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Drew Waters Drew Waters Outrighted to Triple-A
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 4:59 PM
Waters was outrighted to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
Analysis: Waters was designated for assignment by the Royals on Wednesday, and he will now head to Omaha after clearing waivers. The outfielder played in 71 contests with Kansas City in 2025, batting .243 with a home run, 14 RBI, 21 runs scored and five stolen bases, and he'll likely get another shot with the major-league roster down the road this year. |
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Carter Jensen Carter Jensen Homers in win
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 4:35 PM
Jensen went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly in Sunday's 4-1 win over Atlanta.
Analysis: Jensen extended Kansas City's lead to 2-0 with a 371-foot shot off Grant Holmes, his first hit and home run of the season. The 22-year-old Jensen should continue to see regular at-bats in the middle of the Royals' lineup -- he got his first start at catcher Sunday after serving as the DH in his first two games. Jensen is now 1-for-8 to open the year after slashing .300/.391/.550 with three homers in 69 plate appearances last season. |
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Seth Lugo Seth Lugo Sharp in season debut
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 3:31 PM
Lugo (1-0) earned the win Sunday over Atlanta, allowing five hits over 6.1 scoreless innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: It was a strong start to the year for Lugo, who held Atlanta to a lone extra-base hit en route to the Royals' first win this season. Lugo is looking to turn things around after an up-and-down 2025 campaign where he finished 8-7 with 125 strikeouts and a 4.15 ERA, his highest in five seasons. Lugo is tentatively scheduled to face the Brewers at home in his next outing. |
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Lucas Erceg Lucas Erceg Notches save Sunday
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 3:18 PM
Erceg converted a save in Sunday's 4-1 win over Atlanta, striking out one batter while allowing a base hit over a scoreless inning. inducing a game-ending double play ball.
Analysis: Erceg was pitching on back-to-back days, but threw only 12 pitches on Saturday. Teammate Carlos Estevez blew the save Saturday in spectacular fashion and was unavailable to pitch due to an ankle injury, but he had diminished velocity throughout the spring, and manager Matt Quatraro suggested prior to Sunday's game that Estevez might be on shaky ground as the team's closer. After delivering a relatively stress-free save chance that culminated in a game-ending double play, Erceg is worthy of rostering on speculation in the event he ends up displacing the struggling Estevez in the ninth inning on a more permanent basis. |
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Carlos Estevez Carlos Estevez Unlikely to be used Sunday
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 11:05 AM
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that he would be "surprised" if Estevez is available out of the bullpen for Sunday's game in Atlanta, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Estevez was seen wearing a walking boot Sunday after taking a line drive off his left ankle Saturday, when he suffered a blown save after allowing six earned runs while recording just one out in the Royals' 6-2 loss. Though Estevez been diagnosed with nothing more than a contusion after getting X-rays on his ankle, the Royals appear content to stay away from the 33-year-old reliever, at least for one day. Per Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City, Quatraro added that he's "not averse to putting [Estevez] in a lower-leverage situation" once he's deemed available, which suggests that the right-hander may not have a stranglehold on the closer's gig after Saturday's blowup. Before the rough showing in his season debut, Estevez was coming off a discouraging spring training in which he noticed a steep decline in his velocity. |
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Isaac Collins Isaac Collins Exiting lineup Sunday
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 10:26 AM
Collins is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: After starting in the first two contests of the season and going 0-for-6 with a walk and two strikeouts, Collins will hit the bench for the series finale in Atlanta. Lane Thomas will step in for Collins in left field. |
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Jonathan India Jonathan India Taking seat Sunday
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 10:22 AM
India is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: Nick Loftin will step in at the keystone in place of India, who will rest after going 0-for-7 with a walk and three strikeouts while starting in both of the Royals' first two games of the season. |
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Carlos Estevez Carlos Estevez X-rays negative on ankle
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 8:37 AM
Estevez had X-rays come back negative on his left ankle after being struck by a comebacker during Saturday's loss to Atlanta, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander blew the save in his season debut, surrendering six runs on four hits and two walks in one-third of an inning. With the X-rays returning negative, the injury is now a secondary concern for the Royals and Estevez, who averaged just 91.2 mph with his fastball Saturday, down nearly five ticks from last season. The horrid outing doubled his worst performance from 2025, in which he gave up three runs. Estevez will likely have some leash as Kansas City's closer after recording 42 saves with a 2.45 ERA last year, but that leash is likely to be shorter if the velocity woes continue. |
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Carlos Estevez Carlos Estevez Implodes in season debut
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 9:25 PM
Estevez (0-1) took the loss and a blown save Saturday against Atlanta, allowing six runs on four hits and two walks in one-third of an inning.
Analysis: It was a nightmarish season debut for Estevez, who failed to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning. After showing diminished velocity during spring training, the right-hander's fastball topped out at 92.3 mph Saturday over his 23 pitches, which appears to be a major concern after he averaged 95.9 mph on his four-seamer last season. There's still time for him to find his form as Kansas City's closer, but the Royals have capable alternatives in Lucas Erceg and Matt Strahm if Estevez can't steady the ship. |
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Michael Wacha Michael Wacha Settles for no-decision
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 9:10 PM
Wacha took a no-decision Saturday against Atlanta, allowing no runs on three hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: Wacha performed about as well as one could have expected in his season debut against a tough Atlanta lineup, scattering three singles across six shutout frames. The veteran right-hander had also been in line for the win, but Carlos Estevez imploded in the ninth inning by yielding six runs and blowing the save. Wacha threw 80 pitches Saturday, so he'll be looking to increase his pitch count in his next scheduled start at home versus the Brewers. |
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Cole Ragans Cole Ragans Hit hard in Atlanta
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 8:56 AM
Ragans (0-1) took the loss Friday, giving up four runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and four walks over four innings as the Royals were downed 6-0 by Atlanta. He struck out five.
Analysis: It was a rough beginning to 2026 for the southpaw, as Ragans got taken deep by Ozzie Albies, Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris before getting the hook after 90 pitches (52 strikes). Ragans' first priority this season is just to stay healthy after he managed only 13 starts last season, and on that front his workload was encouraging, even if his command and control aren't yet in peak form. Ragans will look to bounce back in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Twins. |
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Jac Caglianone Jac Caglianone Idle against southpaw
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 12:09 PM
Caglianone isn't part of the starting lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: The lefty-hitting Caglianone will dodge a matchup with Chris Sale on Friday, allowing Starling Marte to draw the start in right field. Caglianone and Marte are expected to platoon to begin the season, but Caglianone could earn looks against left-handed pitching with a strong start. |
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Kyle Isbel Kyle Isbel On bench for season opener
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 12:06 PM
Isbel isn't part of the starting nine for Friday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: Isbel will take a seat for the Royals' season opener, as southpaw Chris Sale takes the mound for Atlanta. Isaac Collins, Lane Thomas and Starling Marte will fill the outfield from left to right Friday. |
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Eli Morgan Eli Morgan Optioned after getting 40-man spot
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 1:54 PM
The Royals selected Morgan's contract from Triple-A Omaha and optioned him to Omaha on Wednesday.
Analysis: The Royals will give Morgan a spot on the 40-man roster -- presumably to keep him from opting out of his minor-league deal -- but will stash him in the minors. Morgan had a rough 2025 season with the Cubs, but he posted a 3.27 ERA from 2022-to-2024 out of the Guardians' bullpen. |
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James McArthur James McArthur Out with elbow inflammation
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 12:27 PM
The Royals placed McArthur (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: McArthur had surgery last offseason to insert two screws into his right elbow to help stabilize a stress fracture and then had another procedure in July to remove the screws after they had caused an allergic reaction. The Royals are calling his injury elbow inflammation, and it's unclear when he might be ready for his season debut. |
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Michael Massey Michael Massey Sent to IL with strained calf
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 11:43 AM
The Royals placed Massey (calf) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Massey has been ramping things back up, and because the IL move is backdated to Sunday, he will be eligible for activation April 1. It's unclear whether he'll be ready to return from his calf strain by that time, but his absence is projected to be brief. |
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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Out with strained oblique
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 11:40 AM
The Royals placed Kolek (oblique) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Kolek strained his left oblique in late February. He's been throwing off a mound and appears close to returning to game action, though the righty could be assigned to Triple-A Omaha rather than the major-league club once he's healthy. |
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Drew Waters Drew Waters Booted from 40-man roster
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 11:35 AM
The Royals designated Waters for assignment Wednesday.
Analysis: Waters failed to crack the Opening Day roster and doesn't have minor-league options remaining, so he's headed to waivers. The 27-year-old outfielder sports a career .234/.300/.369 batting line and 31.1 percent strikeout rate over parts of four major-league seasons. |
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Michael Wacha Michael Wacha Tosses five frames in exhibition
Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 10:23 AM
Wacha allowed two runs on four hits and three walks across five innings in Monday's exhibition loss to the Rangers. He struck out five.
Analysis: In his final outing before the start of the regular season, Wacha turned in his longest appearance of the spring, tossing five serviceable frames, with the primary blemish coming on a Brandon Nimmo two-run homer in the third inning. It wasn't a stellar spring for the right-hander, who posted a 6.89 ERA and 1.72 WHIP with a 21:10 K:BB across 15.2 innings, though there shouldn't be too much stock put into the preseason performances of an established veteran. Coming off a 2025 campaign in which he registered a 3.86 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 31 starts and 172.2 innings -- his fourth consecutive season with an ERA below 4.00 -- Wacha will aim to remain a steady presence in the Royals' rotation entering 2026. |
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Matt Strahm Matt Strahm Delivers clean appearance
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 1:54 PM
Strahm (leg) tossed a perfect inning of relief Friday in the Royals' 5-2 loss to the Giants in Cactus League play.
Analysis: Strahm had been lifted from his previous spring appearance Wednesday after being struck in the left leg by a line drive, but he suffered nothing more than a contusion and felt well enough to get back on the mound two days later. The 34-year-old lefty is ready to go for Opening Day as he kicks off his second stint in the Royals organization after being acquired from the Phillies over the winter. Strahm is expected to be a key part of the bridge to closer Carlos Estevez. |
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