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Nick Mears Nick Mears Takes loss in relief Friday
Sat, May 23, 2026, 8:55 AM
Mears (2-3) was tagged with the loss in relief Friday against the Mariners after allowing two runs on one hit and one walk over one inning.
Analysis: Mears has been struggling of late and has given up runs in three of his last four outings, posting an alarming 9.64 ERA and 1.93 WHIP over 4.2 innings in that stretch. While a four-game sample isn't big enough to draw significant concerns, Mears is clearly trending in the wrong direction after he gave up just three earned runs in his first 16 outings (14.0 innings) this season. |
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Noah Cameron Noah Cameron Quality start in no-decision
Sat, May 23, 2026, 8:42 AM
Cameron didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Mariners after tossing six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out eight.
Analysis: The eight strikeouts were a season-high mark for Cameron, who also snapped a streak of six starts allowing at least three earned runs with this strong outing. The southpaw has three quality starts over his last five outings while posting a 27:10 K:BB in 27.2 innings in that stretch. His next start will be a tough one, however, as he's slated to pitch against the Yankees at home next week. |
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Cole Ragans Cole Ragans Beginning rehab assignment Saturday
Fri, May 22, 2026, 2:24 PM
The Royals announced Friday that Ragans (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.
Analysis: Ragans has been sidelined since May 6 with an elbow impingement but has been throwing bullpen sessions for the past week. He's now ready to face live hitters in a game setting and shouldn't need more than one or two rehab starts before rejoining the Royals' rotation. The left-hander has a 4.84 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 45:23 K:BB across 35.1 innings this season. Ragans has elite swing-and-miss stuff, but his 15.2 percent walk rate is in just the sixth percentile leaguewide, while opponents also have a sky-high 15.7 percent barrel rate against Ragans. |
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Elias Diaz Elias Diaz Booted from 40-man roster
Fri, May 22, 2026, 2:17 PM
The Royals designated Diaz for assignment Friday.
Analysis: Diaz has shown some extra-base pop in 10 games with the Royals this season, slashing .227/.261/.591 with a pair of doubles, two homers, five RBI, three runs scored and a 1:5 BB:K across 23 plate appearances. He's now been booted from the 40-man roster. |
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Tyler Tolbert Tyler Tolbert Recalled from Triple-A
Fri, May 22, 2026, 2:13 PM
The Royals recalled Tolbert from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Analysis: To make room on the 26-man roster, the Royals DFA'd Elias Diaz. Tolbert has appeared in seven games for Kansas City this season and is a career .273/.311/.364 hitter across 62 plate appearances. He's hit .260/.365/.288 with just two extra-base hits, five RBI, 11 runs scored, eight stolen bases and a 12:21 BB:K across 86 trips to the plate at Triple-A this season. |
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Matt Strahm Matt Strahm Receives injection for knee injury
Thu, May 21, 2026, 11:16 AM
Strahm received an injection Monday to help with symptoms of right knee inflammation, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Strahm was placed on the injured list Saturday after patellar tendinitis flared up during his outing Friday. While a formal recovery timeline hasn't been established, the southpaw plans to keep his arm in shape as much as possible while rehabbing his knee back to full strength. Before being shelved, Strahm logged 16.1 innings with a 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB in 2026. |
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Elias Diaz Elias Diaz Goes yard in loss
Thu, May 21, 2026, 10:36 AM
Diaz went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 4-3 loss against the Red Sox.
Analysis: Diaz put his club ahead with a two-run, 102.5 mph rocket over the left-center field wall in the fifth inning, though the bullpen would relinquish the lead as the Royals were unable to avoid being swept. As the third catcher on the roster behind Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen, playing opportunities for Diaz have been sporadic and limited. The veteran has gone 5-for-22 (.227) with four extra-base hits (two homers), five RBI and three runs scored across 10 appearances. |
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Lane Thomas Lane Thomas Pinch-hits in loss
Wed, May 20, 2026, 11:15 PM
Thomas (hamstring) went 0-for-1 with a flyout in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox.
Analysis: Thomas was removed from Tuesday's game with hamstring soreness, but he's evidently healthy enough to take at-bats. With Aroldis Chapman on the mound for Boston in the bottom of the ninth inning, Thomas pinch-hit for lefty Kyle Isbel. Thomas is just 4-for-26 (.154) with one double, four RBI and a 6:10 BB:K this month, dropping his OPS to .619 across 108 plate appearances on the season. |
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Salvador Perez Salvador Perez Swats eighth homer in loss
Wed, May 20, 2026, 11:05 PM
Perez went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox.
Analysis: Perez got the scoring started by taking lefty Connelly Early deep on a 94 mph fastball in the bottom of the first inning. He later singled in the sixth and eighth innings, giving Perez his third three-hit game of the season. After seeing his average dip below the Mendoza Line with an 0-for-5 start to the series against the Red Sox, Perez is now slashing .211/.259/.368 with eight home runs, 21 RBI, 18 runs scored and a 9:42 BB:K across 201 plate appearances this season. After being in the 91st percentile with a 14.8 percent barrel rate last season, Perez is barreling just 8.5 percent of his batted balls in 2026. He's also experienced sharp declines in his hard-hit rate and bat speed at 36 years old. |
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Michael Wacha Michael Wacha Quality start in no-decision
Wed, May 20, 2026, 10:58 PM
Wacha didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts across six innings.
Analysis: All four of Wacha's outings this month have resulted in quality starts. He left with a 3-2 lead Wednesday, but Steven Cruz coughed up a two-run homer to Jarren Duran in the top of the seventh inning to spoil a potential victory for Wacha. The right-hander still racked up a season-high eight strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 2.70 with a career-best 1.03 WHIP and 55:20 K:BB across 63.1 innings this season. Wacha is slated to make his next start at home against the Yankees on Monday. |
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Lane Thomas Lane Thomas Nursing hamstring injury
Wed, May 20, 2026, 4:08 PM
Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters that Thomas will not be in the starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the Red Sox due to hamstring soreness, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Analysis: Thomas tweaked his hamstring during Tuesday's loss to Boston, but the injury is considered to be minor. He'll be available off the bench for Wednesday's contest while Isaac Collins, Kyle Isbel and Jac Caglianone will start in the outfield from left to right. With the Royals having an off-day Thursday, Thomas could be available for Friday's series opener against the Mariners. |
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Michael Massey Michael Massey Left out of lineup vs. lefty
Wed, May 20, 2026, 2:30 PM
Massey is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: He'll hit the bench for the second day in a row while the Red Sox send another lefty starter (Connelly Early) to the hill. Nick Loftin will pick up a start at second base in place of Massey. |
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Carter Jensen Carter Jensen Getting day off against lefty
Wed, May 20, 2026, 2:29 PM
Jensen is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: After starting and going 1-for-3 with a double in Tuesday's 7-1 loss while southpaw Ranger Suarez took the bump for Boston, the left-handed-hitting Jensen will move to the bench for the series finale. Elias Diaz will fill in for Jensen behind the dish as the Red Sox send another southpaw (Connelly Early) to the bump. |
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Vinnie Pasquantino Vinnie Pasquantino Idle against southpaw
Wed, May 20, 2026, 2:21 PM
Pasquantino is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: After starting and going 0-for-3 with a walk in Tuesday's 7-1 loss while southpaw Ranger Suarez took the bump for Boston, the left-handed-hitting Pasquantino will move to the bench for the series finale. Salvador Perez will fill in for Pasquantino at first base as the Red Sox send another southpaw (Connelly Early) to the bump. |
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John Schreiber John Schreiber Delivers scoreless frame in loss
Wed, May 20, 2026, 11:21 AM
Schreiber allowed a hit and no walks while striking out two over a scoreless inning Tuesday against Boston.
Analysis: Schreiber entered in the sixth inning with his club facing a one-run deficit and was able to keep it there, though the offense never rallied and the relievers who followed him coughed up five more runs in Tuesday's loss. The right-hander has tallied multiple punchouts in back-to-back appearances after failing to do so in his first 19 outings of the season. Overall, Schreiber owns a 3.26 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 11:10 K:BB across 19.1 innings and hasn't seen many high-leverage opportunities, as his lone save came March 30. |
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Lane Thomas Lane Thomas Tallies RBI double
Wed, May 20, 2026, 11:14 AM
Thomas went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and was caught stealing in Tuesday's 7-1 loss to Boston.
Analysis: Thomas started the scoring for Kansas City with an RBI double in the first inning, though the Royals wouldn't score again in the loss. Tuesday marked the 30-year-old's second multi-hit effort of the campaign and his first since April 26. Known for his ability to hit left-handed pitching, the outfielder owns an .826 OPS across 51 plate appearances versus southpaws compared to a .456 mark across 56 plate appearances against right-handers this season. Overall, Thomas is slashing .212/.355/.271 with a homer, two doubles, nine RBI, eight runs and three stolen bases across 38 games. |
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Isaac Collins Isaac Collins Taking seat Tuesday
Tue, May 19, 2026, 2:10 PM
Collins is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: It looks to be a routine day off for Collins, who had started each of the previous eight contests. Starling Marte is playing left field and batting sixth for the Royals. |
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Jac Caglianone Jac Caglianone Pair of doubles in loss
Tue, May 19, 2026, 8:33 AM
Caglianone went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Red Sox.
Analysis: Caglianone accounted for two of the Royals' six hits, and he drove in just his 10th run of the season with an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning. He now has two straight multi-hit games and is slashing .254/.322/.442 with five homers, 10 RBI, 18 runs scored and a 12:43 BB:K across 152 plate appearances this season. Caglianone has a strong batted-ball profile, as he's in the 95th percentile or better in average exit velocity (94 mph), barrel rate (17.6 percent), hard-hit rate (54.9 percent) and bat speed (76.5 mph), but the results haven't been there in a Kansas City offense that has struggled as a whole. |
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Seth Lugo Seth Lugo Takes tough-luck loss Monday
Tue, May 19, 2026, 8:24 AM
Lugo (1-4) took the loss Monday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts across six innings.
Analysis: Despite logging a quality start, Lugo made a mistake pitch to Willson Contreras in the sixth inning that resulted in a two-run home run and was saddled with his fourth loss. It was still a nice bounce-back outing for the right-hander after he allowed a total of nine runs on 15 hits and six walks across nine innings in his previous two outings. Lugo owns a 3.68 ERA, career-worst 1.40 WHIP and 51:21 K:BB across 58.2 innings. His .343 BABIP against is significantly higher than his .266 mark last season. |
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Cole Ragans Cole Ragans Another bullpen on tap
Mon, May 18, 2026, 9:10 PM
Ragans (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Ragans felt strong after firing a 30-pitch bullpen Sunday, setting him up for another side session Tuesday. It remains to be seen whether the southpaw will need a rehab assignment, but either way, he appears on track to return from the injured list when first eligible or shortly after. |
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