Lugo (back) received a cortisone injection Thursday and will resume throwing Sunday or Monday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
The Royals placed Lugo on the injured list Thursday with a lower back strain and also gave him a cortisone shot to address the injury. He'll be back to throwing after a brief shutdown. The shutdown should have minimal impact on his return timeline.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Embarking on rehab assignment
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Ragans (shoulder) is expected to begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Ragans has spent the majority of the season on the IL and has been on the shelf since mid-June due to a left rotator cuff strain. He ramped up his throwing program with bullpen sessions in mid-August, and the 28-year-old southpaw has progressed enough in his recovery to embark on a rehab assignment. Royals manager Matt Quatraro relayed Friday that Ragans is scheduled to pitch two innings Sunday and could ramp up his workload barring any setbacks.
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Royals' Carson Roccaforte: Eclipses 40 steals
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Roccaforte is slashing .320/.409/.510 with four home runs, eight steals, a 13.1 percent walk rate and a 25.6 percent strikeout rate in 37 games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
The lefty-hitting center fielder was promoted to the Naturals on July 22 after slashing .237/.364/.466 with 13 home runs and 33 steals in 82 games for High-A Quad Cities. His .433 BABIP is propping up his Double-A slash line, but Roccaforte did cut his strikeout rate from 29.8 percent at High-A. The No. 66 overall pick in 2023, Roccaforte is the best defensive outfielder in the Royals system, but this is the first year he has flashed notable offensive upside. He is flirting with a 20/40 season (currently at 17 home runs, 41 steals) as a 23-year-old and is likely to spend most of 2026 at Triple-A.
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Royals' Adam Frazier: Starts comeback effort with homer
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Frazier went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Angels.
Frazier hit the first of the Royals' four solo shots to spark the comeback win. He continues to see a starting role between second base, designated hitter and the corner outfield, and he's earned a strong share of playing time by going 12-for-38 (.316) over his last 11 games. Frazier is up to a .270/.322/.373 slash line with six homers, 38 RBI, 37 runs scored and eight stolen bases over 116 games between the Royals and the Pirates this season.
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Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino: Goes yard in win
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Pasquantino went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Angels.
Pasquantino had cooled off after a stretch of nine homers in 14 games from Aug. 10-24. Entering Thursday, he had failed to log an extra-base hit while going 3-for-27 (.111) over his previous eight games. The first baseman has had a breakout year in terms of power with 29 homers over 138 games, and he's added a .258/.320/.467 slash line, 96 RBI, 58 runs scored, 22 doubles, one triple and one stolen base while occupying a starting role.
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Royals' Salvador Perez: Pops homer in win
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Perez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Angels.
Perez helped the Royals finish erasing the early 3-0 deficit they faced, as he went yard in the seventh inning to tie the game. The catcher has gone just 4-for-32 (.125) over his last nine games, though all four of his hits in that span have gone for extra bases. He's up to 24 homers, 78 RBI, 47 runs scored and 33 doubles while slashing .240/.284/.444 through 133 contests. Perez has remained the Royals' primary catcher even with prospect Carter Jensen getting a September call-up, as Jensen just made his first start at designated hitter in Thursday's contest. This may continue to be a trend as long as the Royals are within striking distance in the wild-card race, but don't be surprised to see Perez get more rest if they fall too far behind.
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Royals' Bobby Witt: Hits go-ahead solo shot
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Witt went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Angels.
Witt has hit four homers over his last 15 contests and now has 21 round-trippers on the season. During that 15-game sample, he's gone 20-for-61 (.328) at the plate, a couple steps above his .295 batting average for the year. The star shortstop has added an .860 OPS, 34 stolen bases, 77 RBI, 90 runs scored, 41 doubles and five triples over 138 games. It's a slightly down campaign compared to what Witt showed in 2024, but he's still undeniably one of the best category-coverage players in the majors.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Converts 37th save
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Estevez allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Angels.
Estevez has allowed just two hits while racking up nine strikeouts during his eight-inning scoreless streak. He's earned seven saves in that span and continues to lead the majors with 37 saves on the year. He's added a 2.54 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 52:20 K:BB through 60.1 innings this season and is unlikely to be challenged for the closing role during September.
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Royals' Noah Cameron: Shaky in no-decision
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Cameron allowed three runs on five hits and five walks while striking out five over five innings in a no-decision versus the Angels on Thursday.
Cameron initially wasn't expected to pitch versus the Angels, but he got the call for Thursday after Seth Lugo (back) was placed on the injured list. Cameron has been battling fatigue recently, but with Lugo joining Cole Ragans (shoulder) and Kris Bubic (shoulder) on the injured list, Cameron will likely need to stay in the rotation in September. He's allowed four or more runs in four of his eight starts since the All-Star break. He also matched his season high in walks Thursday, which he hadn't done since his big-league debut April 30 versus the Rays. Cameron has still been positive overall with a 3.03 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 88:36 K:BB across 113 innings through 20 starts, but it's clear his career-high workload across all levels is taking a toll. Assuming the Royals don't build in extra rest for the 26-year-old, he is projected to make his next start on the road in Cleveland.
The Royals recalled Kolek from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
The 28-year-old pitched six innings of one-run ball during his Royals debut last Saturday, and he'll now return to Kansas City to replace the injured Seth Lugo (back). Kolek is penciled in to make his next start Saturday against a Twins offense that has posted a .727 OPS over its last 15 games despite a 4-11 record in that span.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Lands on injured list
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The Royals placed Lugo on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a lower-back strain, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The Royals originally planned to push Lugo's next start back to Saturday after he reported tightness in his lower back. However, he didn't feel any improvement while playing catch Thursday and will now spend the next couple of weeks on the shelf in order to get back to 100 percent. Stephen Kolek was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move and is expected to start Saturday's game against the Twins.
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Royals' Jac Caglianone: Sitting out Thursday
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Caglianone isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels.
Caglianone will sit down for the second time in three games since returning from the injured list while the Royals ease him back into major-league action. His absence will give Carter Jensen a start as Kansas City's designated hitter while batting eighth.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Tosses live batting practice
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Ragans (shoulder) threw a 30-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Ragans' recovery from a torn left rotator cuff has been slow and deliberate, with Wednesday marking his first time facing live hitters since he was placed on the injured list June 11. While no firm timeline has been set for Ragans' return, the next step for the 27-year-old would likely be heading out on a rehab assignment to build up his pitch count with the hope of rejoining the big club in the second half of September.
Bergert didn't factor into the decision against the Angels on Wednesday, allowing one run on one hit and three walks while striking out six over five innings.
The right-hander was in control for most of the outing, allowing just three baserunners through five frames before exiting after issuing a walk to Zach Neto to lead off the sixth. That runner later came around to score on a Jo Adell homer, leaving Bergert with his lone earned run. Since joining the Royals, Bergert has been remarkably steady, not allowing more than two runs in any of his starts while completing at least five innings in each. Over that stretch, the 25-year-old has posted a 2.43 ERA with a 31:11 K:BB through 33.1 innings, and his next turn against Cleveland presents another favorable matchup given the Guardians' offensive struggles.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Next start pushed back
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Manager Matt Quatraro said Wednesday that Lugo's next start will be delayed due to lower-back tightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lugo reported tightness in his back Monday, so the Royals will give him a few extra days to recover before sending him back to the mound. The 35-year-old was initially lined up to start Thursday's series finale against the Angels, but that game will now instead belong to Noah Cameron. No official starter has been named for Saturday's contest against the Twins, however, so Kansas City may look to get Lugo on the bump then if his back cooperates.
