What happened: The Kansas City Royals are preparing for the MLB trade deadline while awaiting the return of third baseman Maikel Garcia from a Grade 1 hamstring strain. Garcia, who was injured on May 30, has avoided the Injured List and is expected to rejoin the starting lineup during the current series against the Minnesota Twins.

Why it matters: Sitting at 25-38 and 10.5 games back in the AL Central, the Royals are shifting toward a seller's mentality. Garcia's return stabilizes the infield, but his presence may not be enough to prevent a roster reset involving veterans like Kris Bubic and Michael Wacha. The team's playoff odds have dipped below 4% as they struggle with consistency.

What to watch: Watch for Garcia to potentially start Friday or Saturday at Target Field as the Royals begin a pivotal June stretch.