Stephen Kolek - Page 3 - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Royals' Stephen Kolek Could Earn Bigger Role in Starting Rotation Joel Penfield dives into Stephen Kolek and the role he could have in the Royals’ rotation, plus more, on the latest episode of "One Royal Wa...

MAY 13 • SI.COM

Tagged for five runs vs. White Sox Kolek did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six over 4.2 innings.

Impact Kolek managed to keep Chicago off the board through four innings despite working through traffic early, including escaping a bases-loaded jam in the third. However, everything unraveled in the fifth inning, as Drew Romo launched a solo homer before Chase Meidroth followed later with a three-run shot that forced Kolek's exit. The outing marked his second start since returning from the injured list, and while the strikeout total was encouraging, the late collapse overshadowed the positives. He'll look to bounce back in his next scheduled outing against St. Louis.

MAY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Hill's second pinch homer of season leads White Sox over Royals 6-5

Pinch-hitter Derek Hill homered to break an eighth-inning tie after Chicago wasted a three-run lead, and the White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 for their third straight win

MAY 13 • Associated Press

Stepping in for injured Ragans Kolek is slated to start Tuesday's game against the White Sox in Chicago, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Impact After returning from the injured list and delivering a quality start against the Guardians in his 2026 MLB debut last Tuesday, Kolek was demoted to Triple-A Omaha a day later. However, with Cole Ragans (elbow) landing on the IL on Friday, the Royals opted to recall Kolek and will now plug him into Ragans' vacated spot in the rotation. Kolek tentatively lines up for a two-start week, with his second turn likely to come Sunday in St. Louis.

MAY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Royals bring road win streak into matchup with the White Sox

The Kansas City Royals visit the Chicago White Sox aiming to continue a three-game road winning streak

MAY 12 • Associated Press

Rejoins big club The Royals recalled Kolek from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

Impact The right-hander was demoted to Omaha on Wednesday but will quickly rejoin the major-league club with Cole Ragans (elbow) landing on the injured list. Kolek made a spot start in place of Noah Cameron (back) earlier this week and could now get a few turns through the rotation with Ragans sidelined. Kolek delivered a quality start in his first MLB appearance of 2026, striking out three and giving up three runs on four hits over six innings while picking up a win versus Cleveland.

MAY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A The Royals optioned Kolek to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

Impact Kolek picked up the win in a spot start Tuesday versus the Guardians, yielding three runs on four hits and no walks with three strikeouts across six innings. With Kolek back in the minors, Noah Cameron (back) seems destined to rejoin the rotation after missing just one start.

MAY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Collects win in 2026 debut Kolek (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday against the Guardians, allowing three runs on four hits and no walks with three strikeouts across six innings.

Impact After straining an oblique during spring training, Kolek made four rehab starts with Triple-A Omaha before he was summoned for Tuesday's 2026 debut in place of an injured Noah Cameron (back). Kolek doesn't have great stuff and generated just two whiffs on 83 pitches against Cleveland, but he throws six pitches with plus command and was able to keep the Guardians at bay. With Cameron tentatively expected to avoid a trip to the injured list, it's unclear if Kolek will remain in Kansas City's rotation.

MAY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Deadspin | Royals' Stephen Kolek makes winning season debut against Guardians Deadspin | Royals' Stephen Kolek makes winning season debut against Guardians

MAY 6 • DEADSPIN.COM

Deadspin | Royals' Stephen Kolek makes winning debut against Guardians Deadspin | Royals' Stephen Kolek makes winning debut against Guardians

MAY 6 • DEADSPIN.COM

Kolek comes up big in spot start to guide Royals to 5th straight win KANSAS CITY -- A shift in the pitching plans for Tuesday’s game against the Guardians hardly changed anything at all for the Royals as they...

MAY 6 • MLB.COM

Massey's go-ahead 2-run homer lifts Royals past Guardians 5-3 for their fifth straight win

Michael Massey hit a two-run homer and Isaac Collins also went deep as the Kansas City Royals ran their win streak to five with a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians

MAY 6 • Associated Press

Activated ahead of Tuesday's start The Royals activated Kolek (oblique) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Impact Kolek is set to make his season debut for the Royals with a start Tuesday versus the Guardians, slotting in as a replacement for Noah Cameron (back). Out since spring training with an oblique strain, Kolek posted a 2.76 ERA and 14:4 K:BB over 16.1 innings in four rehab starts with Triple-A Omaha. He threw 72 pitches in his final rehab appearance, so he could be limited slightly from a workload perspective Tuesday.

MAY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Royals Turn to Stephen Kolek for Start as Noah Cameron Misses Time Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Stephen Kolek will make his season debut Tuesday as Noah Cameron deals with back tightness.

MAY 5 • SI.COM

Royals host the Guardians on home winning streak

The Kansas City Royals, on a four-game home winning streak, host the Cleveland Guardians

MAY 5 • Associated Press

Slated for Tuesday activation Kolek (oblique) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Guardians.

Impact Kolek made it through his fourth rehab appearance at Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday, and he'll be forced into action after Noah Cameron was scratched from his scheduled start due to lower back tightness. Kolek suffered a Grade 1 left oblique strain during spring training and will be making his first big-league appearance of the 2026 campaign Tuesday.

MAY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Royals host the Guardians in first of 4-game series

The Kansas City Royals open a four-game series at home against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday

MAY 4 • Associated Press

Mariners aim to avoid series sweep against the Royals

The Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Mariners play in the final game of a three-game series

MAY 3 • Associated Press

Royals play the Mariners with 1-0 series lead

The Kansas City Royals lead 1-0 in a three-game series with the Seattle Mariners

MAY 2 • Associated Press

Completes fourth rehab start Kolek (oblique) allowed three runs (one earned) on eight hits and no walks across 4.1 innings with Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday. He struck out four.

Impact Kolek made his fourth rehab start with Triple-A Omaha as he builds back from a Grade 1 left oblique strain suffered in spring training. The right-hander allowed his highest hit total of the rehab assignment Wednesday, though it also marked his first outing without issuing a walk. Across four starts at Triple-A, the 28-year-old owns a 2.76 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with a 14:4 K:BB in 16.1 innings. Kolek appears to be nearing the end of his rehab assignment and is on track to be activated soon, though he could remain at Triple-A upon activation with no clear opening in the Royals' rotation.

APRIL 30 • ROTOWIRE

Athletics and Royals square off in series rubber match

The Athletics and Kansas City Royals meet on Thursday with the winner claiming the three-game series

APRIL 30 • Associated Press

Royals take 4-game win streak into game against the Athletics

The Kansas City Royals will look to keep a four-game win streak alive when they play the Athletics

APRIL 29 • Associated Press

Royals aim to break road losing streak, take on the Athletics

The Kansas City Royals visit the Athletics looking to stop an eight-game road losing streak

APRIL 28 • Associated Press

Royals try to sweep 3-game series against the Angels

The Kansas City Royals play the Los Angeles Angels looking to sweep their three-game series

APRIL 26 • Associated Press

Royals bring 1-0 series advantage over Angels into game 2

The Kansas City Royals lead 1-0 in a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels

APRIL 25 • Associated Press

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