Dylan Cease was placed on the 15-day IL with a left hamstring strain and is targeting a return in early June; Cole Ragans paused his rehab after a setback and will be shut down from throwing for a few days while he’s reevaluated; Logan Webb is on track to return this weekend, with the injury updates also covering other notable MLB players in this week’s report.
The Kansas City Royals placed left-hander Cole Ragans on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow impingement and valgus extension overload after a 3-inning start in which he felt soreness in his elbow/triceps. Manager Matt Quatraro called the move precautionary and indicated Ragans could return if he progresses, but the team has moved to a longer absence for now. In a corresponding move, the Royals recalled Stephen Kolek and Steven Cruz and optioned Eric Cerantola; Kolek is expected to step into Ragans’ rotation spot. Ragans has a history of Tommy John surgeries, and this setback comes as the Royals’ rotation depth is thinning, with Bergert and Kudrna out for the year. Kolek, who recently came off the IL, brings a multi-pitch mix and has prior starting experience, making him a logical fill-in as Kansas City rebuilds its rotation alongside Noah Cameron, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and Kris Bubic.
The Kansas City Royals placed pitcher Cole Ragans on the Injured List due to a rotator cuff strain, while activating reliever Lucas Erceg and recalling pitcher Jonathan Bowlan, amidst ongoing team adjustments and injury management.
The Kansas City Royals placed pitcher Cole Ragans on the 15-day injured list due to a left rotator cuff strain, adding to their recent roster adjustments. Ragans, who has struggled with injuries this season, is a key player for the team, which is currently in a slump. The Royals also reinstated Lucas Erceg and recalled Jonathan Bowlan, while Trevor Richards was designated for assignment. Despite Ragans' injury concerns, the team maintains a strong starting rotation and bullpen depth to stay competitive.
The Kansas City Royals struggled offensively against Twins starter Jorge Lopez, falling 4-1 on Opening Day despite a leadoff homer from Maikel Garcia and a record nine strikeouts from Cole Ragans. Lopez limited the Royals to just four hits across 7.0 innings, while Ragans gave up two runs in 6.0 innings. The Twins added two insurance runs in the 9th inning to secure the victory.
Cole Ragans' impressive scoreless streak of 26 innings came to an end in an unusual manner during the Kansas City Royals' loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. After stumbling on the mound, Ragans threw three consecutive wild pitches, allowing two runs to score and ending his streak. Despite the disappointment, Ragans' performance over the past month has been exceptional, with a 1.69 ERA in nine starts for the Royals.
Cole Ragans pitched six shutout innings with 11 strikeouts, while Bobby Witt Jr. went 2-for-3 with a home run as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-0. Ragans allowed just two baserunners and continued his dominant performance, leading all of baseball in strikeouts since August. The Royals salvaged the series in Oakland and improved their record to 41-88.
Outfielders Jarren Duran and Alex Verdugo are not in the Red Sox lineup for their game against the Royals, with Rob Refsnyder and Adam Duvall taking their places. Manager Alex Cora stated that Duran and Verdugo will be available off the bench if needed. The decision to sit them is to maximize the roster by using a right-handed heavy lineup against lefty starter Cole Ragans. Brayan Bello will start as the pitcher for the Red Sox.
Cole Ragans impressed in his debut for the Kansas City Royals, pitching six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and one walk in a 4-0 victory over the New York Mets. Ragans showcased a new-and-improved slider, which he started throwing after joining Triple-A Omaha. The slider has helped him improve against left-handed hitters and generate more swing and miss. Ragans' performance earned him his first win as a Royal and contributed to the team's fifth consecutive victory.
The Kansas City Royals have traded reliever Aroldis Chapman to the Texas Rangers in exchange for left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans and outfielder Roni Cabrera. Ragans, a former first-round pick, has struggled in the bullpen this year but has shown promise in the minors. The Royals hope he can eventually join their rotation. Chapman, who was signed as a reclamation project, performed well for the Royals but was traded to maximize the team's return.
The Texas Rangers are promoting top pitching prospect Owen White to the major leagues, while Cody Bradford is being recalled to start Tuesday's game. Cole Ragans and Yerry Rodriguez are likely to be sent down to AAA Round Rock to make room for White and Bradford.
The Houston Astros defeated the Texas Rangers 8-2 in a lackluster game that lasted two and a half hours. Cole Ragans provided emergency relief for the injured Jon Gray and kept the Rangers in the game until the late innings. The rubber match between the AL West rivals will take place on Sunday night with Andrew Heaney pitching for Texas and Framber Valdez for Houston.