Royals Fantasy Report
The Royals host Minnesota for three games and Tampa Bay for the final four games of the season. There are only a couple Royals worth starting this week.
Joakim Soria converted his 40th and 41st save last week. He is one of the top closers in Major League Baseball. Soria has not given up a run since July 28, which is up to 21.2 scoreless innings. Soria has converted 41 of 43 save opportunities. On the season, he has a 1.58 ERA with 69 strikeouts through 62.2 innings. Keep him active in all formats for the final week.
Billy Butler continues to have his most productive month of the season. Last week he batted .360 with one home run and four RBI’s. His season batting average is up to .320. This season against the Twins and Rays he is batting .275 with no home runs and four RBI’s through 17 games. I expect Butler to continue hitting well for the final week and make sure you have him active.
Zack Greinke imploded last week against favorable matchups. Going into last week he had a 3.36 ERA against the Indians and Tigers. He went 0-2 with an 11.74 ERA and 2.83 WHIP through 9.2 innings. With that performance his season ERA raised to 4.23. Most likely if you started him as I recommended, your pitching stats took a big hit. Greinke actually has a solid strikeout to walk ratio of 172 to 53 this season. He is scheduled to pitch Thursday against the Rays. In his one start against Tampa Bay this season he took the loss while allowing one run over eight innings. Hopefully you are not relying on Greinke this week. I would sit him unless you have no other options.
Hopefully Soria and Butler can give you the help your team needs for a final week push. Greinke is too much of a risk and I do not have the confidence in him performing enough to give help. Tampa Bay is on a mission for home field advance so they will pull all punches for a win.
No other Royals are worth giving your fantasy team the help for the final week.