KC Royals: Lorenzo Cain Returns To Royals Lineup, Eibner To AAA

The KC Royals got a much needed boost when center-fielder Lorenzo Cain returned from the disabled list on Friday afternoon. The Kansas City Royals optioned rookie outfielder Brett Eibner to AAA Omaha to make room for Cain.

General manager Dayton Moore must have been listening when I asked on Friday morning what good was it for Cain to help AAA Omaha win while the 2016 season was slipping away in Kansas City. The Kansas City Royals brought Cain back from Omaha hours before their game against the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

Lorenzo Cain went 3 for 8 in two games with the Stormchasers, but started in right field rather than the more strenuous center-field. I expect the KC Royals will similarly protect his recovering hamstring in Kansas City by playing Cain in right and Paulo Orlando or Jarrod Dyson in center.

[EDIT: Cain will play right and bat no.3 with Dyson in center on Friday night] 

Any way you slice it, this is good news for a reeling Kansas City Royals team that has suffered through a 7-16 July. Cain was hitting ,290/.336/.416 with eight home runs and 39 RBIs as the KC Royals no. 3 hitter when he went to the disabled list on June 29. The Kansas City Royals were 41-36 that day and have slid to 49-52 since Cain’s departure.

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I doubt losing Cain was the ONLY reason for the July swoon, but it’s sure good to see him back. The Kansas City Royals have three games remaining before August 1, and could pull even at .500 with a win streak. That could be the difference between a sell or stand pat decision by KC Royals general manager Dayton Moore.

Who knows, maybe Lorenzo Cain’s return will cause manager Ned Yost to move shortstop Alcides Escobar out of the lead-off spot….

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Oh well, at least Cain is back. With the Kansas City Royals offense scoring 3.5 runs per game in July, they need all the help they can get.