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
STEPHEN KOLEK #32 - PITCHER - KANSAS CITY ROYALS
5-7 W-L •
1.14 WHIP •
3.52Â ERAÂ
5-7 W-L
1.14 WHIP
3.52 ERA
Kolek ends his season logging another quality start ANAHEIM -- With a runner on second and Stephen Kolek in another jam Wednesday night, the righty realized his hands were too high as he came...
SEPTEMBER 25 • MLB.COM
Adds another quality start to surge Kolek (5-7) took the loss Wednesday against the Angels, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out two.
Impact Kolek submitted his fifth straight quality start and his ninth of the season through 19 outings. Although it may not have been enough to push the Royals into the postseason, the right-hander kicked things into a higher gear since landing in Kansas City, producing a 1.91 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB across 33 innings. Kolek's surge to finish the campaign gives him a strong case for a rotation spot in 2026, and he may have worked his way into the club's long-term plans heading into the offseason.
SEPTEMBER 25 • ROTOWIRE
Ward homers, Jansen earns 475th save as Angels avoid sweep with 3-2 win over Royals
Taylor Ward homered, Kenley Jansen earned his 475th career save and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 to avoid a series sweepSEPTEMBER 25 • Associated Press
Angels vs. Royals: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch - Bleacher Nation Yusei Kikuchi will take the mound for the Los Angeles Angels (70-87) when they host starting pitcher Stephen Kolek and the Kansas City Royal...
SEPTEMBER 24 • BLEACHERNATION.COM
Royals face the Angels leading series 1-0
The Kansas City Royals lead 1-0 in a three-game series with the Los Angeles AngelsSEPTEMBER 24 • Associated Press
Witt, Frazier and Perez power Royals to an 8-4 win over the Angels
Bobby Witt Jr. and Adam Frazier each drove in two runs, Salvador Perez moved into second place on Kansas City’s career RBI list and the Royals beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-4, shor...SEPTEMBER 24 • Associated Press
Dominates despite loss Kolek (5-6) took the loss Thursday against the Mariners, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk while striking out eight over 7.1 innings.
Impact Kolek was nearly flawless outside of the fourth inning, when he gave up the only two hits he allowed all game -- the second being an RBI double to Jorge Polanco that accounted for the lone earned run against him. Despite the tough-luck loss, the right-hander has been outstanding since joining Kansas City, posting a 1.67 ERA and an 18:3 K:BB across 27 innings while going at least six frames and yielding no more than two runs in each of his four starts. Even so, the 28-year-old has managed to secure just one win in that stretch. Kolek is slated for a tougher assignment in his next outing against the Dodgers, who rank near the top of MLB in most offensive categories this September.
SEPTEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE
Kolek looks to carry momentum into 2026 after 4 strong KC starts (1.67 ERA) KANSAS CITY -- Stephen Kolek has made four starts with the Royals since Aug. 30. All four of them have given the club more reason to envisio...
SEPTEMBER 18 • MLB.COM
Mariners' rare challenge helps secure 2-0 win over Royals, tie Astros for first place in AL West
Luis Castillo pitches six innings of three-hit ball, helping the Seattle Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals 2-0 on ThursdaySEPTEMBER 18 • Associated Press
Suarez leads Mariners against the Royals following 4-hit game
The Seattle Mariners play the Kansas City Royals after Eugenio Suárez had four hits against the Royals on WednesdaySEPTEMBER 18 • Associated Press
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
Ready for another start Thursday Kolek is slated to start Thursday's game versus the Mariners in Kansas City, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Impact Following his Sept. 4 call-up from Triple-A Omaha, Kolek will be making his third straight turn through the rotation. The Royals will return Michael Wacha (personal) from the paternity list Tuesday and Cole Ragans (shoulder) from the injured list Wednesday, but Kolek will pick up another start after Seth Lugo (back) recently succumbed to a setback that could jeopardize his availability for the remainder of the season. Over his last two outings, Kolek has produced a 1.98 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 8:2 K:BB in 13.2 innings.
SEPTEMBER 16 • ROTOWIRE
Ready for another start Thursday Kolek is slated to start Thursday's game versus the Mariners in Kansas City, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Impact Kolek is getting another start to fill in for Seth Lugo, who had a setback with his back injury Monday. Kolek heads into his start Thursday riding four straight quality starts in the majors that stem back to July 27 when he was on the Padres. In the righty's three starts with the Royals, he's allowed four earned runs on 13 hits with an 11:2 K:BB across 19.2 innings pitched.
SEPTEMBER 16 • ROTOWIRE
Encouraging start with new team Kolek didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Guardians, allowing one run on three hits and no walks in 6.2 innings. He struck out four.
Impact Kolek's Royals career is off to a promising start, as he's now fired at least six innings while conceding two runs or fewer in each of his first three starts for his new team. The three hits allowed matched a season low, and he's riding a streak of seven consecutive outings of at least five frames dating back to his time with San Diego. Kolek is next scheduled to take the mound for a key matchup against the Mariners. Through 99.1 innings, the right-hander owns a 3.71 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 67:28 K:BB.
SEPTEMBER 12 • ROTOWIRE
Guardians meet the Royals with 2-1 series lead
The Cleveland Guardians lead 2-1 in a four-game series against the Kansas City RoyalsSEPTEMBER 11 • Associated Press
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
Receiving another start Kolek is slated to start Thursday's game against the Guardians at Progressive Field.
Impact With Seth Lugo (back) recently joining Cole Ragans (shoulder) on the injured list, Kolek will stick around with the Royals to make a second turn through the rotation following his call-up from Triple-A Omaha last Thursday. During his start in this past Saturday's 11-2 win over the Twins, Kolek went seven strong innings and struck four batters while permitting two earned runs on six hits and one walk. He now maintains a respectable 3.88 ERA over 92.2 innings between San Diego and Kansas City, though it's supported by a weak 9.3 K-BB%.
SEPTEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
Goes seven strong in win Kolek (5-5) earned the win against the Twins on Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts over seven innings.
Impact Kolek was spotted an early lead and ran with it, throwing 64 of 95 pitches for strikes while limiting the Twins to just two extra-base hits in his longest outing since a complete game shutout May 10. The 28-year-old has delivered quality starts in both of his appearances with the Royals and now owns a 3.88 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 63:27 K:BB across 92.2 innings this season. He's slated to face the Guardians on the road next week.
SEPTEMBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Goes seven strong in win Kolek (5-5) earned the win against the Twins on Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts over seven innings.
Impact Kolek was spotted an early lead and ran with it, throwing 64 of 95 pitches for strikes while limiting the Twins to just two extra-base hits in his longest outing since a complete game shutout May 10. The 28-year-old has delivered quality starts in both of his appearances with the Royals and now owns a 3.88 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 63:27 K:BB across 92.2 innings this season. He's slated to face the Guardians on the road next week.
SEPTEMBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Perez's 3-run homer leads Royals' rout of Twins, 11-2
Salvador Perez’s three-run homer highlighted a five-run first inning as the Kansas City Royals routed the Minnesota Twins 11-2 on Saturday nightSEPTEMBER 7 • Associated Press
Twins take 5-game losing streak into matchup with the Royals
The Minnesota Twins enter the matchup against the Kansas City Royals after losing five games in a rowSEPTEMBER 6 • Associated Press
Royals place right-hander Seth Lugo on IL because of lower back strain
The Kansas City Royals placed right-hander Seth Lugo on the 15-day Injured List on Thursday because of a lower back strainSEPTEMBER 4 • Associated Press
Lugo (lower back tightness) placed on IL by Royals Originally scheduled to start on Thursday, veteran right-hander Seth Lugo was scratched with lower back tightness and was subsequently place...
SEPTEMBER 4 • MLB.COM
Recalled to start Saturday The Royals recalled Kolek from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Impact The 28-year-old pitched six innings of one-run ball during his Royals debut last Saturday, and he'll now return to Kansas City to replace the injured Seth Lugo (back). Kolek is penciled in to make his next start Saturday against a Twins offense that has posted a .727 OPS over its last 15 games despite going just 4-11 in that span.
SEPTEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
