Blanco stole a base and scored a run as a pinch runner in Thursday's 7-4 win over the Nationals.
Blanco's contributions continue to be limited to off-the-bench work. He's logged just one at-bat in September, but he's stolen six bases on seven attempts over 10 games this month. The speedster is up to 31 thefts this season. With four other outfielders capable of hitting right-handed (three righties and a switch hitter), Blanco is unlikely to see even short-side platoon work for the rest of the regular season or the postseason.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Reaches 30-steal mark
Rotowire
Blanco went 0-for-1 and stole a base in Tuesday's 1-0 extra-inning win over the Nationals.
Blanco entered the game as a pinch runner and picked up his fifth steal over eight contests this month. While his usage has been limited all season, the Royals' additions via waivers at the end of August to bolster their outfield cut off Blanco's remaining paths to playing time. Nonetheless, he's one of 23 players in the majors to reach 30 steals this year, doing so on 37 attempts despite seeing just 129 plate appearances across 85 contests.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Two thefts Tuesday
Rotowire
Blanco recorded two stolen bases and a run scored as a pinch runner in Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Yankees.
Blanco filled his role to perfection Tuesday. He entered the game as a pinch runner for Hunter Renfroe in the eighth inning, stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Maikel Garcia. Blanco hasn't logged an at-bat over four games in September, but he's picked up three steals and three runs scored off the bench. The speedy outfielder is up to 28 steals on 34 attempts to go with four home runs, 13 RBI, 35 runs scored and a .265/.315/.402 slash line over 128 plate appearances.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Nabs steal No. 25
Rotowire
Blanco went 0-for-1 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Astros.
The 31-year-old speedster got the start in left field and batted seventh, and he quickly took advantage of his only trip on the basepaths in the sixth inning. Blanco's career-high 25 steals have come in only 128 plate appearances, making him a true one-category fantasy asset as he has just four homers, 13 RBI and 32 runs on the year.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Records 24th steal
Rotowire
Blanco went 1-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in a 9-4 win over the Guardians in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader.
Blanco should be in the lineup regularly versus left-handed pitchers while Hunter Renfroe (hamstring) is on the injured list. Blanco has logged three steals over his last six games and now has 24 thefts across 75 contests, matching his career high from last year. The speedy outfielder has added a .267/.312/.405 slash line with four home runs, 13 RBI, 32 runs scored and four doubles in just 126 plate appearances.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Notches steal in win
Rotowire
Blanco logged a stolen base as a pinch runner in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Angels.
Blanco took advantage of his playing time during a road series in Cincinnati last weekend, going 5-for-8 with three homers and eight RBI across three contests. While it was an impressive showing, he remains in a short-side platoon role, primarily sharing left field with MJ Melendez. Blanco is up to 23 steals on 28 attempts this season while adding four homers, 13 RBI, 31 runs scored and a .257/.293/.394 slash line through 117 plate appearances. While he has excellent speed, his lack of a path to at-bats versus right-handed pitching continues to limit his fantasy value.
Blanco went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a stolen base and an additional run scored Sunday against the Reds.
Blanco followed up Saturday's monster effort with another top performance Sunday. Blanco began by bunting his way on to lead off the third, then stealing second and scoring the game's initial run on a Vinnie Pasquantino single. He then homered in his next at-bat for his third blast in two games. In total, Blanco went 5-for-8 with three dingers, eight RBI, four runs and a stolen base over the two games. During his previous 228 career at-bats spanning parts of three seasons, Blanco had totaled four homers and 24 RBI to go along with 47 runs and 46 steals.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Turns on power in huge performance
Rotowire
Blanco went 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs and seven RBI in Saturday's 13-1 rout of the Reds.
Blanco was probably the last KC starter anyone would have expected to notch a multi-homer game, as he entered Saturday with just one long ball over 105 plate appearances on the season. However, the 31-year-old hit two long balls in the span of two innings, smacking a two-run homer in the second frame and adding a grand slam in the third. For good measure, Blanco notched an RBI single in the fourth inning for his seventh RBI of the game -- two more than he had accumulated over those 105 plate appearances coming into the contest.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Joins 20-steal club
Rotowire
Blanco stole a base as a pinch runner in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to the Red Sox.
Blanco's theft was his 20th steal of the year, coming on his 25th attempt. Of the 26 players to reach that threshold so far this year, Blanco by far has the fewest plate appearances (104) -- the next closest player is Pete Crow-Armstrong (233). With MJ Melendez getting platooned in left field, Blanco has picked up some at-bats versus left-handed pitchers, but he's been sharing the short side of the platoon with Garrett Hampson in recent weeks. Blanco's value to Kansas City lies in his speed and defense off the bench, which gives him little path to fantasy usefulness.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Logs steal in loss
Rotowire
Blanco stole a base and scored a run as a pinch runner in Saturday's 6-5 extra-innings loss to the Tigers.
This was his first steal in his last seven games, a span in which he's gone 2-for-9 and was also caught stealing once. Blanco's role hasn't changed after the trade deadline, as he remains a depth outfielder and speed option off the bench. For the year, he's 19-for-24 in steals while adding a home run, five RBI, 25 runs scored and a .237/.280/.301 slash line over 101 plate appearances.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Picks up 18th steal
Rotowire
Blanco went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's 4-1 win over the White Sox.
Blanco collected an RBI single as part of a three-run eighth inning and later stole a base. Blanco is a bit of a one-trick pony, but it's a trick he does very well, as his 18 stolen bases are now tied with Jose Ramirez and Julio Rodriguez for the seventh most in the American League this season. Blanco has just one home run and five RBI in 84 at-bats this season.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Swipes bag in win
Rotowire
Blanco went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Guardians.
Blanco started for the first time since June 23, playing in place of MJ Melendez in left field against lefty Logan Allen. While he's not getting many at-bats, Blanco's speed remains top notch -- he logged six steals while going 4-for-23 over 14 contests in June. The outfielder has a .237/.289/.316 slash line with 17 thefts, one home run, four RBI, 20 runs scored and three doubles across 84 plate appearances in a reserve role this year.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Notches 15th steal
Rotowire
Blanco stole a base as a pinch runner in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Marlins.
The steal was Blanco's 15th of the year and his fourth over 11 contests in June. The outfielder remains confined to a bench role, and he's gone just 3-for-19 with one walk and six strikeouts this month. For the year, he's slashing .236/.291/.319 with one home run, four RBI and 18 runs scored over 80 plate appearances while seeing action in 46 contests.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Adds steal Monday
Rotowire
Blanco went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Yankees.
Blanco got the start in left field but moved over to right when Hunter Renfroe left the game with a broken toe. With Renfroe likely for the injured list, Blanco could get first dibs on a starting role moving forward, though it's also possible the Royals call up Drew Waters from Triple-A Omaha since there is a chance for steady playing time. Blanco has done well in limited action this season with a .259/.323/.362 slash line and 14 steals over 66 plate appearances as a fourth outfielder. However, he's gone just 3-for-17 over his last 11 contests and would likely struggle to hit consistently in an everyday role.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Collects 13th steal
Rotowire
Blanco stole a base and scored one run in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Mariners.
Blanco got his first game action since June 2 and did what he does best: make an impact with speed. The steal was his second in his last three games, but he's not seeing much playing time even with the Royals getting anemic batting lines from their regular outfielders. For the season, Blanco has 13 thefts to go with one home run, four RBI, 17 runs scored and a .255/.323/.364 slash line over 63 plate appearances.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Picks up steal in loss
Rotowire
Blanco went 0-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and one run scored in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Padres.
Blanco briefly looked to be claiming a larger role in mid-May, but he's since returned to his usual status as a fourth outfielder. His steal Saturday was his first since May 13, giving him 12 thefts on the year. He's added a decent .255/.323/.364 slash line with one home run, four RBI, 15 runs scored and three doubles over 63 plate appearances. Blanco's last two starts have come against right-handed pitchers, but it's seemed like more of a way to give Kyle Isbel regular rest than a sign of Blanco earning a larger role.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Not in Wednesday's lineup
Rotowire
Blanco is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game in Seattle.
Blanco went through a stretch with four starts in five games, reaching base seven times while hitting one home run and stealing three bases. However, he's now been out of the lineup for two straight contests. The outfielder certainly has the ability to help fantasy managers with his speed if he gets regular reps, so his playing time is worth tracking.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Records 11th steal
Rotowire
Blanco went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Mariners.
Blanco was 1-for-2 on stolen base attempts in the game. The outfielder began the year in a bench role, but he's hit his way into starting four of the last five games with time at all three outfield positions. He's gone 7-for-17 (.412) since May 6. Blanco doesn't have much of a track record in a starting role, but he's slashed .293/.356/.439 with a home run, two RBI, 14 runs scored and 11 steals through 45 plate appearances this season as a speed-and-defense option. Blanco's increased playing time has primarily come at the expense of MJ Melendez and Kyle Isbel.
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Royals' Dairon Blanco: Big day against Halos
Rotowire
Blanco went 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, a two-run home run, four runs scored and two steals in Thursday's win over the Angels.
Blanco kicked off a four-run third inning for Kansas City with his first home run of the season and then led off the fifth with an infield single, eventually scoring a season-high four runs. It was Blanco's first three-hit performance of the campaign, and he's making the most of his sporadic playing time, batting .364 (8-for-22) over his last 12 appearances with eight runs and five steals in five attempts.
