Hammel (1-3) tossed six quality innings, allowing just one run on three hits and two walks while striking out six in Friday's win over the Cleveland.

EDGE Analysis

Hammel's first victory as a Royal ended a six-start winless streak dating back to Sept. 19. According to ESPN.com, he worked out of the stretch exclusively for the first time in his career, and based on the results, it certainly won't be the last. The right-hander opted to ditch the windup in hopes of simplifying his delivery and achieve better results. "It's something I had experimented with on the side and just committed to it," Hammel said. "In the windup, there are a lot of pieces that have to go right, a lot of moving parts and the timing is going to be everything. With the stretch, everything is up and down, two movements up and down and you're going to the plate." The 34-year-old veteran will look to duplicate Friday's effort when he takes the hill again Wednesday in Tampa Bay.

Hammel is expected to be more aggressive and attack the zone in his next start Friday against the Indians, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The team's $16 million offseason addition is 0-3 with a 6.65 ERA through five starts. Royals manager Ned Yost said he believes Hammel's "stuff is good," but that the right-hander has yet to consistently command his pitches. The skipper also noted that Hammel likes to work around the edge of the plate too much, leading him to fall behind in counts. After dealing with elbow tightness last September with the Cubs, the 34-year-old cannot blame his poor performance on health issues. "He's fine," Yost said. "His velocity is good. Changeup is good. Slider is good. He's just too fine with his location."

Hammel (0-3) allowed five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five batters over three innings during Sunday's loss to Minnesota.

EDGE Analysis

Hammel has allowed at least three runs in four of his five starts and has only pitched out of the fifth inning in one outing. The result is a 0-3 record with a crippling 6.55 ERA and 1.94 WHIP. At this stage of the game, it's pretty difficult to rely on Hammel in any fantasy setting, but his 3.92 FIP suggests there are stabler times ahead. Unfortunately, a start against the deep Cleveland lineup is on tap for Hammel.

The Royals' matchup with the Twins on Saturday has been postponed due to rain, Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star reports. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on July 1.

EDGE Analysis

It's unclear how the Royals will handle the situation, but it's possible Hammel could simply be bumped to Sunday's series finale, which would likely mean pushing scheduled-starter Jason Vargas to Monday, when Kansas City opens a series with the White Sox.

Hammel (0-2) lasted just three innings, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five Rangers in Sunday's loss.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander delivered a terrible start at an inopportune time. With the Royals' bullpen already taxed from a 13-inning affair earlier in the series, Hammel dished the shortest outing for any Royals starter so far this season. Through four starts with his new team, the 34-year-old owns an unsightly 5.30 ERA and 1.77 WHIP with a career-worst 4.82 BB/9. Hammel will look to right the ship when he takes the hill for his next start Saturday versus Minnesota.

Hammel (0-1) allowed only one run on six hits and a walk while striking out three over six innings but came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

It's his first quality start of the season as Hammel has stumbled a bit out of the gates, posting a 4.60 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 9:& K:BB through his first 15.2 innings as a Royal. The veteran righty could have a tough time turning things around in his next start, though, as he'll face the Rangers in Arlington on Sunday.

Hammel (0-1) gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four over 4.2 innings in Wednesday's 8-3 loss to the A's.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran righty has had an inauspicious beginning to 2017, allowing at least three runs in each of his two starts so far and posting a 6:6 K:BB in 9.2 innings. Hammel threw just 55 of 94 pitches for strikes Wednesday and put at least one baserunner aboard in every inning he pitched, which isn't exactly a formula for success. He'll look to right the ship Tuesday at home against the Giants.

Hammel gave up three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out two over five innings against the Twins on Thursday. He did not factor in the decision in the Royals' 5-3 loss.

EDGE Analysis

The control was lacking for Hammel in his Royals debut, with just 59 of his 95 pitches going for strikes, but his track record suggests better days are ahead. Last year, Hammel issued more than two walks just five times in 30 starts. The two strikeouts were also disappointing, but it wasn't a disastrous start by any means, and Hammel draws a more favorable matchup his next time out -- a home start against the A's.

Hammel said he lost the feel for his changeup in the fifth inning of Sunday's game against the Angels, Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hammel has stressed that his goal entering spring training was to make his changeup an effective pitch. He seems encouraged by his progress with the offering, even if the results Sunday were less than stellar (seven runs on eight hits and two walks in six innings). The right-hander suggested he will alter his pitch mix and pitch different during the regular season. Following one final spring tuneup, Hammel will start the Royals' third game of the regular season, April 6 at Minnesota.

Hammel (elbow) tossed two scoreless innings in his spring debut Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

He allowed two hits and hit a batter, but Hammel kept the Reds quiet Saturday. After logging 166.2 innings in the Cubs' rotation last season, the Royals are hoping that Hammel can offer up five-plus frames every fifth day this season in their quest to find ample rotation depth for 2017.