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Strahm allowed no hits and a walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning in Friday's win against the Mariners.
Strahm entered with a one-run lead in the eighth inning and worked a clean frame to record his eighth hold of the season. The southpaw has logged nine scoreless outings across 12 appearances in 2026. Across 11.2 innings, the 34-year-old owns a 3.86 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with a 14:6 K:BB and has served as one of the Royals' top high-leverage arms, though the ninth inning has belonged to Lucas Erceg while Carlos Estevez (foot) has been sidelined.
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Royals' Matt Strahm: Delivers clean appearance
Rotowire
Strahm (leg) tossed a perfect inning of relief Friday in the Royals' 5-2 loss to the Giants in Cactus League play.
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.
Strahm was removed from Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Rangers with a left leg contusion, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Strahm was lifted immediately after taking a comebacker off his leg in the fifth inning of Wednesday's contest. Manager Matt Quatraro said after the game that the left-hander's removal was precautionary, and the team isn't too concerned about his status going forward -- a good sign that he'll be ready to go for Opening Day.
Strahm allowed a hit and no walks across a scoreless inning in Sunday's Cactus League win over the Brewers. He struck out one.
Strahm entered in the fifth inning to make his spring debut, working around a leadoff single by Cooper Pratt to retire the side without allowing a run. The veteran left-hander, who began his big-league career with the Royals in 2016, was acquired by Kansas City from Philadelphia in December in exchange for Jonathan Bowlan. Strahm is coming off a 2.74 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with a 10.1 K/9 across 62.1 regular-season innings out of the bullpen last season and figures to handle plenty of high-leverage opportunities for the Royals in 2026.
The Royals acquired Strahm from the Phillies on Friday in exchange for Jonathan Bowlan, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
It's a homecoming for Strahm, who was drafted by and first reached the majors with the Royals. The left-hander has been one of the best relievers in baseball in recent years, posting a 2.71 ERA, 30.5 percent strikeout rate and 6.2 percent walk rate over the last three regular seasons for the Phillies. Strahm will fill a high-leverage role ahead of closer Carlos Estevez.
Strahm's $7.5 million option for 2026 has vested after he passed a physical, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The option increased from $4.5 million to $7.5 million after Strahn reached an innings-pitched threshold in 2025, and it became guaranteed after the reliever passed a physical. Strahm held a 2.74 ERA and 70:20 K:BB over 62.1 innings this season and will fill a high-leverage role in the Phillies' bullpen again in 2026.
Strahm struck out two in a clean eighth inning for a hold Saturday against the Marlins.
Strahm tied his career high with his 18th hold of the season Saturday. The left-hander has allowed a lone earned run over his last 12 outings, and he should remain a key component of the Philadelphia bullen to close out the campaign. Through 57.1 innings, Strahm owns a 2.83 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 67:18 K:BB.
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Phillies' Matt Strahm: Settling back into setup role
Rotowire
Strahm picked up a hold in Saturday's 3-2 win over Texas, allowing one run on one hit and no walks in the eighth inning. He struck out one.
After spending a brief time in a committee at closer with Orion Kerkering amid Jordan Romano's struggles, Strahm has fallen back down the pecking order in Philadelphia's bullpen since Jhoan Duran was added to the mix. With Jose Alvarado also set to be reinstated from his 80-game suspension later in August, Strahm will likely soon have even more competition for high-leverage work. Strahm hasn't seen a save opportunity since July 13 in San Diego, though he does sport a 2.13 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB over his last 13 outings (12.2 innings).
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