This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Estevez (shoulder) could begin a rehab assignment this week, MLB.com reports.
Estevez has been progressing in his recovery from a right rotator cuff strain, throwing bullpen sessions that have him on the verge of embarking on a rehab assignment. Given the right-hander's lengthy layoff, the Royals are likely to give him extended time to find his footing in the minor leagues before returning to the big-league roster. The 33-year-old has been out since April 1, initially due to a left foot contusion before suffering the shoulder injury in a rehab outing May 6.
... See More... See Less
Royals' James McArthur: Participating in throwing program
Rotowire
McArthur (elbow) began a throwing progression during the second half of the season and is on a bullpen schedule, per MLB.com.
McArthur missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from surgery to repair a fractured right elbow before suffering a setback during spring training. The right-hander ultimately underwent another procedure in late May due to recurring soreness and inflammation in the same elbow. It's a positive sign that McArthur has progressed to a throwing program, though he may be running out of time to return to big-league action in 2026.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Mears: Suffers another setback
Rotowire
Mears (shoulder/lat) suffered another setback and will undergo further testing this week, per MLB.com.
Mears has been sidelined since May 29 due to a right shoulder impingement, with his recovery previously delayed by a right lat strain revealed in a July 10 scan. The 29-year-old had progressed to mound work but has now suffered another apparent setback. Additional testing should provide further clarity on the right-hander's outlook, though the recurring setbacks are certainly concerning. Prior to hitting the shelf, Mears posted a 5.12 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB across 19.1 innings.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Bobby Witt: Plays hero in Tuesday's win
Rotowire
Witt went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Athletics.
Witt came through in the clutch, dropping a bloop single into left field with two outs in the ninth inning to bring home the winning run and give the Royals a walk-off victory. Since returning from an injured list stint due to tightness in his lower back, the star shortstop is slashing .340/.435/.528 with two homers, eight RBI, 16 runs and three stolen bases across 14 games. In total, Witt is hitting .287/.361/.460 with 15 homers, 47 RBI, 67 runs and 33 stolen bases over 108 contests.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino: Pair of hits in win
Rotowire
Pasquantino went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Athletics.
Pasquantino picked up a pair of hits, including an RBI double in the seventh inning. In two games since returning from an injured list stint due to right wrist soreness, the first baseman has gone 3-for-8 with two doubles. Overall, he's hitting .236/.320/.352 with six homers, 34 RBI, 34 runs and four stolen bases across 81 contests.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Carlos Duran: Earns win in debut
Rotowire
Duran (1-0) earned the win over the Athletics on Tuesday, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
Making his first appearance of the season, Duran worked a scoreless ninth inning before the Royals rallied for a walk-off victory. He was acquired from the Dodgers at the trade deadline and posted a 3.15 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 64:29 K:BB across 45.2 innings at Triple-A before making his debut Tuesday.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Daniel Lynch: Posts season-high workload Tuesday
Rotowire
Lynch did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Athletics, allowing one run on two hits and two walks with one strikeout over four innings.
Lynch allowed a run in the first inning but held the Athletics scoreless from there while throwing 27 of 45 pitches for strikes and generating just two whiffs. It was the 29-year-old's third straight start, and he completed four frames in an outing for the first time in more than two years. He owns a 2.83 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 41:16 K:BB across 54 innings this season and lines up for a home matchup with the Tigers this weekend.
The Royals recalled Duran from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Duran holds a 3.15 ERA and 64:29 KBB over 45.2 frames at the Triple-A level this season. His lone major-league appearance came in 2025 with the Athletics when he was charged with three runs while recording only one out.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Lucas Erceg: Demoted to minors
Rotowire
The Royals optioned Erceg to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
It's been a disastrous season for Erceg, who holds a 6.23 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 31:29 K:BB over 43.1 innings. The Royals finally ran out of patience with the reliever after he recorded just one out combined over his last two appearances. His spot on the roster will be filled by Carlos Duran.
Royals' Maikel Garcia: Collects two hits in return from IL
Rotowire
Garcia went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored and was caught stealing in Monday's 9-5 win over the Athletics.
In his first at-bat since June 22 after dealing with a muscle strain in his left hand, Garcia lined an RBI single in the first inning. The third baseman added another single in the second frame, marking his 20th multi-hit effort of the season. Garcia has had a disappointing 2026 due to both injuries and modest production, slashing .264/.321/.374 with three homers, 31 RBI, 33 runs and five stolen bases across 70 contests.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Jac Caglianone: Trio of hits in win
Rotowire
Caglianone went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in Monday's 9-5 win over the Athletics.
Caglianone recorded a trio of hits, including RBI singles in the sixth and eighth innings. The 23-year-old has been on fire in August, slashing .424/.443/.746 with five homers, 20 RBI, 10 runs and three stolen bases over his past 15 games. Overall, Caglianone has taken a major leap in his second big-league season, hitting .276/.327/.492 with 22 homers, 60 RBI, 57 runs and six stolen bases across 118 contests.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Bobby Witt: Fills up box score in win
Rotowire
Witt went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, a walk, a stolen base and three additional runs scored in Monday's 9-5 win over the Athletics.
The Athletics couldn't contain Witt, who crossed the plate a season-high four times Monday. Even with the Royals playing out the final stretch of a losing season, the superstar shortstop is looking to close out the campaign on a high note. Since coming off the injured list, Witt is batting .340 with two homers, four doubles, seven RBI and three stolen bases over his last 50 at-bats.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Steven Cruz: Locks down fifth save
Rotowire
Cruz threw a clean ninth inning to secure the save Monday against the Athletics.
Cruz continues to establish himself as Kansas City's favorite for saves. The right-hander has successfully converted each of his last five save chances, with each coming since July 22, and he's been scored upon just five times in his last 24 outings. Cruz, who has a 4.08 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 51:18 K:BB over 46.1 innings, should serve as the Royals' closer while the club continues to wait and see if Carlos Estevez (shoulder) will return this season.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Michael Wacha: Hurt by long ball in sixth win
Rotowire
Wacha (6-8) earned the win against the Athletics on Monday, allowing four runs on six hits and no walks in five innings. He struck out three.
Wacha had trouble keeping the ball in the yard Monday, serving up a season-high-tying three home runs. The veteran right-hander remains a mostly dependable member of Kansas City's rotation, pitching at least five innings in all but one of his 25 starts on the year while giving up more than four runs just three times. Wacha will bring a steady 3.58 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 120:41 K:BB over 155.2 innings into his next scheduled outing against the Tigers.
Rave is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Athletics.
The left-handed-hitting Rave has been playing fairly regularly since being recalled from Triple-A Omaha on July 29, but he'll likely see more limited opportunities moving forward after the Royals reinstated Vinnie Pasquantino (wrist) from the 10-day injured list Monday. With Pasquantino stepping back in as the Royals' everyday first baseman, Jac Caglianone is expected to displace Rave in the strong side of a platoon in right field.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Likely headed for drop in playing time
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Athletics.
Loftin will head to the bench after he started each of the last nine games while going just 4-for-31 (.129 average) with one stolen base, two runs and no RBI. With Maikel Garcia (hand) returning from the injured list Monday, Loftin's time as the Royals' primary third baseman is over, and he'll presumably be ticketed for a utility role.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Starling Marte: Removed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Royals designated Marte for assignment Monday.
Marte wound up being a casualty of the Royals' roster crunch, as the team needed to clear two spots after infielders Vinnie Pasquantino (wrist) and Maikel Garcia (hand) were reinstated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday's series opener versus the Athletics. Though the right-handed-hitting Marte received 75 percent of his plate appearances against left-handed pitching, he slashed just .242/.298/.314 with two home runs and two stolen bases in 59 games. Given the 37-year-old's lackluster offensive production along with his limited utility on defense at this stage of his career, he could end up going unclaimed off waivers.
0:36
0:33
1:21
1:58
0:56
1:17
1:34
0:53
0:46
1:12
1:40
13:02
1:19
0:25
0:55
1:20
1:25
1:22
1:01
0:20
