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Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Slated for re-evaluation Sunday
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 2:23 AM
Garcia (hand) began swinging during the All-Star break and is set to be re-evaluated Sunday, per MLB.com.
Analysis: Garcia landed on the injured list June 23 due to a nagging muscle strain in his left hand, but the 26-year-old took a step in the right direction by beginning to swing a bat during the All-Star break. Sunday's re-evaluation will determine whether he's ready to ramp up his hitting progression, including taking full rounds of batting practice, and should provide a clearer picture of when the third baseman could return to game action. Before being shelved, Garcia hit .261/.320/.373 with three homers, 30 RBI, 32 runs and five stolen bases across 69 games. |
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Carlos Estevez Carlos Estevez Restarts throwing program
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 2:15 AM
Estevez (shoulder) started a throwing program Friday, per MLB.com.
Analysis: Estevez had been shut down since receiving an injection July 1 for a right rotator cuff strain. While it's a positive sign to see the veteran back throwing, the extent of his activity is unknown and figures to be limited, with the Royals expected to proceed cautiously given the series of setbacks the right-hander has faced since landing on the injured list April 1, originally due to a left foot contusion. An exact timeline remains unclear and will depend on how he responds to the throwing progression, but Estevez likely won't be nearing a return to the big-league roster until later in August. |
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Kris Bubic Kris Bubic Could resume throwing soon
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 2:00 AM
Bubic (elbow/shoulder) could begin a new throwing program next week, per MLB.com.
Analysis: Bubic has been shelved since mid-May due to left elbow soreness before developing left shoulder discomfort during a rehab outing. The southpaw received a cortisone injection July 2 and has been shut down since, though he could be ready to resume throwing in the near future. Beginning a throwing program would mark a step in the right direction, though Bubic is likely to need considerable time to progress through his rehab before embarking on a rehab assignment and ultimately returning to the active roster. Prior to his lengthy stint on the injured list, the hurler posted a 3-2 record with a 4.11 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 51:26 K:BB across 50.1 innings (nine starts). |
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Lucas Erceg Lucas Erceg Picks up fourth win Friday
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 11:07 PM
Erceg (4-3) earned the win against the Padres on Friday, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits in one inning.
Analysis: Erceg came into the game in the 10th with the game tied and allowed three runs to give San Diego a 6-3 lead before the Royals scored four unanswered runs in the bottom of the frame. In 39 games this season, the 31-year-old has posted a 5.21 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 27:21 K:BB through 38 innings. |
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Lane Thomas Lane Thomas Goes yard in win Friday
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 11:01 PM
Thomas went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk while striking out once in Friday's 7-6 extra-inning win over the Padres on Tuesday.
Analysis: In his first at-bat, Thomas belted a solo home run to left field off Michael King, giving Kansas City a 1-0 lead at the time. This now marks back-to-back multi-hit games for the 30-year-old after going 3-for-4 with a double against Baltimore before the midseason break. On the campaign, Thomas has slugged .238/.339/.404 with eight homers and 32 RBI in 274 plate appearances. |
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Carter Jensen Carter Jensen Walks off San Diego
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 10:55 PM
Jensen went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and a walk during the Royals' 7-6 extra-inning win over the Padres on Tuesday.
Analysis: Jensen made his biggest contribution in the 10th with a game-winning two-run single that plated Michael Massey and Nick Loftin. After going hitless and recording a combined eight strikeouts in his previous four games before the midseason break, the rookie broke out of his short slump in a big way. On the season, the 22-year-old has slugged .242/.310/.430 with 13 homers and 51 RBI in 352 plate appearances. |
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Michael Massey Michael Massey Records three hits in win
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 10:47 PM
Massey went 3-for-5 with two RBI with one run scored while striking out once during the Royals' 7-6 extra-inning win over the Padres on Friday.
Analysis: Massey gave Kansas City the lead with an RBI single that scored Vinnie Pasquantino in the eighth inning and plated Pasquantino in the 10th as well. The 28-year-old has now recorded at least one hit in seven of his last eight games played. On the season, Massey has slugged .267/.305/.427 with seven homers and 33 RBI in 251 plate appearances. |
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Alex Lange Alex Lange Takes first blown save
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 10:18 PM
Lange blew the save Friday, allowing one run on one hit in the ninth inning in Friday's 7-6 extra-inning win over the Padres.
Analysis: After being called upon to protect the 3-2 lead in the ninth inning, Lange retired the first two batters he faced before being taken deep by Ty France for the game-tying solo home run, resulting in his first blown save of the season. The 30-year-old has been very shaky in his last seven games for Kansas City, recording an 18.56 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 2:3 K:BB in 5.1 innings. The Royals have had trouble closing games this season, with Lucas Erceg, Matt Strahm and Daniel Lynch all having multiple blown saves on the campaign. |
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Seth Lugo Seth Lugo Takes no-decision Friday
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 10:14 PM
Lugo allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out three over six innings a no-decision Friday against the Padres.
Analysis: Lugo recorded six strong innings on 93 pitches despite not factoring into the decision against San Diego. The two runs Lugo allowed crossed the plate on the same play due to a fielding error by Michael Massey, which allowed both Ty France and Miguel Andujar to score in the top of the fifth. After making his 20th start of the year, the 36-year-old now maintains a 4.39 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 89:36 K:BB through 110.2 innings this season. Lugo is in line to make his next start Wednesday against the Giants. |
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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Making rehab start Saturday
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 6:45 PM
Kolek (personal) will make a rehab start Saturday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Kolek has been on the Family Medical Emergency List since early July. Saturday's rehab outing will likely be a short one, and he return to the Royals for their next series against the Giants that starts Monday. Kolek went 4-3 across 10 starts in the first half of the regular season, posting a 4.50 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 34:12 K:BB across 54 innings. |
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Nick Mears Nick Mears Shifts to 60-day IL
Tue, Jul 14, 2026, 12:37 PM
The Royals transferred Mears (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
Analysis: The right-hander has been on the shelf since late May due to a shoulder impingement and experienced soreness after throwing live batting practice last week, per MLB.com. It's the second time Mears' throwing program has been paused in the past month due to the lingering soreness, and he's now awaiting the results of an MRI. He's not likely to be ready to be reinstated when first eligible in late July. |
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Easton McGee Easton McGee Traded to KC
Tue, Jul 14, 2026, 12:28 PM
The Royals acquired McGee from the Brewers in exchange for cash considerations Tuesday and subsequently optioned him to Triple-A Omaha.
Analysis: The right-hander was designated for assignment by Milwaukee on Friday, and Kansas City elected to trade for him rather than risk a waiver claim. McGee covered a scoreless frame in both of his appearances for the Brewers this season but struggled to a 5.62 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 43:17 K:BB across 41.2 innings at Triple-A. |
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Lane Thomas Lane Thomas Logs three hits in loss
Mon, Jul 13, 2026, 2:14 AM
Thomas went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Sunday's 8-2 loss to the Orioles.
Analysis: Thomas led all Royals hitters with three hits, driving in a run with a single in the third inning. The outfielder has been locked in at the plate of late, slashing .342/.405/.684 with two homers, seven doubles, eight RBI and six runs over his past 10 games. Overall, Thomas will head into the All-Star break slashing .234/.335/.390 with seven homers, 15 doubles, 31 RBI, 26 runs and four stolen bases across 82 contests. |
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Seth Lugo Seth Lugo Six Ks in no-decision
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 5:45 PM
Lugo took a no-decision Sunday against the Orioles, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in four innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: Just one of the hits allowed went for extra bases, though it was a two-run home run off the bat of Leody Taveras in the second inning. The 36-year-old right-hander looked spry to begin the campaign, posting a 1.15 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over his first five appearances, but he's limped to a 6.01 ERA and 1.65 WHIP while failing to produce a scoreless start across his last 14 outings. For the season, Lugo has a pedestrian 4.56 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 86:34 K:BB through 104.2 innings. |
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Tyler Tolbert Tyler Tolbert Sitting for third straight game
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 10:20 AM
Tolbert is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis: Tolbert made some waves with a recent three-game stretch in which he tied an MLB record with 12 consecutive hits while slugging two home runs, stealing three bases, driving in four runs and scoring seven times, but his brief run as a regular appears to have come to an end. With the Royals bringing Vinnie Pasquantino back from the injured list Friday, Tolbert has been the odd man out of the lineup for all three games in Baltimore this weekend. The lack of a full-time role will limit Tolbert's utility in mixed leagues, but he'll still have some appeal in AL-only formats since he still projects to play regularly against left-handed pitching and can make an impact with his speed when he gets a chance to use it. |
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Nick Loftin Nick Loftin Taking seat Sunday
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 10:12 AM
Loftin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis: He'll head to the bench for the series finale while Josh Rojas receives the nod at third base. Loftin had started each of Kansas City's last six games, going 9-for-23 (.391 batting average) with one home run, three doubles, two walks, five runs and four RBI during that stretch. |
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Noah Cameron Noah Cameron Tallies nine punchouts in loss
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 10:38 PM
Cameron (5-7) took the loss against Baltimore on Sunday, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out nine batters over seven innings.
Analysis: Cameron allowed a modest seven baserunners in his seven frames, but three of those rounded the infield on home runs. It was the second time this year that the left-hander has served up three homers in a game, but on a more positive note, he also struck out a season-high nine batters. Cameron has improved his strikeout rate over his rookie campaign, but he's otherwise had a shaky first half, posting a 4.89 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 95.2 innings spanning 18 starts. |
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Lands with Royals in Round 4
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 6:12 PM
The Royals selected Battista with the No. 119 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: Kansas City pulled a bit of a surprise by drafting Battista, who was well down or off most publicly available draft boards. Battista is a lefty-hitting outfielder out of Oswego East High School in Illinois. |
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Popped in third round
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 5:13 PM
The Royals selected Yehl with the No. 91 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: Yehl has a good curveball from the left side coming out of West Virginia and has a 6-foot-6, 235-pound frame. He can touch 97 mph and has shown improved strike throwing and a competitive fire on the mound. |
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Goes in second round
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 3:57 PM
The Royals selected Slightom with the No. 56 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: A prep righty from Illinois, Slightom has a very projectable 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame. He played a lot of quarterback in high school and can already touch 98 mph. Slightom shows aptitude for a slider and changeup and is a nice developmental ball of clay for Kansas City. |
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