Royals' Salvador Perez expected to return in 2026, team eyes playoff comeback following 82-80 finish
The Kansas City Royals expect nine-time All-Star catcher Salvador Perez to return next seasonSEPTEMBER 30 • Associated Press
CARLOS ESTÉVEZ #53 - PITCHER - KANSAS CITY ROYALS
4-5 W-L •
1.06 WHIP •
2.45 ERA
4-5 W-L
1.06 WHIP
2.45 ERA
Clinches saves lead for season Estevez struck out two and hit one batsman while pitching a scoreless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Athletics.
Impact This was Estevez's 42nd save of the season, ensuring he would finish first in the majors in the category -- he's two ahead of San Diego's Robert Suarez with one day left in the campaign. Opportunities have been limited for Estevez in September, as he's collected saves in six of his seven appearances for the month. The right-handed closer is at a 2.45 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 54:22 K:BB across 66 innings this year.
SEPTEMBER 28 • ROTOWIRE
Clinches saves lead for season Estevez struck out two and hit one batsman while pitching a scoreless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Athletics.
Impact This was Estevez's 42nd save of the season, ensuring he would finish first in the majors in the category -- he's two ahead of San Diego's Robert Suarez with one day left in the campaign. Opportunities have been limited for Estevez in September, as he's collected saves in six of his seven appearances for the month. The right-handed closer is at a 2.45 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 54:22 K:BB across 66 innings this year.
SEPTEMBER 28 • ROTOWIRE
Wacha throws 6 shutout innings for his 10th win as Royals top Athletics 4-2
Michael Wacha pitched six scoreless innings to earn his 10th win of the season, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Athletics 4-2SEPTEMBER 28 • Associated Press
Royals delay Blue Jays' playoff party with 2-1 win behind Cameron
Noah Cameron pitched into the seventh inning, Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino hit back-to-back home runs, and the Kansas City Royals beat Toronto 2-1 to prevent the Blue Jays...SEPTEMBER 21 • Associated Press
Secures 41st save Estevez allowed one hit and no walks in a scoreless frame with no strikeouts to earn the save in Saturday's 2-1 win against Toronto.
Impact The Kansas City closer required only 13 pitches to notch his league-leading 41st save. Estevez has only blown one save in the second half -- his first appearance post-All-Star break July 18 -- as he's pitched to a 1.98 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 17:1 K:BB in 22.2 innings while converting 15 saves since then. Overall, the 32-year-old righty sports a 2.49 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 52:22 K:BB across 65 frames.
SEPTEMBER 21 • ROTOWIRE
Notches 40th save in return Estevez picked up the save Wednesday against the Mariners, allowing one run on three hits in the ninth inning.
Impact After leaving Sunday's win over Philadelphia due to mild back tightness, Estevez returned to action Wednesday but was shaky in collecting his MLB-leading 40th save. The earned run was his first allowed since Aug. 13 versus Washington, and the three hits given up were his most since July 3 in Seattle. Estevez has still produced a 2.53 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 52:22 K:BB over 64 innings, and the veteran right-hander appears to be locked in as the Royals' closer to close out his excellent campaign.
SEPTEMBER 18 • ROTOWIRE
Royals score four in the eighth to snap Seattle's 10-game winning streak
Adam Frazier hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat Seattle 7-5 to snap the Mariners’ 10-game winning streakSEPTEMBER 18 • Associated Press
Phillies clinch fourth straight playoff berth despite 10-3 loss to Royals, who get 5 RBIs from Perez
The Philadelphia Phillies clinched their fourth straight postseason berth despite wasting a two-run lead in a 10-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals, who got a three-run homer and fiv...SEPTEMBER 14 • Associated Press
Departs with back tightness Estevez was removed from Sunday's win over the Phillies due to mild back tightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Impact The veteran right-hander was called upon for the ninth inning with a five-run lead since he had pitched just once in the previous eight days, so the Royals had no reason to stick with him once the back issue surfaced. Estevez didn't seem concerned by the injury and will have a team day off Monday to aid in his recover ahead of Tuesday's series opener versus Seattle.
SEPTEMBER 14 • ROTOWIRE
Departs with back tightness Estevez was removed from Sunday's win over the Phillies due to mild back tightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Impact The veteran right-hander was called upon for the ninth inning with a five-run lead since he had pitched just once in the previous eight days, so the Royals had no reason to stick with him once the back issue surfaced. Estevez didn't seem concerned by the injury and will have a team day off Monday to aid in his recover ahead of Tuesday's series opener versus Seattle.
SEPTEMBER 14 • ROTOWIRE
Locks down 39th save Estevez picked up the save in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Guardians, tossing a perfect ninth inning.
Impact Called upon in the ninth to protect a one-run lead, Estevez extended his scoreless streak to 10 appearances while converting his MLB-leading 39th save of the season. The veteran right-hander is now on the verge of becoming just the eighth Royal to ever reach the 40-save mark in a single campaign and the first since 2014. Estevez has been a model of consistency at the back end of Kansas City's bullpen, posting a 2.45 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 52:21 K:BB across 62.1 innings this year.
SEPTEMBER 11 • ROTOWIRE
Locks down 39th save Estevez picked up the save in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Guardians, tossing a perfect ninth inning.
Impact Called upon in the ninth to protect a one-run lead, Estevez extended his scoreless streak to 10 appearances while converting his MLB-leading 39th save of the season. The veteran right-hander is now on the verge of becoming just the eighth Royal to ever reach the 40-save mark in a single campaign and the first since 2014. Estevez has been a model of consistency at the back end of Kansas City's bullpen, posting a 2.45 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 52:21 K:BB across 62.1 innings this year.
SEPTEMBER 11 • ROTOWIRE
Nick Loftin singles in tying run and scores in 7th, Royals rally for 4-3 win over Guardians
Nick Loftin singled in the tying run and scored on Maikel Garcia’s double in the seventh inning, sending the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland GuardiansSEPTEMBER 11 • Associated Press
Collects 38th save Estevez picked up the save Friday against the Twins, allowing no hits and one walk with no strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
Impact Estevez increased his MLB lead in saves with his 38th of the season, also turning in his ninth consecutive scoreless outing. The 32-year-old right-hander has been outstanding all year for the Royals, producing a 2.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 52:21 K:BB over 61.1 innings. Estevez has a strong grip on the closer role as the campaign nears an end.
SEPTEMBER 6 • ROTOWIRE
Collects 38th save Estevez picked up the save Friday against the Twins, allowing no hits and one walk with no strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
Impact Estevez increased his MLB lead in saves with his 38th of the season, also turning in his ninth consecutive scoreless outing. The 32-year-old right-hander has been outstanding all year for the Royals, producing a 2.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 52:21 K:BB over 61.1 innings. Estevez has a strong grip on the closer role as the campaign nears an end.
SEPTEMBER 6 • ROTOWIRE
Garcia's two-run homer and Wacha's strong outing lift Royals over Twins 2-1
Maikel Garcia hit a two-run homer and Michael Wacha pitched 5 2/3 strong innings as the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1SEPTEMBER 6 • Associated Press
Converts 37th save Estevez allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Angels.
Impact Estevez has allowed just two hits while racking up nine strikeouts during his eight-inning scoreless streak. He's earned seven saves in that span and continues to lead the majors with 37 saves on the year. He's added a 2.54 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 52:20 K:BB through 60.1 innings this season and is unlikely to be challenged for the closing role during September.
SEPTEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Bobby Witt Jr.'s eighth inning homer helps KC avoid sweep
Bobby Witt Jr. hit a two-out solo home run in the eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 to avoid a sweep in a three-game seriesSEPTEMBER 5 • Associated Press
Records save No. 36 Estevez earned a save against the Tigers on Saturday, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning.
Impact Estevez had a two-run lead to work with when he entered in the ninth, and he worked around a one-out double to keep Detroit off the scoreboard. The veteran righty extended his scoreless streak to seven outings and has now registered 11 consecutive successful saves since his last blown save. With 36 total saves on the campaign, Estevez ranks first in the majors and has surpassed his previous career-high mark of 31.
AUGUST 31 • ROTOWIRE
Bobby Witt Jr.'s 2-run homer in eighth lifts Royals over Tigers 3-1
Bobby Witt Jr. hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 3-1 victory over the Detroit TigersAUGUST 31 • Associated Press
Earns 35th save Estevez earned the save in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the White Sox, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Impact The Royals rallied to combine for five runs in the eighth and ninth inning to take the lead over the White Sox and Estevez closed the door with ease. He has not allowed a baserunner in each of his last six appearances and has now converted 10 consecutive save chances. Estevez is tied atop baseball with 35 saves and owns a 2.62 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 50:20 K:BB in 58.1 innings.
AUGUST 27 • ROTOWIRE
Earns 35th save Estevez earned the save in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the White Sox, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Impact The Royals rallied to combine for five runs in the eighth and ninth inning to take the lead over the White Sox, and Estevez closed the door with ease. He has not allowed a baserunner in each of his last six appearances and has now converted 10 consecutive save chances. Estevez is tied atop baseball with 35 saves and owns a 2.62 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 50:20 K:BB in 58.1 innings.
AUGUST 27 • ROTOWIRE
Massey, Isbel get run-scoring hits in 9th as Royals rally to beat White Sox 5-4
Michael Massey hit a tying two-run single in the ninth inning and Kyle Isbel had a go-ahead run-scoring single as the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 5-4 win over the Chicago Whit...AUGUST 27 • Associated Press
Picks up 34th save Estevez earned the save in Sunday's 10-8 win over the Tigers, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Impact Estevez has been perfect in five straight appearances while posting a 1.29 ERA in his last seven innings. He's up to 34 saves on the year, tied with Robert Suarez for the MLB lead, with a 2.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 48 strikeouts across 57.1 innings.
AUGUST 24 • ROTOWIRE
