RADIO
Kris Bubic Tosses Scoreless Inning in Rehab Outing
Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (elbow) made a minor-league rehab appearance with Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday and tossed a clean inning with no walks and one strikeout against Triple-A Columbus. He threw six of his eight pitches for strikes during the outing. Bubic had his first rehab assignment stopped after he experienced shoulder discomfort following an outing on June 9, but he has since restarted a rehab assignment, and he could be an option to rejoin KC's starting rotation before the All-Star break next month. He is next scheduled to go two innings for Omaha on Saturday as he continues to build up his left arm. The 28-year-old southpaw was a first-time All-Star in 2025 and went 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA (3.72 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP with 51 strikeouts and 26 walks in 50 1/3 innings across his nine starts this year before going on the shelf. Bubic is rostered in almost half of Yahoo leagues, and the Royals will welcome him back with open arms when he's ready, with fellow lefty Cole Ragans potentially needing season-ending surgery on his elbow.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Stephen Kolek Placed on Paternity List
The Kansas City Royals will place right-hander Stephen Kolek on the paternity list on Thursday as he heads home for the birth of his first child, according to Joel Goldbert of Bally Sports KC. The Royals will need to fill his spot in the starting rotation for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. Kolek will be away from the team for one to three days, so he could return before the weekend series is over to face the Pale Hose, but if not, his next start will come early next week at home against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 29-year-old former 11th-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018 out of Texas A&M University has gone 4-2 on the year wiht a 4.15 ERA (4.54 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 34 strikeouts and 11 walks in 52 innings across nine starts in his first full year with the Royals, but he's coming off his worst start of the year, allowing nine earned runs on nine hits (three homers) while walking one and striking out none in just 1 1/3 frames on June 21 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Before that, though, Kolek allowed just three earned runs with four walks and 15 K's in his previous three starts.
Source: Bally Sports Kansas City - Joel Goldberg
Source: Bally Sports Kansas City - Joel Goldberg
Noah Cameron Still Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup After Rough Start?
Kansas City Royals left-hander Noah Cameron had a rough outing on Wednesday night against the first-place Tampa Bay Rays, allowing five earned runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out five in five innings to pick up his fifth loss of the 2026 season. Cameron has now allowed 13 runs (12 earned) on 23 hits (two homers) while walking five and striking out 12 in 14 1/3 innings over his last three starts against the Rays, Houston Astros, and St. Louis Cardinals. The 26-year-old southpaw is 4-5 on the year with a 4.50 ERA (3.43 FIP) and 1.32 WHIP with 75 strikeouts and 22 walks in 80 innings across his 15 starts in 2026 in just his second year in the majors. Last year, Cameron had a 2.99 ERA (4.18 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, and 114:43 K:BB across his 24 starts (138 1/3 frames) in his MLB debut. Before his recent three-game stretch with less-than-stellar results, Cameron had a 1.13 ERA in 24 innings over four outings. He's hit a bit of a rough patch, and he'll get the tough Rays in a rematch the next time he toes the rubber.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Kris Bubic Expected to Begin Rehab Assignment on Wednesday
Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (elbow) is expected to start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday night, the team announced. Bubic will give it another try with a rehab assignment after previously being pulled from his rehab assignment with Omaha on June 9, after he experienced shoulder discomfort. The 28-year-old southpaw initially landed on the 15-day injured list on May 18 with soreness in his left elbow. He has been cleared to make another rehab start after throwing a two-inning simulated live bullpen session over the weekend. The Royals will likely require Bubic to make more than one rehab assignment, so he could be pushing it close to returning before the All-Star break in mid-July. KC could use the rotation reinforcement with fellow left-hander Cole Ragans potentially needing season-ending elbow surgery. Before his elbow injury, Bubic had gone 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA (3.72 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP with 51 strikeouts and 26 walks in 50 1/3 innings across nine starts. He was a first-time All-Star in 2025 and is a pitching stash candidate off the waiver wire for rotation depth in the second half. Bubic is rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
Cole Ragans Likely to Need Elbow Surgery
Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that left-hander Cole Ragans (elbow) will likely need some sort of surgery on his left elbow, but the Royals aren't sure of the exact procedure or if he'll be able to return in 2026, according to Brian Murphy of MLB.com. Ragans will get another opinion from a doctor, at which point the Royals should know more. Now on the 60-day injured list, the talented southpaw has been sidelined since early May with what was originally being called a left-elbow impingement. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues shouldn't drop Ragans just yet, but the likelihood is increasing that he won't pitch again this season. The 28-year-old former 30th overall pick by the Texas Rangers in 2016 was a first-time All-Star during his breakout 2024 campaign, when he went 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA (2.99 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, and 223:67 K:BB in 186 1/3 innings across 32 starts. Ragans has dealt with injuries since, making just 13 starts last year before being shut down after eight starts in 2026. He's currently rostered in 81% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Brian Murphy
Source: MLB.com - Brian Murphy
Seth Lugo Reinstated and Starting on Friday Against Nationals
The Kansas City Royals announced on Friday that they reinstated veteran right-hander Seth Lugo (head) from the seven-day concussion injured list and optioned right-hander Mason Black to Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. Lugo will return from the IL to face the Washington Nationals on Friday after he was struck in the forehead by a line drive in a scary scene at Kauffman Stadium against the Texas Rangers in his last start on June 10. The 36-year-old veteran will return to a 2-4 record with a 3.86 ERA (3.56 FIP) and 1.35 WHIP with 66 strikeouts and 25 walks in 79 1/3 innings pitched over his 14 starts in his 11th year in the majors. Despite being a soft-tosser with a below-average 19.8% strikeout rate, Lugo has kept hitters off balance enough to make him a deep-league streaming option. We would not recommend him in his first start off the IL, though, against a Nationals ballclub that ranks fifth in the league in OPS (.744). Lugo has little room for error with a lack of strikeout upside, and he'll likely have a limited pitch count in this one after not making a minor-league rehab start.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
Royals Move Cole Ragans to 60-Day Injured List
The Kansas City Royals announced on Wednesday that they moved left-hander Cole Ragans (elbow) to the 60-day injured list. The move likely means that we won't see Ragans back in Kansas City until after the mid-July All-Star break. The 28-year-old southpaw has been on the IL since May 8 with a left-elbow impingement, but he's now on the 60-day IL after suffering a setback last Friday. The former 30th overall pick in 2016 by the Texas Rangers broke out in 2024 in his first full year with the Royals, going 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA (2.99 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP with a career-high 223 strikeouts and 67 walks in 186 1/3 innings pitched over his 32 starts. It was the first time that Ragans had exceeded 100 innings pitched in his four MLB seasons. Since then, he has struggled with injuries, making just 13 total starts last year and only eight starts in 2026. In his 35 1/3 innings this season, Ragans had a 4.84 ERA (6.18 FIP) and 1.41 WHIP, but with 45 strikeouts and 23 walks. The strikeout upside is clear, but fantasy managers have to wonder if Ragans will get healthy for the second half. He's currently rostered in 86% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
Noah Cameron Still Carries Waiver Appeal After Recent Stumble?
Kansas City Royals left-handed pitcher Noah Cameron remains a useful waiver-wire option for fantasy managers searching for pitching depth. Across 70 innings, the 26-year-old has a 3-4 record, 4.11 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts. The season-long ERA is not especially exciting, but Cameron has been much better over his last seven starts, posting a 3.05 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 36:6 K:BB across 38 1/3 innings. The caveat is his latest outing, when he allowed four earned runs on seven hits, including two home runs, over 4 1/3 innings against the Houston Astros. That start adds some short-term risk, but Cameron's recent stretch keeps him above the standard streamer tier in deeper leagues. His 42% Yahoo roster rate leaves enough room for fantasy managers to act where steadier back-end rotation help is needed.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cole Ragans Remains Shut Down From Throwing, Still Experiencing Symptoms
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (elbow) remains shut down from throwing amidst ongoing injury symptoms in his left elbow, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Rogers reports that Ragans is scheduled to see a new doctor in the coming days as the team seeks a better understanding of the injury. The 28-year-old has been on the 15-day injured list since early May and does not appear to be particularly close to making his return to the Royals rotation. Ragans broke out as a fantasy ace in 2024, pitching to a 3.14 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 223 strikeouts and 11 wins across 186 1/3 innings (32 starts). However, he's struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness since then, recording a 4.73 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 143 strikeouts across 97 innings (21 starts) over the past two seasons. Ragans is worth stashing in deeper league formats, but fantasy managers in shallower leagues without IL spots may need to consider looking for a replacement on the waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
Seth Lugo "on Track" to Start on Friday Night
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo (head) is "on track" to make the start in his team's matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Lugo is currently on the 7-day concussion injured list after being struck in the head by a line drive off the bat of Texas Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo during his most recent start on June 10. It's a great sign for everyone involved that Lugo appears to have avoided a more significant injury after the scary scene. Across 79 1/3 innings (14 starts) in 2026, Lugo has recorded a 2-4 record with a 3.86 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 66 strikeouts. The 36-year-old's fantasy upside is limited by his 19.8% strikeout rate, but he remains a savvy innings-eater who carries deep-league and streamer appeal in the right matchups.
Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
Kris Bubic's MRI Shows No Structural Damage After Rehab Setback
Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (elbow) underwent an MRI, which showed nothing structurally wrong after sustaining a setback in a Triple-A Omaha rehab start on June 9. He will resume his regular progression if the symptoms subside and is not expected to miss a significant additional amount of time. There is no timeline set for Bubic, who had a 4.11 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in nine starts before the injury after a strong 2025 season. The 28-year-old has been a steady presence since returning to the rotation after a full season as a bullpen arm in 2024, and will look to continue building back toward starter workload as he works his way back to the rotation.
Source: Joel Goldberg
Source: Joel Goldberg
Cole Ragans Suffers Setback, Will Undergo Additional Testing
Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (elbow) had a setback and will undergo additional testing, manager Matt Quatraro told Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star. "Cole woke up yesterday, not feeling as well arm-wise. So, when he came out to play catch yesterday, he had to cut it short. So we're going to get him some more testing in the next couple of days," Quatraro said. Ragans cut his throwing session short on Friday. The 28-year-old southpaw initially went on the 15-day injured list with a left-elbow impingement, and with his latest setback, he most likely won't be able to return before the mid-July All-Star break. Ragans was a first-time All-Star in 2024 but has dealt with injuries since, only making 13 starts in 2025 and just eight starts so far in 2026 due to his elbow troubles. Before going on the IL, he was 1-4 with a 4.84 ERA (6.19 FIP) and 1.41 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 23 walks in 35 1/3 innings pitched. His strikeout upside makes him stash-worthy in all fantasy leagues, but managers will need to be patient, as it doesn't look like he's going to return until the second half of the season now.
Source: The Kansas City Star - Jaylon T. Thompson
Source: The Kansas City Star - Jaylon T. Thompson
Kris Bubic Suffers Setback in First Rehab Outing
Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (shoulder) suffered a setback in his recovery as he exited his first rehab outing early on Tuesday. Bubic allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings during the outing with Triple-A Omaha. Manager Matt Quatraro said Bubic's forearm feels good, but his shoulder did not respond well to the start. Bubic is scheduled to see a doctor this weekend for further evaluation. Bubic was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 18 with left elbow soreness after his May 14 start against the White Sox, but will now be further evaluated for another injury. What was initially expected to be a short absence has dragged on. In nine starts before the injury, he went 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA. Managers in deeper 12+ team leagues should still view him as a viable stash option heading into Week 12, as he was very productive on the bump last season, logging 116 1/3 innings to the tune of a 2.55 ERA.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cole Ragans Tosses Second Bullpen
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (elbow) threw his second successful bullpen session on Friday. He did this just two days after tossing 23 pitches on Wednesday. The fact that he continues to make progress and is able to keep throwing is a positive sign, considering he has missed more than a month with a left elbow impingement and also experienced a setback during his recovery. The next steps for the 28-year-old southpaw will be determined after this weekend and will be based on how he feels. If he emerges without any issues and is ready to continue throwing, he could begin facing live hitters shortly thereafter. All that being said, there is currently no timetable in place for his return. Ragans has struggled to find success this season, posting just one win in eight starts. Both his 4.84 ERA and 1.42 WHIP are the highest those marks have been since his rookie campaign, though injuries may have played a role in his disappointing season.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Seth Lugo is Placed on 7-Day Concussion Injured List
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo (head) was placed on the 7-day concussion Injured List on Friday. This doesn't come as a surprise after Lugo was drilled in the head by a comebacker off the bat of Brandon Nimmo during Wednesday's game. Lugo underwent a CT scan, which came back negative. The right-hander will now need to pass the league's concussion protocol before taking the mound again. In a corresponding move, reliever Eli Morgan has been recalled from Triple-A Omaha. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update on Lugo. It's possible that Lugo doesn't miss another start, but we'll need to see how he progresses.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
