The Royals have placed reliever Matt Strahm on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation, MLB.com’s Jeff Jones reports. Bailey Falter (left elbow inflammation) was reinstated from the IL in Strahm’s place.
Strahm has dealt with right knee inflammation in the past. The first occurrence was in September 2020, and in that case, Strahm missed only 12 days. The second case was about a year later, and again, Strahm missed only two weeks. He went on the IL twice in 2022, but not for knee injuries. Strahm was fully healthy from 2023 onward, so between that and his minimal absences for knee inflammation in the past, the Royals can expect him to be back in short order.
Kansas City acquired Strahm from the Phillies in December in a one-for-one swap for Jonathan Bowlan. Strahm was coming off an excellent 2.30 ERA in 125 relief innings from 2024-25 and a recent All-Star nomination in 2024. His acquisition added an experienced lefty to the Royals’ bullpen at an affordable $4.5MM salary for 2026.
Strahm has been serviceable for the Royals, though he’s taken a step back from last year’s 2.74 ERA with the Phillies. In 16 1/3 innings over 17 appearances, Strahm has a 3.86 ERA. His 23.9% strikeout rate and 9.9% walk rate are both worse than last year, albeit to league average. More concerningly, Strahm’s velocity is down across the board. His four-seamer, which he uses 36.3% of the time, is down from 92.2 to 91.1 MPH, which Statcast has in just the seventh percentile.
Meanwhile, Strahm’s 4.88 FIP is a full run higher than his ERA, suggesting he’s been fortunate to perform as he has. The downturn could be a mix of age-related decline (Strahm is now 34) and the knee injury. Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters today that Strahm has “been pitching through it all year” and that the inflammation flared up in the ninth inning of yesterday’s game. In any case, the club is hoping the knee inflammation is a minor issue and that Strahm can return with a minimal absence.
The Royals’ bullpen has been a Bottom-5 unit in the Majors in 2026. On the whole, the group has a 4.50 ERA and similar expected numbers in 154 innings, along with a 13.4% walk rate that tops only the Reds’ bullpen. Daniel Lynch IV has a standout 1.96 ERA, although he’s due for regression with just a .205 opposing average on balls in play. Closer Lucas Erceg has a 3.44 ERA but a troubling 15.8% walk rate. Nick Mears, John Schreiber, and Alex Lange have walk rates of 12.3% or higher and expected ERAs over 5.30.
The return of Falter probably won’t move the needle much. The 29-year-old lefty has been a starter since debuting in 2021 with the Phillies. His work from 2024-25 consists of 267 2/3 innings over 54 appearances (52 starts). Falter had a 4.44 ERA in that time, not striking out many hitters but posting better-than-average walk rates. Like Strahm, Falter has low-90s four-seam velocity, though there’s a chance it could play up in a relief role. At the very least, Falter will fill Strahm’s role as a lefty in middle relief until the latter returns from the IL.
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