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Alex Lange Allows Five Runs in Non-Save Situation, Should Managers Be Concerned?
Kansas City Royals right-hander Alex Lange had a rough outing on Friday, allowing five earned runs while recording just one out in the seventh inning of his team's 22-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Lange has emerged as the primary closer in Kansas City, recording six saves in June. Entering play on Friday, the 30-year-old had allowed just two earned runs while notching 13 strikeouts across 10 innings pitched this month. The Royals were trailing 16-1 when Lange entered the game on Friday, which may help explain why he wasn't as locked in as he's been in recent appearances. Several of Kansas City's other high-leverage options, such as Lucas Erceg and John Schreiber, also allowed multiple earned runs on Friday in the blowout loss. Fantasy managers should take note of Lange's miserable showing, but should not necessarily panic given the circumstances.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Alex Lange Sharp En Route to Earning Sixth Save, Remains a Must-Roster Closer?
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Alex Lange has emerged from a crowded committee to be the team's go-to option at the end of the game, and the 30-year-old righty picked up another save on Monday. He came on in the ninth inning of a one-run game against the Rays and retired the side in order with one strikeout. On the season, he has a 3.86 ERA and 3.76 FIP, and he has earned all six of his saves in his 10 outings in June while allowing two earned runs and striking out 12 in 10 innings. Lange seems to have a firm grasp on the closer job for now in Kansas City, making him a great pickup from the waiver wire if you need saves in the short-term. In the long term, he could end up as an available arm on the open market if the Royals decide to sell, or he could also lose his role to Carlos Estevez (shoulder), who is on the 60-day IL and working his way back from a shoulder injury. For now, though, Lange is one of the best options for saves on most leagues' waiver wires.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Carlos Estevez Transferred to 60-Day Injured List
The Kansas City Royals announced that they have transferred relief pitcher Carlos Estevez (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list. It's a procedural move for the team, as Estevez has been out since late March and remains eligible to return at any time. The veteran right-hander first hit the IL with a foot injury, but then suffered a rotator cuff strain during a rehab appearance in early May. Estevez was shelled in his lone outing of 2026, allowing six earned runs while recording just one out. His average fastball velocity in that appearance was 91.3 miles per hour, a significant drop-off from his average fastball velocity of 96.1 mph in 2025. Estevez was a highly valuable fantasy closer in 2025, pitching to a 2.45 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 54 strikeouts and 42 saves across 66 innings. Kansas City has had major difficulty filling the ninth-inning role this season, so Estevez could immediately take over as the closer upon his return. However, the 33-year-old currently remains without a firm return timetable and has yet to progress to throwing off a mound.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
Alex Lange Struggles Again, Losing Grip on the Royals Closer Job?
Kansas City Royals right-hander Alex Lange (0-4) took the loss in Saturday's 8-7 loss to the Astros. Lange allowed a run on one hit and a walk while striking out one across 1 2/3 innings. He had been rolling earlier in the season, posting nine straight scoreless appearances from May 20 through June 9 before giving up three runs over his last two outings. On the year, Lange owns a 4.13 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 32⅔ innings. He's shown the ability to miss bats in those spots, evidenced by his 9.9 K/9. With some recent inconsistency in the Royals' bullpen and Carlos Estevez (shoulder) still on the injured list, the Royals could turn back to Lucas Erceg if he continues to struggle. Despite his recent hiccups, Lange is still widely available (25% of Yahoo Leagues) and is worth rostering for fantasy managers searching for saves.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Carlos Estevez Ramping Up Intensity and Volume
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez (shoulder) has begun throwing from flat ground and has ramped up both the intensity and volume of his work. While there have been no reports regarding the total number of throws or the distance involved, it is nonetheless a positive sign for a pitcher who has missed most of the season with a right rotator cuff strain. There is no timetable for his return, nor is it known what the next steps in his recovery will be, but it is evident that the 33-year-old is on the mend and moving in the right direction. The Royals will likely continue to bring him along slowly, given the nature of the injury and concerns surrounding his velocity during Spring Training. When he does return, there is no guarantee he will reclaim the role of the team's closer, despite the uncertainty developing at the back end of the bullpen between Lucas Erceg and Alex Lange.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Alex Lange Earns Another Save for Royals, Quickly Entering Must-Roster Territory
Kansas City Royals' reliever Alex Lange picked up his fourth save on Tuesday, working one inning, allowing one walk, and recording two strikeouts. The save was Lange's fourth in the past week, as he appears to be the front-runner as the Royals' preferred closer at this time. Lucas Erceg, who has been closing games out for the majority of the year, is struggling immensely with a 6.00 ERA and 1.96 WHIP, and has six blown saves. Lange, on the other hand, is now a perfect 4-for-4 in save chances and has a 1.37 WHIP, 3.90 ERA, and 33 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched. Lange has some experience closing out games, dating back to 2023 with the Tigers, where he converted 26 saves and posted a 3.68 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. Considering Lange has recorded four of the last five saves for the Royals and four in the past week, he is becoming a must-add player in all formats where saves are scarce. Carlos Estevez (shoulder), who was the Royals' projected closer coming into the season, has been rehabbing a shoulder and foot injury and doesn't appear to be progressing as the Royals had hoped, which should further solidify Lange as the Royals' reliever to have for the time being.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Is Daniel Lynch IV Emerging as a High-End Closer Stash?
Kansas City Royals left-hander Daniel Lynch IV has emerged as a key piece of his team's bullpen in 2026, pitching to a 1.71 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and one save across 26 1/3 innings (26 games). The 29-year-old is averaging a career-high 94.8 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out 27.1% of the batters he's faced this season. After removing the struggling Lucas Erceg from their closer role, the Royals have opted for veteran right-hander Alex Lange in the ninth inning in recent games. Lange has converted all three of his save chances so far, but he's struggled with command throughout his career and owns a 4.03 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 2026. Should Lange fail to lock down the closer role in Kansas City, Lynch IV could be the next man up. In deeper fantasy leagues, managers may want to consider stashing Lynch IV as a potential source of saves.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Lucas Erceg Bounces Back to Earn 12th Save, Is he Back on the Fantasy Radar?
Kansas City Royals reliever Lucas Erceg bounced back on Sunday against the Minnesota Twins to earn his 12th save of the season. Unfortunately for Erceg, Alex Lange had recorded the previous three saves that week on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. It's entirely possible that Lange was down on Sunday due to his volume the previous handful of days, but nonetheless, Erceg entered the ninth inning with one out to protect a 6-4 lead while inheriting a baserunner who had already doubled. He allowed two hits but preserved the save. His season line is not good, evidenced by his 6.00 ERA and 1.96 WHIP, and the Royals have started to look elsewhere for save opportunities, and fantasy managers should be doing the same. All signs point to Lange as the preferred option at this point; at best, it will be a committee, and Erceg does not have good surface numbers, making it hard to justify rostering him moving forward. In deeper formats where saves remain scarce, he can continue to be rostered, though with little confidence.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Alex Lange Earns Third Save, Quickly Entering Must-Roster Status
Kansas City Royals reliever Alex Lange worked a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to close out a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. He allowed one hit and struck out three while recording his third save of the season. Lange now owns a 4.03 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 31 strikeouts, 15 walks, three saves, and one hold across 29 innings. The overall numbers are not spotless, but the recent usage is what matters for fantasy managers. Lange has converted three straight saves with Lucas Erceg struggling, and he has allowed a run in just one of his last 12 outings. During that stretch, he has posted a 0.75 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 11:3 K:BB across 12 innings. Rostered in only 7% of Yahoo leagues, Lange should be treated as a priority waiver wire pickup for managers chasing saves.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Alex Lange Earns Another Save for Royals, Emerging as Priority Waiver-Wire Target
Kansas City Royals right-hander Alex Lange has picked up back-to-back saves over the Royals' last two games and is emerging as a waiver wire pickup for leagues where save opportunities are scarce. The Royals' bullpen has been a bit of a carousel with Carlos Estevez (shoulder) landing on the IL in April, and Lucas Erceg struggling of late and only converting 11 of 17 save opportunities with a 1.97 WHIP and 6.45 ERA on the season. Lange is no secret to closing, having converted on 26 saves in 2023 with the Tigers. On the season, Lange has a 4.18 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts in 28 innings pitched. While Lange may not be a long-term option or have elite stuff, he could be the new "flavor of the week" at the closer position and can help fantasy managers convert on some saves in the short-term.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Royals to Mix and Match in Ninth With Lucas Erceg Struggling
Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that he will match up the ninth inning based on availability and situations moving forward in the short term, but he still views right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg as a ninth-inning option in the long term, according to Royals broadcaster Joel Goldberg. Erceg has been the team's primary option for saves since veteran Carlos Estevez (shoulder) went down due to injury after his first appearance of the year in late March, but the 31-year-old blew his sixth save of the season on Tuesday and has a rough 6.45 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, and 20:15 K:BB along with his 11 saves in 22 1/3 innings pitched so far in 2026. The Royals called upon Alex Lange to close out the win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, and he, Daniel Lynch, and Matt Strahm could start seeing more chances in the ninth inning with Erceg struggling for consistency. Once Estevez returns from the injured list, whenever that may be, he could be the favorite for saves in KC the rest of the way, making him a stash candidate now for fantasy managers in need of saves options.
Source: Joel Goldberg
Source: Joel Goldberg
Alex Lange Earns First Save, Is he the New Closer to Roster in Kansas City?
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Alex Lange picked up his first save of the season on Wednesday in his 25th appearance. He gave up a hit and a walk but didn't allow any runs, making a 5-2 lead stand up against the Reds. Lange had 26 saves in 2023 with the Tigers, but he has a 4.33 ERA and 3.77 FIP in his 27 innings in 25 games this year. With Lucas Erceg struggling and Carlos Estevez (shoulder) sidelined, the Royals' bullpen does offer some interesting save opportunities. Lange could be a part of the committee while Estevez continues to work his way back, and he's trending up after allowing only one run in his last 10 games. He's still a speculative addition at this point, but in deep leagues, he's definitely worth watching on the waiver wire if you need saves.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Should Managers Cut Ties with Lucas Erceg After Another Blown Save?
Kansas City Royals right-hander Lucas Erceg was tagged with his sixth blown save of the season on Tuesday night, allowing two hits, a walk, and an earned run in the ninth inning of his team's 4-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. While the 31-year-old has recorded 11 saves in 2026, he's recorded a 6.45 ERA and 1.97 WHIP across 22 1/3 innings. Control has been a major problem for Erceg, as he's walked 14.4% of the batters he's faced. Erceg has also allowed nine earned runs and blown three saves across his last four appearances, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him removed from the ninth-inning role in Kansas City entirely. Even if Erceg continues to earn the occasional save for the Royals, the damage he's done in the ratio categories may not make it worth it for fantasy managers. Particularly in shallower leagues, managers should feel comfortable moving on.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Lucas Erceg Struggles Again, Losing Fantasy Relevance
Royals right-hander Lucas Erceg endured another rough outing on Saturday against the Rangers, failing to record an out while allowing three runs on five hits, including a home run. The appearance marked his third consecutive outing in which he surrendered multiple runs, continuing a troubling stretch after a strong start to the season. Erceg now owns a 6.33 ERA, 1.92 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts across 21 1/3 innings. The 31-year-old has struggled to replicate the success he enjoyed in 2025, when he posted a 2.64 ERA in 61 appearances. His walk rate has jumped from 7.2 percent last season to 13.3 percent this year, contributing to the decline. While his 4.17 xERA offers some optimism, fantasy managers may want to look elsewhere until he regains consistency.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Carlos Estevez Resumes Playing Catch on Wednesday
Kansas City Royals veteran right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (shoulder) suffered a right rotator-cuff strain while rehabbing a foot injury on May 6, but he resumed playing catch on Wednesday, May 27, according to MLB.com. Estevez got bombed for four runs in just one-third of an inning against the Atlanta Braves in his season debut on March 28 and has been on the 15-day injured list ever since. In addition to a foot injury he suffered in that outing, Estevez was working through a noticeable dip in velocity, which was an issue in spring training as well. It's positive news that the 33-year-old is throwing again, but he has a ways to go before he'll be an option late in games for the Royals again, and he might not return until early July. Despite the disappointing season so far, his track record (124 career saves) and Lucas Erceg's struggles in the ninth inning in his absence make him a stash candidate for saves-needy fantasy managers in deeper leagues. Estevez is rostered in half of Yahoo leagues currently.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
