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Kameron Misner Kameron Misner Taking seat Wednesday
Wed, Jun 17, 2026, 9:56 AM
Misner is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals.
Analysis: Since being called up from Triple-A Omaha a week ago, Misner has drawn starts in five of the Royals' ensuing eight games, going 6-for-16 with a walk, a stolen base and three RBI. Though he'll head to the bench Wednesday, the Royals should be able to make regular room in the outfield for both Misner and Lane Thomas while Kyle Isbel (foot) and Vinnie Pasquantino (hand) are on the injured list. |
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Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Not starting due to hand injury
Wed, Jun 17, 2026, 8:48 AM
Garcia (hand) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals.
Analysis: Garcia will miss out on at least one start after he exited Tuesday's 6-4 loss after five innings due to soreness in his left hand. Though Garcia looked to have suffered the injury during a swing on his final at-bat of the evening, he told Anne Rogers of MLB.com on Wednesday that the hand has been a recurring issue since the Royals' series with the Cardinals a month ago. Garcia noted that he typically feels pain only when he hits foul balls rather than making direct contact, and the expectation is that he'll continue to play through the lingering discomfort. Nick Loftin will draw the start at third base in place of Garcia in the series finale in Washington and will bat eighth. |
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Bobby Witt Jr. Bobby Witt Jr. On base four times Tuesday
Wed, Jun 17, 2026, 8:39 AM
Witt went 3-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Nationals.
Analysis: The star shortstop stayed ahead of Nasim Nunez in the other dugout to keep hold of the major-league steals lead with 27. Witt has three multi-hit effort in the last four games, and through 15 contests in June he's slashing .305/.414/.373 with four doubles, zero homers, three RBI, 10 runs and 10 stolen bases in 11 attempts. |
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Michael Wacha Michael Wacha Settles for quality start Tuesday
Wed, Jun 17, 2026, 8:33 AM
Wacha didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Royals, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: The veteran righty didn't get much run support early and left the mound after 90 pitches (65 strikes) headed for his sixth loss of the season, but Wacha got bailed out when Kansas City tied it up in the top of the seventh inning. The quality start was his 10th of the season, marking the fourth straight campaign in which he's reached double digits, but he's had a bumpy beginning to June, posting a 5.30 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 7:2 K:BB in 18.2 innings over three starts. Wacha will look for his first win since May 9 in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road early next week in Tampa Bay. |
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Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Makes early departure
Tue, Jun 16, 2026, 7:30 PM
Garcia was removed from Tuesday's game against the Nationals with an apparent hand injury, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.
Analysis: Garcia's hand looked to be bothering him during his final plate appearance in the fourth inning, and the Royals eventually pulled him for a pinch hitter in the sixth. The severity of his injury is unknown, but the Royals should provide more information after the game. |
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Seth Lugo Seth Lugo Poised to start Friday
Tue, Jun 16, 2026, 4:45 PM
Lugo (concussion) is expected to be reinstated from the 7-day injured list to start Friday against the Nationals, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander landed on the shelf after being struck in the head by a comebacker during his June 10 start against Texas, but his stay on the injured list won't be a long one. Lugo felt good after recently throwing a bullpen session and shouldn't face any notable limitations in his first start back given the brevity of the absence. |
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Cole Ragans Cole Ragans Getting another opinion
Tue, Jun 16, 2026, 4:38 PM
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Tuesday that Ragans remains shut down from throwing while continuing to experience elbow symptoms, and the left-hander will be evaluated by another doctor later this week, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Ragans had a throwing session halted Friday since his arm wasn't feeling great, and it appears there still isn't a clear explanation for what he's currently dealing with. The 28-year-old landed on the injured list in early May due to pitcher's elbow. Ragans' status should be updated within the next few days as he continues to be evaluated. |
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Seth Lugo Seth Lugo Continuing to throw since IL move
Tue, Jun 16, 2026, 12:50 PM
Lugo (concussion) has continued to take part in a throwing progression since being placed on the 7-day injured list Friday, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Though a CT scan came back clean after Lugo was forced out of his start last Wednesday against the Rangers when he was struck in the head by a line drive, the Royals deactivated him a couple days later after he developed a headache. Since he's not being shut down from throwing, Lugo seems to be making good progress in his recovery, but he'll still need to clear all phases of the concussion protocol before the Royals activate him. Lugo would appear to have a chance at being ready to make a start at some point during the Royals' upcoming three-game series with the Cardinals that runs from Thursday through Sunday. |
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Mitch Spence Mitch Spence Sent to Triple-A
Tue, Jun 16, 2026, 12:11 PM
The Royals optioned Spence to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Analysis: The 28-year-old was called up to make a spot start Monday against the Nationals, and he'll return to Omaha after surrendering six runs across four innings. Spencer has given up six runs in both of his big-league appearances this season and has also struggled to a 6.54 ERA across 42.2 innings at Triple-A. |
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Mitch Spence Mitch Spence Flops in spot start
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 9:48 PM
Spence (0-1) took the loss Monday against the Nationals, allowing six runs on seven hits and one walk in four innings. He struck out one.
Analysis: Making his first major-league start of 2026, Spence was mostly ineffective Monday. The 28-year-old right-hander has now given up six runs in four innings during both of his big-league outings this year, posting a 4:6 K:BB in the process. It's possible that Seth Lugo (concussion) will be ready to come off the injured list and take his next turn in Kansas City's rotation versus the Cardinals over the weekend, so Spence could soon be heading back to Triple-A Omaha following a spot start. |
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Steven Zobac Steven Zobac Back in action
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 7:40 PM
Zobac (knee) was activated from the 7-day injured list Friday.
Analysis: Zobac began the season on the minor-league IL due to a knee injury. He looked sharp in the Arizona Complex League while ramping back up, cruising to a 3.18 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with a 14:3 K:BB across 11.1 frames. Zobac was activated over the weekend and made his first appearance at Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit and three walks while striking out two over 2.1 innings. |
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Advancing to High-A
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 2:28 PM
The Royals promoted Chourio from Single-A Columbia to High-A Quad Cities on Monday.
Analysis: Chourio was one of the top performing pitchers in the Carolina League through the first two-plus months of the season, despite being much younger than most of his peers at just 18 years old. He rode a mid-90s fastball and a pair of strong secondary offerings to a 1.88 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 44:9 K:BB in 48 innings, with his dominance earning him a bump up to High-A. With a strong finish to the season at Quad Cities, Chourio could be in position to open the 2027 campaign at Double-A Northwest Arkansas and put himself on the radar for a big-league debut later next summer. |
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Kameron Misner Kameron Misner Sitting against southpaw
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 2:10 PM
Misner is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.
Analysis: Though he'll head to the bench for the series opener in Washington while the left-handed Andrew Alvarez toes the rubber for the Nationals, Misner should be in line for an extended look as a strong-side platoon player while Kyle Isbel (foot) and Vinnie Pasquantino (hand) are on the shelf. Misner started in each of the last four games while the Royals faced right-handed pitchers, going 6-for-12 with a walk, a stolen base and three RBI over those contests. |
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Michael Massey Michael Massey Heading to bench against lefty
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 2:07 PM
Massey is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.
Analysis: The Royals will send the left-handed-hitting Massey to the bench while southpaw Andrew Alvarez takes the hill for Washington. Nick Loftin will step in at second base in place of Massey, who went 4-for-15 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs while starting the past four games. |
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Mitch Spence Mitch Spence Recalled before Monday's start
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 1:37 PM
The Royals recalled Spence from Triple-A Omaha on Monday.
Analysis: Spence will get the start Monday on the road against the Nationals. The right-hander permitted six runs over four innings in his lone appearance in the majors this season and has turned in a 6.54 ERA in 10 starts at Triple-A Omaha. Spence could earn additional turns in the rotation if things go well Monday. |
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Connor Seabold Connor Seabold Traded to Kansas City
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 1:27 PM
The Royals acquired Seabold from the Blue Jays on Monday in exchange for Denis Samudio and cash considerations.
Analysis: Seabold has made 16 relief appearances between the Tigers and Blue Jays this season, collecting a 4.26 ERA and 15:7 K:BB over 19 innings. The 30-year-old is capable of providing length for a Royals bullpen that could use it. |
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Carlos Estevez Carlos Estevez Sent to 60-day IL
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 1:19 PM
The Royals transferred Estevez (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
Analysis: Estevez has already been on the shelf for more than two months, so his move to the 60-day IL is merely procedural and won't affect his timeline for a return. The right-hander was initially deactivated April 1 due to a foot contusion, but he's since recovered from that injury and is now working his way back from a right rotator cuff strain, which he sustained during a minor-league rehab appearance in early May. Estevez resumed throwing off flat ground May 27 and could be cleared to start throwing off a mound this week. |
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Bobby Witt Jr. Bobby Witt Jr. Swipes two bases Sunday
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 11:40 AM
Witt went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two steals in Sunday's 4-0 victory over Houston.
Analysis: Witt's activity on the bases continued Sunday, as he recorded his ninth steal of the month and third multi-steal effort of the campaign to boost his season total to 26 stolen bases. The star shortstop is currently riding a modest five-game hitting streak, during which he has gone 9-for-22 (.409) with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored. Overall, Witt is hitting .287/.358/.455 with nine homers, 19 doubles, a triple, 28 RBI and 36 runs scored across 72 games this year. |
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Eli Morgan Eli Morgan Sent to Omaha
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 8:22 AM
The Royals optioned Morgan to Triple-A Omaha on Monday.
Analysis: Morgan made one scoreless appearance during this most recent stint in the Royals' bullpen. His spot on the roster is poised to be filled by Mitch Spence, who will be summoned from Omaha to start Monday's game versus the Nationals. |
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Mitch Spence Mitch Spence Start on tap Monday
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 8:13 AM
The Royals list Spence as their scheduled starting pitcher for Monday's game against the Nationals.
Analysis: Kansas City will officially recall Spence from Triple-A Omaha prior to Monday's game, with the right-hander set to enter the rotation as a replacement for Seth Lugo (concussion). The 28-year-old Spence has had a rough 2026 campaign, getting torched for six runs over four innings in his lone appearance in the majors and posting a 6.54 ERA in 10 starts at Triple-A Omaha. Nevertheless, with Lugo, Cole Ragans (elbow) and Kris Bubic (elbow/shoulder) all facing uncertain timetables to return from the injured list, Spence has a chance to stick around with the big club beyond Monday. |
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