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Kris Bubic Kris Bubic Receives cortisone injection
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 6:49 PM
Bubic (elbow/shoulder) received a cortisone injection Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Bubic will be shut down for 7-10 days before the team will reevaluate where he's at. The southpaw has been sidelined since mid-May while nursing left elbow and shoulder discomfort, and he was shifted to the 60-day injured list Wednesday. |
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Eric Cerantola Eric Cerantola Pushed off 40-man
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 4:57 PM
The Royals designated Cerantola for assignment Thursday.
Analysis: After being sent down to Triple-A on Wednesday, Cerantola will now give up his place on the 40-man roster for Luke Maile, who was selected to the big leagues in a corresponding move. Cerantola walked six batters while giving up two runs in 1.1 innings during his appearance against the Rays on Tuesday, and he'll likely need to show improvement at Omaha before the Royals begin to consider giving him another opportunity in the majors. |
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John Rave John Rave Optioned to Omaha
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 4:53 PM
The Royals optioned Rave to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Analysis: Rave will end up as the odd man out of the Royals' 26-man roster following Luke Maile's promotion from Omaha on Thursday. Rave appeared in nine games after getting called up June 14 and went 4-for-18 with a homer and two additional runs scored during his stint with Kansas City. He could return to the majors later in the year, though he'd likely be limited to a bench role. |
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Luke Maile Luke Maile Contract selected
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 4:49 PM
The Royals selected Maile's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Analysis: Maile has spent the entire season in the minors up to this point, slashing .202/.324/.303 with two homers, nine RBI and 12 runs scored over 105 plate appearances. He'll now join the big-league roster to give the Royals some depth behind the plate while Salvador Perez sits out with a sore elbow. John Rave was sent down to Omaha to make room for Maile on the active roster, and Eric Cerantola was DFA'd to free up a 40-man spot. |
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Cole Ragans Cole Ragans Undergoes UCL repair surgery
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 4:42 PM
Ragans underwent UCL repair surgery on his left elbow Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: It was unknown what type of procedure Ragans would need when the Royals announced last weekend that he was scheduled for surgery. Now confirmed to have undergone UCL repair surgery, the 28-year-old southpaw will officially miss the remainder of the season and is likely to remain out until midway through the 2027 campaign. He'll close the book on 2026 after putting up a 4.84 ERA and 1.42 WHIP alongside a 45:23 K:BB through 35.1 innings over eight starts. |
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Salvador Perez Salvador Perez Out Thursday with sore elbow
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 4:34 PM
Perez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays due to a sore left elbow, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The severity of Perez's elbow injury isn't fully known, though the Royals were concerned enough to keep him on the bench Thursday and call up Luke Maile from Triple-A Omaha to provide an extra option at catcher behind Carter Jensen. Perez will exit the lineup for the first time since June 11, ending a stretch of 18 consecutive starts during which he slashed an ugly .216/.227/.311 with one home run, four RBI and seven runs. |
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Jose Cuas Jose Cuas Dispatched to minors
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 3:30 PM
The Royals optioned Cuas to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Analysis: Cuas was just added to the roster Wednesday and permitted one run over two innings out of the bullpen in a loss to the Rays. He's clearing out to free up a roster spot for Stephen Kolek (personal), who will be the starting pitcher for Thursday's series finale. |
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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Activated ahead of Thursday's start
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 3:28 PM
The Royals activated Kolek (personal) from the family medical emergency list Thursday.
Analysis: Kolek had been on the paternity list and then the family medical emergency list, but he will rejoin the Royals' rotation with a start Thursday against the Rays. The right-hander will be pitching on 10 days' rest, so it's not clear how sharp he will be or how big of a workload he'll be able to handle. |
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Scott Barlow Scott Barlow Back to Kansas City on MiLB deal
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 1:15 PM
The Royals signed Barlow to a minor-league contract Thursday.
Analysis: It's a homecoming for Barlow, who spent the first five-and-a-half seasons of his career with the Royals. The veteran reliever was released by the Athletics in late June after posting a 6.48 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 29:19 K:BB in 33.1 innings over 36 appearances. Barlow could get another opportunity in the majors before long if he can get off to a good start at Triple-A Omaha. |
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Carlos Estevez Carlos Estevez Receives injection for shoulder
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 12:33 PM
Estevez (shoulder) received an injection Wednesday and will be shut down for the rest of the week before being re-evaluated, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Estevez had been making progress in recovery from a right rotator cuff strain, but he suffered a setback during Saturday's bullpen session. The Royals will allow the right-hander to rest following the injection before re-evaluating him and determining the next steps. Estevez made just one appearance this season before landing on the injured list due to a left foot contusion, eventually picking up the shoulder injury during a rehab appearance May 6. |
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Seth Lugo Seth Lugo Falls to Tampa Bay
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 9:35 PM
Lugo (3-6) took the loss Wednesday against the Rays, allowing three runs on nine hits over six innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: Lugo got off to a shaky start Wednesday, allowing a two-run homer to Junior Caminero in the first inning. He'd settle in and hold the Rays scoreless until Cedric Mullins launched a solo shot with two outs in the sixth, though the Royals failed to provide Lugo with any run support in an eventual 4-0 defeat. Despite the loss, it was an encouraging bounce-back effort from Lugo, who gave up seven runs in five innings in his last outing (also against Tampa Bay). The veteran right-hander now sports a 4.20 ERA with a 1.38 WHIP and 76:30 K:BB across 17 starts (96.1 innings). Lugo is currently lined up to face the Phillies at home his next time out. |
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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Expected to start Thursday
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 4:53 PM
Kolek (personal) is expected to make his next scheduled start Thursday against Tampa Bay, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Kolek moved from the paternity list to the family medical emergency list Tuesday so that he could spend more time away from the team following the birth of his child, but it doesn't seem like he will miss any more starts. The 29-year-old righty will be looking to bounce back from a disastrous nine-run, 1.2-inning performance during his last start, though he'll be facing a Rays offense that's posted an .881 OPS across its last 10 games. |
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Connor Seabold Connor Seabold Placed on IL with strained lat
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 2:59 PM
The Royals placed Seabold on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right lat strain.
Analysis: Seabold had to be pulled from an appearance Tuesday against the Rays because of the injury. The severity of the strain is unclear, but even a mild one could result in an absence beyond the 15-day minimum. Seabold has pitched for three different teams this season, collecting a 5.25 ERA and 20:11 K:BB across 24 frames. |
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Eric Cerantola Eric Cerantola Sent back to minors
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 2:55 PM
The Royals optioned Cerantola to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
Analysis: Cerantola had a disastrous outing Tuesday versus the Rays, walking six of the nine batters he faced while surrendering a pair of runs. He'll head back to Omaha as the Royals replace him with a fresh bullpen arm. |
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Randy Dobnak Randy Dobnak Moves up to big leagues
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 2:55 PM
The Royals recalled Dobnak from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
Analysis: Dobnak previously saw big-league action with the Twins over parts of five seasons from 2019 through 2025, but he'll be making his Royals debut once he gets into a game. The 31-year-old righty opened the season in the rotation at Triple-A Tacoma in the Mariners organization before being traded in mid-June to the Royals, who immediately added him to their 40-man roster. Over 80.2 innings at the Triple-A level this season, Dobnak has produced a 4.35 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 49:25 K:BB. The right-hander looks set to initially work out of the bullpen for Kansas City, though he could be a candidate to start Thursday versus the Rays if Stephen Kolek (personal) isn't activated from the bereavement list in advance of that game. |
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Jose Cuas Jose Cuas Contract selected
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 2:50 PM
The Royals selected Cuas' contract from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
Analysis: Cuas holds a 3.31 ERA and 33:19 K:BB over 32.2 innings this season at Omaha. The 32-year-old hasn't pitched in the majors since 2024 and will likely fill a low-leverage relief role. |
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Isaac Collins Isaac Collins Left out of lineup
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 2:48 PM
Collins is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
Analysis: The Royals will go with Tyler Tolbert in left field while Collins retreats to the bench as the Rays send southpaw Shane McClanahan to the bump. A switch hitter, Collins has been far more effective against righties (.339 wOBA, 116 wRC+) than lefties (.299 wOBA, 89 wRC+) over parts of three big-league seasons. |
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Kris Bubic Kris Bubic Shifts to 60-day IL
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 2:42 PM
The Royals transferred Bubic (elbow/shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
Analysis: Earlier Wednesday, Royals senior vice president Scott Sharp revealed that Bubic hit another snag in his recovery from left elbow soreness and left shoulder discomfort, though the team won't have more specifics available until the southpaw is re-evaluated in Kansas City. Since Bubic's initial placement on the IL was retroactive to May 15 and he wasn't on track to rejoin Kansas City rotation until after the All-Star break anyway, his move to the 60-day IL won't have any bearing on his timeline for a return. The transaction will temporarily bump Bubic from the 40-man roster in order to open up a spot for right-hander Jose Cuas, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Omaha. |
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Kyle Isbel Kyle Isbel Targeting rehab stint before ASB
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 11:55 AM
Isbel (foot) will continue his rehab in Arizona to begin July with the hope of embarking on a rehab assignment before the All-Star break, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Isbel was diagnosed with a Grade 3 tear of a portion of his left plantar fascia after being placed on the injured list June 10. The center fielder is now targeting a rehab assignment before the All-Star break after beginning to swing June 17, which would represent a relatively quick return to game action given the severity of his injury. Before being sidelined, Isbel slashed .244/.298/.354 with three homers, 11 RBI, 16 runs and five stolen bases across 56 games. |
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Vinnie Pasquantino Vinnie Pasquantino Eyeing rehab assignment before ASB
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 11:42 AM
Pasquantino (hand) will continue his rehab in Arizona to begin July with the hope of embarking on a rehab assignment before the All-Star break, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Pasquantino hit the injured list June 14 and underwent surgery to remove a fractured hamate bone in his right hand, with an initial recovery timeline of 4-to-6 weeks. Based on that timetable and recent indications, the first baseman isn't expected to rejoin the Royals before the All-Star break, though a minor-league rehab assignment before the break seems to be the tentative plan. Pasquantino is hitting .224/.309/.350 with six homers, 32 RBI, 28 runs and three stolen bases across 68 games this season. |
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