SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Tuesday was a busy day in Royals camp. The semi truck transporting equipment and loads of other necessities began the trek back to Kansas City, and the Royals’ 9-8 walk-off loss to the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on Tuesday night kicked off the final week of Cactus League games.

That means roster decisions are on the way -- and with Opening Day just nine days away, the competition is still ongoing.

“We talked about it from the get-go, even in the offseason, about raising our internal competition,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “And we’ve done nothing short of that. The fact that they have to deal with that competition and the emotion that’s gone along with it will carry over onto the field.”

Here are the roster battles remaining with less than a week to go before camp breaks:

The fifth starter

Cole Ragans is starting Opening Day, and Seth Lugo, Brady Singer and Michael Wacha will follow him in some order.

Competition for the fifth spot has only ramped up deeper into the spring.

Jordan Lyles is the incumbent and looking for a much better season than ’23, but he’s been slowed in camp because of lower back tightness. He’s scheduled to start Thursday, but it’s unclear if he’ll be built up to 90-plus pitches by Opening Day.

Alec Marsh has made such a strong impression this spring, allowing three runs across 14 innings, that he might be considered the favorite. But Daniel Lynch IV is healthy and looked good this spring. Anthony Veneziano is also in the conversation and has continued to build up as a starter.

The bullpen

The locks right now include Will Smith, Nick Anderson, John Schreiber, Chris Stratton and James McArthur. It seems likely that Angel Zerpa is going to make the team, giving the Royals a durable multi-inning reliever.

One bullpen spot should go to a rotation hopeful listed above. And with Jake Brentz (hamstring) sidelined for six weeks, there are three candidates for the final spot: Matt Sauer, Josh Taylor and non-roster pitcher Sam Long.

As the Royals’ Rule 5 Draft pick this winter, Sauer must stay on the 26-man roster the full year. To be removed, he must be placed on outright waivers, and if he clears waivers, he must be offered back to the Yankees. He can be sent to the Royals’ farm system only if the Yankees don’t want to reacquire him.

Sauer, who has not pitched above Double-A before, is essentially a player without options. That limits the Royals with the way they want to utilize their 40-man roster by bringing players who can be optioned up and down throughout the year.

But the Royals picked Sauer for a reason, and they like what he could bring long term with his stuff and ability to pitch multiple innings.

“Even just loading the truck today, I’m like, ‘Oh man, we’re getting close,’” Sauer said. “I’m getting really excited, but I’m trying to stay grounded. Try not to get ahead of myself. I still have to go out and take care of business.”

The bench

Like last year, the Royals lineup will change frequently and pinch-hitters and runners will be used often. We know backup catcher Freddy Fermin will be one bench player, and let’s call Adam Frazier and Garrett Hampson bench players for this purpose, knowing they will be rotated into the lineup.

All signs point to MJ Melendez and Nelson Velázquez making the team. Although the Royals won’t expect Velázquez to hit a home run every 9.5 at-bats like he did from Aug. 10 to the season’s end last year, they don’t want to ignore the right-handed power he supplied.

If that all plays out -- and second baseman Michael Massey, who was scratched with lower back tightness Tuesday, is healthy -- that means there’s one bench spot remaining. Dairon Blanco, Nick Loftin, Nick Pratto and Drew Waters are all competing for it.

Blanco, who is full-go this week after a minor calf strain slowed him last week, brings a speed aspect and backup to center fielder Kyle Isbel that the Royals would like to have on their bench, although Hampson could fill that role.

Loftin and Pratto both homered Tuesday and have put together arguably the best at-bats this spring with a 1.025 OPS and 1.239 OPS, respectively. Both are infielders, with Loftin more versatile, but both have outfield experience.

“This last week is a good opportunity to go compete,” Pratto said. “Go win a job and keep it up throughout the year. … It’s decision time. This is where you make your biggest impression. I think everybody is just excited to build off what we’ve done in camp.”