Royals' Carlos Estevez: Evaluated for possible IL stint
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Estevez (ankle) is likely to remain unavailable to pitch in Monday's game versus the Twins and will be evaluated for a possible stint on the injured list, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Estevez is still sporting a walking boot on his left foot as he recovers from an ankle contusion that he suffered when struck by a line drive Saturday. X-rays came back negative, but the Royals will consider an IL stint for Estevez if he hasn't made enough improvement following Tuesday's off day. Between the ankle injury and declining velocity that dates back to spring training, Estevez's standing as the Royals' closer is on shaky ground. Lucas Erceg notched a save for Kansas City in Sunday's win over Atlanta but could be unavailable Monday since he's pitched back-to-back days. Matt Strahm has also pitched each of the previous two days, so the Royals might have limited bullpen options Monday.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Unlikely to be used Sunday
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Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that he would be "surprised" if Estevez is available out of the bullpen for Sunday's game in Atlanta, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Estevez was seen wearing a walking boot Sunday after taking a line drive off his left ankle Saturday, when he suffered a blown save after allowing six earned runs while recording just one out in the Royals' 6-2 loss. Though Estevez been diagnosed with nothing more than a contusion after getting X-rays on his ankle, the Royals appear content to stay away from the 33-year-old reliever, at least for one day. Per Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City, Quatraro added that he's "not averse to putting [Estevez] in a lower-leverage situation" once he's deemed available, which suggests that the right-hander may not have a stranglehold on the closer's gig after Saturday's blowup. Before the rough showing in his season debut, Estevez was coming off a discouraging spring training in which he noticed a steep decline in his velocity.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: X-rays negative on ankle
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Estevez had X-rays come back negative on his left ankle after being struck by a comebacker during Saturday's loss to Atlanta, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander blew the save in his season debut, surrendering six runs on four hits and two walks in one-third of an inning. With the X-rays returning negative, the injury is now a secondary concern for the Royals and Estevez, who averaged just 91.2 mph with his fastball Saturday, down nearly five ticks from last season. The horrid outing doubled his worst performance from 2025, in which he gave up three runs. Estevez will likely have some leash as Kansas City's closer after recording 42 saves with a 2.45 ERA last year, but that leash is likely to be shorter if the velocity woes continue.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Velocity still down
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Estevez allowed no hits and three walks with no strikeouts across a scoreless inning in Wednesday's Cactus League loss to the Rangers.
Estevez made his return to Cactus League play after tossing an inning for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and didn't allow a run, though the outing was far from sharp. The right-hander entered in the sixth inning and promptly walked the first two batters he faced on nine pitches, eventually loading the bases via free passes before inducing a weak groundout from Jake Burger to escape the frame unscathed. As was the case in his earlier spring appearances, Estevez's velocity remained significantly down, with his fastball averaging 89.0 mph after sitting at 95.9 mph last season, while his offspeed offerings were also down several ticks. The veteran is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he recorded a career-high and league-best 42 saves with a 2.45 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 54:22 K:BB across 67 outings and is in line to handle closing duties for the Royals again in 2026, though his diminished velocity is a key factor to monitor moving forward.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Velocity down early
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Estevez's fastball has averaged just 89 mph in his first two appearances of spring training.
A pitcher showing reduced velocity early in camp is hardly unique, but the fact that Estevez's fastball is down nearly seven mph from his 2025 average is a little worrisome. The right-hander led MLB with a career-high 42 saves in 2025 while finishing with a 2.45 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 54:22 K:BB across 67 outings. There's been no indication of an injury to this point, but fantasy managers should keep an eye on Estevez's velocity as he continues to build up during spring training. Lucas Erceg would likely be the next man up for Kansas City in the ninth inning, should Estevez's effectiveness take a big step backwards.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Clinches saves lead for season
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Estevez struck out two and hit a batter while pitching a scoreless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Athletics.
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.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Notches 40th save in return
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Estevez (back) picked up the save Wednesday against the Mariners, allowing one run on three hits with no strikeouts or walks in the ninth inning.
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.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Departs with back tightness
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Estevez was removed from Sunday's win over the Phillies due to mild back tightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
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 recovery ahead of Tuesday's series opener versus Seattle.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Locks down 39th save
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Estevez picked up the save in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Guardians, tossing a perfect ninth inning.
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.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Collects 38th save
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Estevez picked up the save Friday against the Twins, allowing no hits and one walk with no strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
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.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Converts 37th save
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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.
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.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Records save No. 36
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Estevez earned a save against the Tigers on Saturday, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning.
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 appearances and has now registered 11 consecutive successful conversions 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.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Picks up 34th save
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Estevez earned the save in Sunday's 10-8 win over the Tigers, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
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.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Up to 33 saves
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Estevez earned the save in Thursday's 6-4 win over the Rangers, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Estevez has now converted eight straight save chances while allowing just four earned runs across his last 14 innings. The right-hander leads the majors with 33 saves this season while posting a 2.72 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP and 47 strikeouts across 56.1 innings.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Tagged with fifth loss
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Estevez (4-5) took the loss Wednesday, giving up one run on two hits and one walk in the ninth inning as the Royals fell 8-7 to the Nationals. He struck out one.
The Kansas City closer entered a tie game in the top of the ninth and couldn't hold the visitors at bay, serving up a one-out double to Luis Garcia and an RBI single to Daylen Lile. Estevez has 30 saves on the season, one shy of the career high he set with the Angels in 2023, but he's struggled to find consistency since the beginning of July -- over his last 17.2 innings, he's posted a 4.58 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB while blowing three of his 11 save chances.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Picks up 28th save
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Estevez earned the save Tuesday against Atlanta, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning to secure a 9-6 win.
Estevez was called upon to protect a three-run lead and handled the task with ease, working around a two-out single by Ozzie Albies to record his 28th save of the season. The right-hander sits tied for second in MLB in saves alongside Josh Hader. Estevez now holds a 2.56 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 37:16 K:BB across 45.2 innings in 2025.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Earns one-out save
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Estevez recorded one out and earned a save against the Marlins on Sunday.
The Royals were up 7-0 in the ninth inning before Andrew Hoffmann coughed up four runs, creating a save opportunity for Estevez. Estevez gave up an infield single before finishing off the victory to earn his 26th save of the year. He blew three straight save chances before converting Sunday, and he's now 26-for-32 in save opportunities this season. Estevez owns a 2.74 ERA with a 35:15 K:BB across 42.2 frames.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Blows another save
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Estevez (4-3) took the loss and blew a save, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits with no walks or strikeouts, during Friday's 8-7 loss to the Marlins.
Handed a two-run lead in the 10th inning, Estevez could not hold it and allowed three runs in an extra-inning, walkoff defeat. A two-run home run that concluded a monster day from Kyle Stowers was the death blow and sealed the third straight blown save from the Royals closer. The 32-year-old has gone seven straight appearances allowing at least one baserunner, dating back to July 2.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Earns third win
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Estevez (3-2) earned a win against Pittsburgh on Tuesday. He allowed a hit in a scoreless inning and did not record a strikeout.
Estevez worked around a one-out double by Ke'Bryan Hayes to keep the score 3-3 before the Royals walked it off in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was Estevez's first win since May 25, and he has thrown two shutout frames since allowing a run against Seattle on July 3. He dropped his ERA to 2.67 with a 32:14 K:BB across 39 frames.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Collects 21st save
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Estevez earned the save in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Rangers after recording no strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning.
For the second night in a row, Estevez was brought in for the ninth to protect a three-run lead, and he needed only 11 pitches (seven strikes) to retire the side. He has converted 16 of his last 17 save opportunities, and his 21 saves is tied with Robert Suarez for most in the majors. Estevez sports a 1.93 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB across 32.2 innings this season.
