KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals are sending one of their key starting pitchers to the injured list after an extended rough stretch for the right-hander.
Thursday afternoon, the Royals announced that Seth Lugo is now on the 15-day IL with a lower back strain. Since signing a two-year extension in late July, Lugo has struggled to find the consistency and command that allowed him the Royals’ top stop in KC’s rotation after Cole Ragans’ IL stint.
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In Lugo’s last seven starts, he’s posted an ERA (earned run average) north of eight, allowing 30 runs in a mere 32.1 innings with a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning) above two. The stretch took Lugo’s sub-three ERA, which was as low as 2.65 around the time he was extended, to over four on the season.
The news also broke after rookie left-hander Noah Cameron was named the starter for Thursday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Angels.
In a corresponding move, the Royals announced that RHP Stephen Kolek would be coming back to KC from AAA Omaha. While Lugo’s shoes are big ones to fill, Kolek proved in his lone Royals start that he can compete at the big-league level.
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In that start, Kolek went six full innings, giving up just one run to a potent Detroit Tigers offense. He struck out three batters and didn’t walk any, either.
Nevertheless, the Royals can count of Noah Cameron to put up a much needed quality start in Thursday’s series finale. Along with fellow rookie Ryan Bergert (2-1, 2.61 ERA), Cameron has been one of, if not the most, reliable starters for KC since Kris Bubic was shut down for the season.
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It doesn’t mean that Lugo will be done for 2025, however. With the Royals still being in the hunt for the final American League Wild Card spot (2.5 games back ahead of Thursday’s game), Lugo could return as soon as his IL stint is over.
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For now, though, the Royals will move forward with the following rotation: LHP Noah Cameron, RHP Ryan Bergert, RHP Stephen Kolek, RHP Michael Wacha and RHP Michael Lorenzen. After wrapping up in LA tonight, they’ll move on to another three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Friday at 6:40 p.m.
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