Lugo didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Rangers, giving up three runs (one earned) on six hits over six innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.
The veteran righty reeled off his third straight quality start and eighth of the season on 90 pitches (64 strikes), but Lugo watched his potential third win of the year slip away when Lucas Erceg fell apart in the ninth inning. Lugo will take a 3.55 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 60:23 K:BB through 71 innings into his next outing, which is set to come on the road next week in Minnesota.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Quality start in second win
Rotowire
Lugo (2-4) earned the win Sunday against the Mariners, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks in 6.1 innings. He struck out three.
Lugo served up a rare home run, his third allowed this year, but otherwise provided a solid performance Sunday. Although it was his seventh quality start already this season, the 36-year-old right-hander has surrendered at least three runs in four of his past six outings after yielding two or fewer in his previous five appearances. Lugo will carry a decent 3.74 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 54:23 K:BB over 65 innings into his next scheduled start in Texas against the Rangers.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Takes tough-luck loss Monday
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Lugo (1-4) took the loss Monday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts across six innings.
Despite logging a quality start, Lugo made a mistake pitch to Willson Contreras in the sixth inning that resulted in a two-run home run and was saddled with his fourth loss. It was still a nice bounce-back outing for the right-hander after he allowed a total of nine runs on 15 hits and six walks across nine innings in his previous two outings. Lugo owns a 3.68 ERA, career-worst 1.40 WHIP and 51:21 K:BB across 58.2 innings. His .343 BABIP against is significantly higher than his .266 mark last season.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Yields five runs in loss
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Lugo (1-3) took the loss against the White Sox on Wednesday, allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four across five innings.
Lugo generated just three groundouts and five whiffs on 92 pitches during Wednesday's start. It was the fourth game in a row that he allowed at least 10 baserunners, and over that span he has produced a dreadful 7.59 ERA, 2.16 WHIP and 18:9 K:BB across 21.1 innings. Lugo will look to turn things around in his next start, which is lined up for next week at home against the Red Sox.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Labors in second loss
Rotowire
Lugo (1-2) took the loss Thursday against the Guardians, allowing four runs on seven hits and four walks in four innings. He struck out five.
The Guardians ambushed Lugo with three runs in the opening frame, but the hurler was at least able to settle down a bit afterward for a 102-pitch outing. The 36-year-old right-hander walked four batters for the third time already this year, and he's now given up at least seven hits in three consecutive starts after not yielding more than five in any of his first five appearances. Lugo has maintained a decent 3.21 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 42:17 K:BB across 47.2 innings despite the recent shakiness, and he's next set for a favorable matchup against the division-rival White Sox.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Logs quality start in no-decision
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Lugo did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Mariners, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts over six innings.
Lugo allowed runs in the first and fifth innings, throwing 66 of 103 pitches for strikes while limiting the Mariners to just one extra-base hit. It was a much-needed rebound effort after the 36-year-old surrendered seven earned runs last Sunday, and he's now delivered five quality starts in seven outings this season. He'll carry a 2.68 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 37:13 K:BB across 43.2 innings into a home matchup against the Guardians next week.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Knocked around Sunday
Rotowire
Lugo allowed seven runs on 14 hits and a walk while striking out three over 6.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Angels on Sunday.
Lugo really didn't have his best stuff, but he was left in the game longer than most starters would be with those kinds of numbers being put up against him. He ultimately threw 72 of 97 pitches for strikes but was simply too hittable in this outing, though the Royals were able to provide some surprises late in the game to get him off the hook. Chalk this up as just an off performance for Lugo, who hadn't allowed more than two runs in any of his first five starts of the campaign. He's at a 2.63 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 31:11 K:BB through 37.2 innings over six starts this season. Lugo's chance at a bounce-back effort is projected to be on the road against the Mariners.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Logs another quality start
Rotowire
Lugo did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Tigers, allowing one run on five hits while striking out seven over 6.2 innings.
Lugo turned in another strong outing, continuing his excellent start to the season. The right-hander faced the minimum in every inning except the third, when Detroit strung together four hits but managed only one run on a sacrifice fly that brought home Javier Baez. Outside of that frame, Lugo was in full control, limiting traffic and missing bats effectively. The 36-year-old has now logged quality starts in three of his first four outings of the campaign and has yet to allow more than two runs in any start. Through 24.1 innings, Lugo owns a sparkling 1.48 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB, though he'll face a tougher test in his next scheduled outing against Baltimore.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Takes loss despite quality start
Rotowire
Lugo (1-1) took the loss against the White Sox on Thursday, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks while striking out four batters over 6.1 innings.
Lugo was a bit wild with his four walks, but he got three double plays from his defense and gave up just one earned run. However, Kansas City was unable to score any runs, consequently saddling the right-hander with his first loss. Lugo has opened the season in strong form, notching two quality starts through three outings and posting a 1.53 ERA across 17.2 frames. His next start is projected to come on the road versus the Tigers.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Punches out seven Saturday
Rotowire
Lugo took a no-decision Saturday against the Brewers, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out seven.
Lugo built off a successful season debut, when he permitted five hits across 6.1 shutout innings against Atlanta last weekend, and on Saturday he most notably escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning. The right-hander took on a full workload in his second start, launching 103 pitches, and he also generated a respectable 10 whiffs. Lugo has a favorable matchup versus the division-rival White Sox on tap for his next start, so he should continue to hold streaming appeal.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Sharp in season debut
Rotowire
Lugo (1-0) earned the win Sunday over Atlanta, allowing five hits over 6.1 scoreless innings. He struck out three.
It was a strong start to the year for Lugo, who held Atlanta to a lone extra-base hit en route to the Royals' first win this season. Lugo is looking to turn things around after an up-and-down 2025 campaign where he finished 8-7 with 125 strikeouts and a 4.15 ERA, his highest in five seasons. Lugo is tentatively scheduled to face the Brewers at home in his next outing.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Sees MiLB action in return from WBC
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Lugo threw five innings in a minor-league game Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lugo threw 72 pitches without issuing a walk and worked through some traffic, reportedly feeling great as he returned to camp after participating in the World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico. After posting a 4.15 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 26 starts and 145.1 innings in 2025, Lugo was shut down in September due to a back injury, though the issue doesn't appear to be lingering into the spring. The veteran righty will slot into the Kansas City rotation and look to get closer to his 2024 production, when he posted a 3.00 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 206.2 innings.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Throwing off mound early in camp
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Lugo (back) threw a bullpen session in Royals camp Thursday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Lugo was sidelined for the final month of last season with a nagging back injury, but he does not appear to have any restrictions at the start of spring training. The veteran right-hander collected a 2.67 ERA in the first half in 2025 but posted a 7.51 ERA in his final nine starts before getting hurt. Lugo could very well bounce back in 2026 now that he's healthy, but he's 36 and has a 21.1 percent strikeout rate since 2024, so there is risk.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Done for 2025 season
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Royals manager Matt Quatraro confirmed Sunday that Lugo (back) won't return this season, Jackson Stone of MLB.com reports.
Lugo landed on the injured list due to a back issue in early September. He was able to throw a bullpen session early this week but did not respond well. Quatraro explained Sunday that the injury is "not getting better quickly enough to do anything meaningful for him to come out here and force it." Lugo will finish his 10th MLB campaign with a 4.15 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 125:55 K:BB while posting an 8-7 record over 26 starts spanning 145.1 innings. There's currently no reason to believe that he won't be able to have a normal offseason.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Unlikely to return in 2025
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Lugo (back) hasn't resumed throwing after a recent setback and Royals manager Matt Quatraro said this week that a 2025 return is a "longshot," Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lugo's back didn't respond well to a bullpen session he threw Monday, and he remains shut down from throwing. With just over a week remaining in the regular season and the Royals all but eliminated from playoff contention, a 2025 return seems very unlikely.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Return delayed
Rotowire
Lugo (back) did not respond well to his bullpen session Monday, so he will be shut down for a few more days, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lugo was looking at a possible return in the middle of the week, but Cole Ragans is set to start Wednesday and Stephen Kolek will now take the mound Thursday. Given the setback, Lugo's next start may not come until next week, if he's able to return at all before the end of the regular season.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Receives cortisone injection
Rotowire
Lugo (back) received a cortisone injection Thursday and will resume throwing Sunday or Monday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
The Royals placed Lugo on the injured list Thursday with a lower back strain and also gave him a cortisone shot to address the injury. He'll be back to throwing after a brief shutdown. The shutdown should have minimal impact on his return timeline.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
The Royals placed Lugo on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a lower-back strain, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The Royals originally planned to push Lugo's next start back to Saturday after he reported tightness in his lower back. However, he didn't feel any improvement while playing catch Thursday and will now spend the next couple of weeks on the shelf in order to get back to 100 percent. Stephen Kolek was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move and is expected to start Saturday's game against the Twins.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Next start pushed back
Rotowire
Manager Matt Quatraro said Wednesday that Lugo's next start will be delayed due to lower-back tightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lugo reported tightness in his back Monday, so the Royals will give him a few extra days to recover before sending him back to the mound. The 35-year-old was initially lined up to start Thursday's series finale against the Angels, but that game will now instead belong to Noah Cameron. No official starter has been named for Saturday's contest against the Twins, however, so Kansas City may look to get Lugo on the bump then if his back cooperates.
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Royals' Seth Lugo: Continues struggling in second half
Rotowire
Lugo (8-7) took the loss Friday against the Tigers, allowing four runs on eight hits and four walks in 3.1 innings. He struck out five.
Lugo's struggles during the second half of the season continued, as he's now given up at least four runs in five of his last nine starts. The veteran right-hander has also been unable to throw at least five innings on five occasions since the All-Star break, and he has a ghastly 7.51 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 37:24 K:BB over his last 44.1 frames during that period. Lugo has also issued multiple walks in all but one of his last nine outings, so he'll have plenty to clean up next week at home against the Angels.
