Lopez went 0-for-2 before leaving the contest and should be considered day-to-day.
Jul 30 2020Lopez is not starting Thursday against the Tigers, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Whit Merrifield is starting at the keystone in place of Lopez, with Brett Phillips covering center field. Through six appearances this season, Lopez has collected just one hit in 11 at-bats.
Jul 27 2020Lopez isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez will play a bench role once again Monday after going 1-for-6 with two walks and a strikeout over appearances in the first three games. Whit Merrifield will shift to second base with Brett Phillips starting in center field.
Jul 26 2020Lopez is not in Sunday's lineup against the Indians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is 1-for-5 with two walks, a strikeout and one caught stealing in two games. Whit Merrifield will start at the keystone while Brett Phillips gets the start in center field.
Mar 18 2020Lopez is expected to begin the 2020 season as the Royals' everyday second baseman, Griffin Fabits of The Kansas City Star reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 25-year-old finished the 2019 campaign splitting time between shortstop and the keystone, but Alalberto Mondesi's return to full health will keep him at second base. Lopez had 402 plate appearances in his rookie campaign but suffered from inconsistency with a .240/.276/.325 slash line with two home runs and one stolen base. Lopez provided quality defense but will need to improve upon the 62.2-percent groundball rate and 4.5-percent walk rate he posted last season.
Sep 29 2019Lopez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez started the previous five games and went 8-for-16 with five doubles, three runs scored and four RBI, but he'll take a seat in the season finale. Humberto Arteaga will start at shortstop and bat eighth Sunday in his place.
Sep 25 2019Lopez went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI in Tuesday's 9-6 win over the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez picked up right where he left off following Monday's off day; after going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles Sunday against the Twins, the rookie added three more hits -- including two run-scoring doubles -- in Tuesday's series opener. He's now slashing 294/.310/.412 with one home run and seven doubles over his past 25 games.
Sep 4 2019Lopez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lopez sits for the second straight contest. Whit Merrifield moves in to start at second base, with Ryan McBroom starting in right field.
Aug 26 2019Lopez went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in Sunday's 9-8 win over the Indians in 10 innings.
Aug 24 2019Lopez is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Indians.
Aug 19 2019Lopez went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Sunday's 11-5 loss to the Mets.
Aug 11 2019Lopez is not in Sunday's lineup against the Tigers.
Aug 10 2019Lopez is not in Saturday's lineup against the Tigers.
Jul 29 2019Lopez is not starting Monday against the Blue Jays.
Jul 26 2019Lopez is not in the lineup Friday against the Indians, Joel Goldberg of Fox Sports Kansas City<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 21 2019Lopez is not in Sunday's lineup<\/a> against the Indians.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 4 2019Lopez will start at second base and bat seventh<\/a> Thursday against the Indians.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 1 2019Lopez went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored Sunday in the Royals' 7-6 win over the Blue Jays.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 22 2019Lopez will start at second base and bat second<\/a> Saturday against the Twins.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 13 2019Lopez went 2-for-4 with a home run and another run scored in Thursday's 7-3 win over the Tigers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 12 2019Lopez is not in the lineup<\/a> Wednesday against the Tigers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 6 2019Lopez will start at second base and bat seventh Thursday against the Red Sox, Joel Goldberg of FOX Sports Kansas City<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 2 2019Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers, Joel Goldberg of FOX Sports Kansas City<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 30 2019Lopez went 2-for-5 with a triple, a run scored and three RBI in Wednesday's 8-7 loss to the White Sox.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 26 2019Lopez will bat leadoff and start at second base<\/a> Sunday against the Yankees.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 14 2019Lopez will start at second base and bat second Tuesday against the Rangers, Alec Lewis of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 13 2019Lopez will have his contract selected<\/a> from Triple-A Omaha prior to Tuesday's game against the Rangers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 29 2018Lopez was promoted to Triple-A Omaha on Friday, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic Kansas City reports.Lopez hit a strong .331/.397/.416 in 73 games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas this season. Don't expect him to be promoted again this year, though, as the Royals have talked about giving him a full year at the Triple-A level as he won't have to be protected on the 40-man roster this offseason. The 23-year-old projects as a fringe regular long-term, with a solid glove and a decent amount of contact but very little power.