Ragans didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Athletics, allowing two hits and one walk over 4.1 scoreless innings. He struck out eight.
The left-hander was electric despite the short outing, piling up 17 swinging strikes on 72 pitches while leaning heavily on his fastball. He put together a particularly dominant stretch during which he struck out six of eight batters faced. Since returning from the injured list, Ragans has been exactly what the Royals hoped for, looking sharp across three outings. Over that span, he's delivered a 2.77 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and a 22:4 K:BB across 13 innings, showing not only that his strikeout ability remains intact but also that there are no lingering concerns about his durability or effectiveness heading into the offseason.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Punches out 10 in win
Rotowire
Ragans (3-3) earned the win Tuesday, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over five innings against the Angels. He struck out 10.
Ragans worked four scoreless frames before surrendering a two-run homer to Bryce Teodosio in his fifth and final inning of Tuesday's start. It was an impressive showing for the southpaw in just his second outing back from a left rotator cuff strain that kept him sidelined for more than three months. The 27-year-old has had a tough-luck season with a 5.02 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 12 starts and 57.1 innings, surface numbers that hide a much stronger 2.69 FIP. He's currently lined up for one more regular-season start Sunday against the Athletics, though that has not yet been confirmed.
Ragans didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Mariners, allowing two runs on one hit and two walks in 3.2 innings. He struck out four.
Ragans was understandably limited in his first major-league start since June 5, throwing just 62 pitches in his return following over three months on the shelf due to a strained rotator cuff. A two-run homer by Eugenio Suarez represented the big blow to the southpaw's ledger, though it was encouraging to see him register 13 whiffs in an abbreviated outing. Ragans should have his workload restrictions loosened a bit in his next scheduled appearance against the Angels. He has a 5.16 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a strong 80:18 K:BB over 52.1 innings.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Activated ahead of start Wednesday
Rotowire
The Royals activated Ragans (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
After being sidelined for more than three months with a left rotator cuff strain, Ragans will make his return to the Royals rotation Wednesday against the Mariners at Kauffman Stadium. Ragans made two rehab starts with Triple-A Omaha prior to being activated, allowing just one run with a 14:2 K:BB over 6.2 innings. The left-hander threw 56 pitches in his most recent rehab outing this past Friday, so his workload will be relatively limited versus the Mariners.
The Royals will activate Ragans (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Mariners in Kansas City, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
The upcoming start will mark Ragans' first with the big club since June 5, after a left rotator cuff strain kept him out of commission for more than three months. The southpaw began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha on Sept. 7 and tossed 56 pitches and 3.2 innings in his second and final outing on the farm this past Friday, striking out seven in that start while allowing no runs on one hit and two walks. Though Ragans looked sharp in both of his appearances at Omaha, he's not yet fully stretched out for a typical starter's workload and could be limited to around 70-to-80 pitches Wednesday.
Ragans (shoulder) will continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The left-hander made his first rehab appearance with Omaha on Sunday and threw 45 pitches across three innings. Ragans will continue building up his workload Friday and could require another rehab start after that before being cleared to rejoin the Royals.
Royals' Cole Ragans: Goes three innings in rehab start
Rotowire
Ragans (shoulder) struck out seven and allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk across three innings in a rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Omaha.
Pitching in a game setting for the first time since June 5, Ragans had been expected to cover just two frames Sunday, but he ended up tacking on an extra inning to his workload after retiring six of the first seven batters he faced. Ultimately, Ragans tossed 45 pitches (34 strikes) in the rehab start, inducing 12 swings and misses while flashing a fastball that sat around 95 miles per hour. Ragans will likely need two more rehab outings to build his pitch count up to a typical starter's workload, though it's possible the Royals pull him off the minor-league assignment earlier than that if they're content with him making an abbreviated start or two in the big leagues upon his return from the 60-day injured list.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Embarking on rehab assignment
Rotowire
Ragans (shoulder) is expected to begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Ragans has spent the majority of the season on the IL and has been on the shelf since mid-June due to a left rotator cuff strain. He ramped up his throwing program with bullpen sessions in mid-August, and the 28-year-old southpaw has progressed enough in his recovery to embark on a rehab assignment. Royals manager Matt Quatraro relayed Friday that Ragans is scheduled to pitch two innings Sunday and could ramp up his workload barring any setbacks.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Tosses live batting practice
Rotowire
Ragans (shoulder) threw a 30-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Ragans' recovery from a torn left rotator cuff has been slow and deliberate, with Wednesday marking his first time facing live hitters since he was placed on the injured list June 11. While no firm timeline has been set for Ragans' return, the next step for the 27-year-old would likely be heading out on a rehab assignment to build up his pitch count with the hope of rejoining the big club in the second half of September.
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