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: Secures 41st save
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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.
The Kansas City closer required only 13 pitches to notch his league-leading 41st save. Estevez has blown only 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.
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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: Earns 35th save
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Estevez earned the save in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the White Sox, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
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.
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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: Slams door for 32nd save
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Estevez picked up the save in Monday's 4-3 win over Texas, throwing a clean ninth inning with no strikeouts.
Estevez is now up to 32 saves on the season, and he's now fired three consecutive spotless frames after giving up four runs in his first six outings of the month. The right-hander has had his share of hiccups since the start of July -- he has a 3.92 ERA over his last 20.2 innings -- but he remains Kansas City's clear-cut top option for ninth-inning work. Estevez is first in the American League in saves so far in 2025.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Ties career high with 31st save
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Estevez earned the save in Friday's win over the White Sox, striking out three in a perfect ninth inning.
The right-hander entered with a two-run cushion and overpowered Chicago's hitters, fanning all three batters he faced on 20 pitches to close out the victory. The save was the 32-year-old's 31st of the season, tying a career high, and he's now converted six straight opportunities. Estevez now holds a 2.87 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 46:20 K:BB across 53.1 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: Collects 30th save
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Estevez earned the save in Monday's 7-4 win against the Nationals, allowing one walk and no hits over a scoreless inning.
The 32-year-old reached the 30-save mark for the second time in his nine-year career, working around a two-out walk. Estevez has now converted five consecutive save opportunities since his last blown save July 18, pitching to a 3.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 7:4 K:BB in nine innings over that span. Across 51.1 total frames, the Royals closer sports a 2.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 42:19 K:BB while going 30-for-36 in save opportunities.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Fans two for 29th save
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Estevez collected the save in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Twins, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.
Estevez was able to protect the Royals' two-run lead in the ninth and finished by striking out Austin Martin. It was Estevez's first save since July 29 against Atlanta, and his 29 saves on the year (in 35 chances) are second most in the majors behind Robert Suarez (32). Estevez has a 2.54 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 42:17 K:BB across 39.2 innings this season.
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: Nails down save No. 27
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Estevez picked up the save Sunday against Cleveland, allowing one hit with one strikeout over a scoreless ninth inning.
Estevez is back on track after a rough three-appearance stretch in which he yielded five runs and blew three saves over 2.1 innings, as he hasn't allowed a run in three appearances since. The 33-year-old has a 2.62 ERA in 44.2 innings, and his 27 saves are tied for the second most in baseball.
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