Royals' Maikel Garcia Returns to Lineup After Thumb Injury

Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia was scratched from the lineup on Sunday due to right thumb soreness, ending his streak of 44 consecutive starts. Garcia, who had been batting fifth and starting at third base, was replaced by Nick Loftin at third and Jonathan India as designated hitter. Prior to the injury, Garcia was having a breakout season in 2025, batting .316 with five home runs, 14 doubles, 25 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases through 58 games. The Royals had a day off on Monday to aid his recovery before facing the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, where Garcia is expected to return and bat third for the first time this season. His strong performance this year marks a significant improvement over his previous seasons, highlighting his increased value to the team. Fantasy managers and fans are closely monitoring his status as he recovers from the thumb issue.