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Cole Ragans Cole Ragans Progressing in rehab
Sat, May 16, 2026, 11:59 AM
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Friday that Ragans (elbow) played catch with more volume and intensity and hopes to progress to mound work soon, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Analysis: Ragans landed on the 15-day injured list May 8 due to left elbow impingement, but the southpaw has quickly resumed playing catch with generally positive feedback and results. Thompson noted that Ragans threw a few pitches off the mound Friday, though it wasn't a formal bullpen session, and the tentative plan is for one more day of catch before progressing to full mound work. The Royals won't rush the 28-year-old and he still needs to continue checking boxes in rehab, but it appears Ragans could avoid a lengthy stay on the injured list beyond the minimum. |
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Bailey Falter Bailey Falter Activated from IL
Sat, May 16, 2026, 10:47 AM
The Royals reinstated Falter (elbow) from the injured list Saturday.
Analysis: Falter has been on the injured list since early April with left elbow inflammation, but he's been playing in rehab games at Triple-A Omaha since April 15. The 29-year-old posted a 2.70 ERA and 1.27 WHIP alongside a 19:3 K:BB over 13.1 innings during his month-long rehab assignment. Now fully healthy, he'll replace Matt Strahm (knee) in Kansas City's bullpen and likely take on a middle-relief role. |
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Matt Strahm Matt Strahm Placed on injured list
Sat, May 16, 2026, 10:40 AM
The Royals placed Strahm on the 15-day injured list Saturday with right knee inflammation.
Analysis: Strahm's knee began to bother him during his appearance Friday, and although the Royals' training staff allowed him to finish the inning, the team will now send him to the injured list. He'll trade places on the IL with Bailey Falter (elbow), who was activated in a corresponding move. |
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Michael Wacha Michael Wacha Posts quality start Friday
Sat, May 16, 2026, 7:54 AM
Wacha didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Cardinals, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk while fanning five across six innings.
Analysis: Wacha was unable to repeat what he'd done the last time out, when he tossed seven scoreless innings against the Tigers on May 9, but at least he posted a third consecutive quality start. Wacha owns a 2.25 ERA and a 14:4 K:BB across 20 innings in three appearances since the beginning of May, and he'll aim to keep it rolling in his next start against the Red Sox next week. |
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Steven Cruz Steven Cruz Tagged with loss in extras
Sat, May 16, 2026, 7:32 AM
Cruz (0-1) was tagged with the loss Friday against the Cardinals after allowing an unearned run on one hit and one walk across two-thirds of an inning.
Analysis: Cruz entered Friday's game to pitch the 11th inning in a 4-4 tie, but he allowed a two-out RBI single to Yohel Pozo, scoring Nathan Church. Cruz has made four appearances since returning to the big-league roster May 8, posting a 6:3 K:BB across 3.2 innings. This unearned run was the lone run he's given up in that span. |
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Lucas Erceg Lucas Erceg Blown save Friday
Sat, May 16, 2026, 7:28 AM
Erceg allowed an unearned run on two hits in an inning of work Friday against the Cardinals, striking out two. He was charged with a blown save.
Analysis: Erceg entered the game in the 10th inning with the Royals holding a one-run lead, but he allowed an RBI single to Alec Burleson that scored Thomas Saggese. This was Erceg's third blown save of the season, but perhaps more worrying is the fact that he's now allowed runs in his last two outings. Erceg has gone 10-for-13 in save chances this season while posting a 3.44 ERA and a 17:12 K:BB across 19 outings (18.1 innings). |
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Lucas Erceg Lucas Erceg Allows run in non-save situation
Fri, May 15, 2026, 11:09 AM
Erceg allowed one run on two hits and no walks with a strikeout over one inning in Thursday's 6-2 loss to the White Sox.
Analysis: Erceg, who had not pitched over the previous five days, entered with the Royals trailing in the eighth inning and surrendered an RBI single to Derek Hill to widen the deficit. Thursday's outing snapped a streak of eight consecutive scoreless innings for Erceg, who had also recorded five saves during that stretch. The right-hander owns a 3.63 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 15:12 K:BB with 10 saves across 17.1 innings and figures to continue operating as Kansas City's closer with Carlos Estevez (foot/shoulder) not close to returning from the injured list. |
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Luinder Avila Luinder Avila Fires two scoreless innings
Fri, May 15, 2026, 10:53 AM
Avila allowed no hits and two walks while striking out two over two scoreless innings in Thursday's 6-2 loss to the White Sox.
Analysis: After starter Kris Bubic lasted only four innings, Avila covered a pair of scoreless frames in relief. Avila surrendered runs in four of his first five big-league appearances this season, but the right-hander has now strung together three consecutive scoreless outings. Overall, he owns a 5.28 ERA and 1.83 WHIP with an elevated 5.3 BB/9 across 15.1 innings. |
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Kris Bubic Kris Bubic Struggles in loss Thursday
Thu, May 14, 2026, 10:51 PM
Bubic (3-2) took the loss against the White Sox on Thursday, pitching four innings and allowing five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out one batter.
Analysis: Bubic has handed a 1-0 lead before he took the mound but gave that up quickly when he surrendered a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. The left-hander pitched a clean second but then gave up three runs across the following two frames before being lifted. The five runs he allowed tied a season-worst mark in what turned out to be his shortest outing of the season. Bubic has given up one or zero runs in four of his nine starts, but he's also yielded four or more runs three times. Altogether, he's posted a mediocre 4.11 ERA and 1.23 WHIP along with a 51:26 K:BB over 50.1 innings on the season. |
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Vinnie Pasquantino Vinnie Pasquantino Drives in two runs Wednesday
Wed, May 13, 2026, 9:46 PM
Pasquantino went 1-for-4 with a two-run single during the Royals' 6-5 loss to the White Sox on Wednesday.
Analysis: Pasquantino tied things up at 3-3 in the fifth inning, when his single to center field brought home both Bobby Witt and Lane Thomas. It was the fourth time this season that Pasquantino logged two RBI in a game, and his 21 RBI are second-most on the Royals behind Witt (22). |
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Bobby Witt Jr. Bobby Witt Jr. Makes things interesting Wednesday
Wed, May 13, 2026, 9:43 PM
Witt went 1-for-3 with two walks and a two-run home run during the Royals' 6-5 loss to the White Sox on Wednesday.
Analysis: The Royals were down 6-3 heading into the ninth inning, but Witt made the White Sox fans nervous after smacking a two-run homer off Seranthony Dominguez. It was the seventh home run of the season for Witt, four of which have come over his last nine games. He is slashing .306/.378/.506 with 12 steals, 22 RBI and 22 runs scored across 193 plate appearances this season. |
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Seth Lugo Seth Lugo Yields five runs in loss
Wed, May 13, 2026, 9:40 PM
Lugo (1-3) took the loss against the White Sox on Wednesday, allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four across five innings.
Analysis: Lugo generated just three groundouts and five whiffs on 92 pitches during Wednesday's start. It was the fourth game in a row that he allowed at least 10 baserunners, and over that span he has produced a dreadful 7.59 ERA, 2.16 WHIP and 18:9 K:BB across 21.1 innings. Lugo will look to turn things around in his next start, which is lined up for next week at home against the Red Sox. |
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Kyle Isbel Kyle Isbel Idle against lefty
Wed, May 13, 2026, 5:21 PM
Isbel is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
Analysis: With southpaw Noah Schultz on the bump for Chicago, the Royals will stock up on some extra right-handed bats. Isbel will hit the bench along with fellow left-handed hitters Michael Massey, Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen. |
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Jac Caglianone Jac Caglianone Hitting bench versus lefty
Wed, May 13, 2026, 5:19 PM
Caglianone is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
Analysis: With southpaw Noah Schultz on the bump for Chicago, the Royals will stock up on some extra right-handed bats. Caglianone will hit the bench along with fellow left-handed hitters Michael Massey, Kyle Isbel and Carter Jensen. |
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Carter Jensen Carter Jensen Left out of starting nine
Wed, May 13, 2026, 5:18 PM
Jensen is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
Analysis: With southpaw Noah Schultz on the bump for Chicago, the Royals will stock up on some extra right-handed bats. Jensen will hit the bench along with fellow left-handed hitters Michael Massey, Kyle Isbel and Jac Caglianone. |
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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Tagged for five runs vs. White Sox
Tue, May 12, 2026, 11:09 PM
Kolek did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six over 4.2 innings.
Analysis: Kolek managed to keep Chicago off the board through four innings despite working through traffic early, including escaping a bases-loaded jam in the third. However, everything unraveled in the fifth inning, as Drew Romo launched a solo homer before Chase Meidroth followed later with a three-run shot that forced Kolek's exit. The outing marked his second start since returning from the injured list, and while the strikeout total was encouraging, the late collapse overshadowed the positives. He'll look to bounce back in his next scheduled outing against St. Louis. |
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Cole Ragans Cole Ragans Playing catch, still day-to-day
Tue, May 12, 2026, 5:31 PM
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Tuesday that Ragans (elbow) played catch two of the past three days and remains day-to-day, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Quatraro added that Tuesday's throwing session was better than Sunday's, and the expectation is Ragans will play catch again Wednesday, as he deals with a case of pitcher's elbow. Stephen Kolek is starting in Ragans' place Tuesday night and will fill his rotation spot while Ragans heals up on the 15-day injured list. It doesn't sound like Kansas City expects this to be a lengthy absence for its ace. |
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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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