Daniel Lynch IV
Breakdown
Performance
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August 13, 2026
Struggles again Wednesday
Lynch (4-4) allowed three runs on three hits and struck out three without walking a batter over 2.1 innings, taking the loss Wednesday versus the Dodgers.
Analysis
Lynch's second turn through the rotation was only marginally better than the first, though he was tagged for home runs by Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani. Lynch was able to work his way up to 39 pitches (28 strikes), but he's still got some stretching out to do if the Royals continue to keep him in a starting role. Overall this year, he's at a 2.88 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 40:14 K:BB through 50 innings across 48 appearances (two starts). Lynch won't be much of a factor in fantasy until he gets to the five-inning mark consistently. His next outing is projected to be at home versus the Athletics.
August 8, 2026
Handed loss in first 2026 start
Lynch (4-3) took the loss Friday against the Cubs, giving up four runs on three hits with two strikeouts and two walks over 1.2 innings.
Analysis
The left-hander was making his first start of the season after pitching well out of the bullpen across the first four months of 2026. A brief outing was expected given the role change, but Lynch's early exit Friday was also the result of ineffectiveness, as Chicago forced him from the contest during a four-run second inning. The performance ended an 11-appearance scoreless streak and the four runs allowed are the most he's allowed in an outing all season. Lynch still has a 2.64 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 37:14 K:BB across 47.2 innings this year, but it'll take some time for him to build up to a full starter's workload after he threw 35 pitches Friday.
August 7, 2026
Will get look in rotation
Lynch will start Friday's game against the Cubs, and the Royals intend to give the left-hander a longer look in the rotation, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis
With a 1.96 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 46 relief appearances, Lynch has arguably been the Royals' top bullpen option this season. However, Kansas City's rotation depth has been thinned with Cole Ragans, Stephen Kolek and Luinder Avila all recently undergoing season-ending elbow surgeries, so Lynch will get the chance to build back up as a starter, a role he hasn't handled full-time since 2023. Considering that he hasn't covered more than two innings in any of his 2026 appearances, he'll be operating on a limited pitch count Friday and will need time to get fully stretched out. Lynch didn't find much success while working as a starter to begin his MLB career, logging a 5.18 ERA and 1.52 ERA over 51 starts and 252 innings from 2021-23.