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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Stepping in for injured Ragans
Tue, May 12, 2026, 10:02 AM
Kolek is slated to start Tuesday's game against the White Sox in Chicago, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: After returning from the injured list and delivering a quality start against the Guardians in his 2026 MLB debut last Tuesday, Kolek was demoted to Triple-A Omaha a day later. However, with Cole Ragans (elbow) landing on the IL on Friday, the Royals opted to recall Kolek and will now plug him into Ragans' vacated spot in the rotation. Kolek tentatively lines up for a two-start week, with his second turn likely to come Sunday in St. Louis. |
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Vinnie Pasquantino Vinnie Pasquantino Tallies two hits Sunday
Mon, May 11, 2026, 2:10 AM
Pasquantino went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Sunday's 6-3 loss against Detroit.
Analysis: Pasquantino plated the first run of the day for Kansas City with an opposite-field single in the third inning. It has been a difficult start to 2026 for the first baseman, as Sunday's two-hit effort raised his batting average to .200. The 28-year-old owns a .640 OPS with five homers, 19 RBI, 16 runs and a stolen base across 39 contests. |
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Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Trio of hits in loss
Mon, May 11, 2026, 2:00 AM
Garcia went 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and a walk in Sunday's 6-3 loss against the Tigers.
Analysis: Garcia reached base in all four plate appearances Sunday, tallying his fourth three-hit performance of the campaign. Following a breakout 2025 season in which he posted an .800 OPS, the third baseman has continued to produce in 2026. Through 39 games, the 26-year-old is slashing .285/.353/.437 with 12 doubles, a triple, three homers, 16 RBI, 21 runs and four stolen bases while operating exclusively out of the leadoff spot. |
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Michael Massey Michael Massey Taking seat Sunday
Sun, May 10, 2026, 3:07 PM
Massey is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis: After going 3-for-8 with a home run, two doubles and three RBI while starting the past three games, Massey will hit the bench for the series finale. Nick Loftin will replace Massey at second base and will bat sixth. |
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Salvador Perez Salvador Perez Receiving evening off
Sun, May 10, 2026, 3:01 PM
Perez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis: Perez hasn't started a game behind the plate since May 1 while he's been managing a sore hip, but he's remained in the everyday lineup at designated hitter or first base. He doesn't seem to be dealing with any sort of setback, but Perez will get a break for the series finale after going hitless in 13 at-bats over his last four starts. Carter Jensen will handle DH duties Sunday. |
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Bobby Witt Jr. Bobby Witt Jr. Notches inside-the-park homer
Sat, May 9, 2026, 11:20 PM
Witt went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run against Detroit in a 5-1 win Saturday.
Analysis: In Witt's first plate appearance, he hit a grounder up the first-base line. The ball gathered steam and went into right field, and it then took a bounce off the side wall. That was enough for Witt to motor all the way home for his second career inside-the-park homer. Of course, it counts just the same as if Witt had slugged the ball over the outfield fence, and he now has five home runs over his past 13 contests after opening the campaign with a 27-game homerless stretch. |
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Michael Massey Michael Massey Knocks three-run shot Saturday
Sat, May 9, 2026, 11:10 PM
Massey went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 5-1 victory versus the Tigers.
Analysis: Massey's three-run shot in the fourth frame gave the Royals a 5-0 lead. It was the infielder's second long ball over his past four games after he went deep just once across his first 23 contests of the campaign. Massey isn't a big power guy, but he did hit a combined 29 home runs over the 2023 and 2024 regular seasons, so he may have more pop in his bat than the three long balls he tallied across 277 plate appearances last year. |
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Michael Wacha Michael Wacha Excels again Saturday
Sat, May 9, 2026, 10:52 PM
Wacha (4-2) earned the win over Detroit on Saturday, tossing seven scoreless innings during which he gave up two hits and walked two batters while striking out six.
Analysis: Wacha faced little resistance from the Tigers, who managed just two hits against him. The veteran righty tossed 54 of 89 pitches for strikes and tallied six punchouts despite inducing only four whiffs. Wacha registered his second straight quality start and sixth overall through eight outings on the season. As usual, he hasn't been racking up punchouts with a modest 42 through 51.1 frames overall, but Wacha has otherwise been a valuable fantasy asset given his 2.63 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, both of which rank within the top 20 among qualified pitchers. |
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Isaac Collins Isaac Collins Getting rest Saturday
Sat, May 9, 2026, 2:36 PM
Collins isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis: Collins is slashing .360/.452/.600 with five RBI and three runs scored since the start of May, but the Royals will give him a chance to rest his legs Saturday. Lane Thomas will get the nod in left field and bat seventh. |
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Kris Bubic Kris Bubic Punches out five in no-decision
Sat, May 9, 2026, 2:52 AM
Bubic didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Tigers, allowing three earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out five batters over 5.2 innings.
Analysis: Bubic held the Tigers to just one run through five innings, but things began to get away from him in the sixth. After walking the first batter of the inning, Bubic recorded two outs before giving up an RBI double to Wenceel Perez. The southpaw was replaced on the mound immediately afterward by Nick Mears, who gave up another double to Spencer Torkelson, allowing Perez to score. Some late-game heroics from the Royals' offense kept Bubic from taking his second loss of the season, so he'll keep his 3-1 record and take a 3.50 ERA and 1.17 WHIP into his start next week against the White Sox. |
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Noah Cameron Noah Cameron Confirmed for start Sunday
Fri, May 8, 2026, 4:42 PM
Manager Matt Quatraro said Friday that Cameron (back) will start Sunday's game against the Tigers, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Cameron was scratched from his last scheduled start Tuesday against Cleveland due to back tightness. After throwing a bullpen session Thursday without any problems, he'll officially avoid a stint on the injured list and return to face a Detroit lineup that's posted just a .669 OPS over its last 10 games. |
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Eric Cerantola Eric Cerantola Returning to Triple-A
Fri, May 8, 2026, 3:14 PM
The Royals optioned Cerantola to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Analysis: The right-hander was called up from Omaha on Wednesday and pitched on both days he spent in the big leagues, giving up three runs on two hits with four walks and five strikeouts over three innings. Steven Cruz will fill Cerantola's spot in Kansas City's bullpen. |
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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Rejoins big club
Fri, May 8, 2026, 3:09 PM
The Royals recalled Kolek from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Analysis: The right-hander was demoted to Omaha on Wednesday but will quickly rejoin the major-league club with Cole Ragans (elbow) landing on the injured list. Kolek made a spot start in place of Noah Cameron (back) earlier this week and could now get a few turns through the rotation with Ragans sidelined. Kolek delivered a quality start in his first MLB appearance of 2026, striking out three and giving up three runs on four hits over six innings while picking up a win versus Cleveland. |
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Steven Cruz Steven Cruz Back in majors
Fri, May 8, 2026, 3:01 PM
The Royals recalled Cruz from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Analysis: The right-hander spent some time in the majors in early April but was sent back to Omaha after giving up eight runs across five appearances. Cruz will rejoin the Royals a month later and should fill a low-leverage relief role. |
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Cole Ragans Cole Ragans Out with elbow impingement
Fri, May 8, 2026, 2:38 PM
The Royals placed Ragans on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to May 7, due to a left elbow impingement.
Analysis: The left-hander departed his start against the Guardians on Wednesday due to a valgus extension overload in his left elbow -- also known as pitcher's elbow -- and he was initially expected to rest for a few days before the next steps of his recovery program were determined. Ragans said Thursday that he was already feeling much better than when he left Wednesday's contest, but he'll still spend at least the next couple of weeks on the IL after being diagnosed with the impingement. Stephen Kolek was called up from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move Friday and is a candidate to fill Ragans' spot in the starting rotation. |
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Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Pair of hits in loss
Fri, May 8, 2026, 7:20 AM
Garcia went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI in Thursday's loss to the Guardians.
Analysis: Garcia recorded his second two-hit performance in as many days, ripping a leadoff double in the top of the first inning before later driving in a run with a single in the fifth frame. The third baseman's numbers have been trending upward of late, as he's slashing .303/.351/.515 with a homer, four doubles, four RBI, four runs and two stolen bases over the past eight games. |
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Bobby Witt Jr. Bobby Witt Jr. Homers in four-hit game
Thu, May 7, 2026, 9:42 PM
Witt went 4-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Thursday's 8-5 loss to Cleveland.
Analysis: Witt is heating up following a sluggish start to the campaign. He has at least one knock in 16 of his last 18 games, during which Witt is batting .333 with 10 extra-base hits, nine RBI and five stolen bases over 75 at-bats to raise his OPS to .825 for the year. Thursday's four-hit game was the All-Star shortstop's first of the season as well. |
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Seth Lugo Seth Lugo Labors in second loss
Thu, May 7, 2026, 6:18 PM
Lugo (1-2) took the loss Thursday against the Guardians, allowing four runs on seven hits and four walks in four innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: The Guardians ambushed Lugo with three runs in the opening frame, but the hurler was at least able to settle down a bit afterward for a 102-pitch outing. The 36-year-old right-hander walked four batters for the third time already this year, and he's now given up at least seven hits in three consecutive starts after not yielding more than five in any of his prior seven appearance. Lugo has still maintained a decent 3.21 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 42:17 K:BB across 47.2 innings despite his recent shakiness, and he's next set for a favorable matchup against the division-rival White Sox. |
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Cole Ragans Cole Ragans Dealing with pitcher's elbow
Thu, May 7, 2026, 5:03 PM
Ragans was diagnosed with valgus extension overload in his left elbow Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Ragans' elbow forced him to make an early exit from his start Wednesday after three innings. The Royals are going to allow the 28-year-old lefty to rest for a few days and see how he feels before determining next steps. Ragans said Thursday that he has already begun to feel better since leaving Wednesday's game, per Rogers, which bodes well for his chances of avoiding a trip to the IL. |
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Carlos Estevez Carlos Estevez Diagnosed with rotator cuff strain
Thu, May 7, 2026, 4:54 PM
Estevez (foot) was diagnosed with a right rotator cuff strain Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Estevez made his first rehab appearance in the minors Wednesday as part of his recovery from a left foot injury, but he was removed after just two-thirds of an inning after displaying diminished velocity. Now that he's been officially diagnosed with a strained rotator cuff, the Royals will shut him down from throwing for three weeks before reevaluating him, at which point he may be cleared to restart a throwing program. Lucas Erceg will continue to work as Kansas City's go-to closer while Estevez is out. |
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