Dobnak (1-0) earned the win Wednesday against the Twins, allowing no runs on four hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out four.
It was a season-best showing by Dobnak, who worked his longest outing of the year and set a season high in punchouts. The 31-year-old right-hander has been a serviceable stopgap solution for Kansas City's banged-up rotation, turning in three scoreless appearances so far while giving up no more than two runs in any of his five outings. While his 1.19 WHIP and 14:10 K:BB over 26 innings suggest some regression to his 1.09 ERA is coming, Dobnak should maintain streaming appeal in a rematch next week with a Minnesota team that will once again be without All-Star Byron Buxton (hip).
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Royals' Randy Dobnak: Fires five scoreless innings
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Dobnak did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Tigers, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out three over five scoreless innings.
Dobnak delivered another effective outing, throwing 50 of 76 pitches for strikes while limiting Detroit to just six hard-hit balls. He generated 10 whiffs on 34 swings despite finishing with only three strikeouts. The veteran right-hander has allowed one run over his last 15 innings and owns a 1.42 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 10:9 K:BB across four appearances since being recalled July 1. With Stephen Kolek (forearm) having been transferred to the 60-day injured list, Dobnak appears to have a clear path to remaining a part of the rotation.
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Royals' Randy Dobnak: Making second start
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Dobnak is slated to start Thursday's game against the Tigers in Detroit.
Dobnak will be making his second straight appearance as a starter, but he's effectively receiving a third turn through the rotation after covering 5.2 frames as a bulk reliever in his season debut. Overall, the 31-year-old righty owns a 1.93 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 7:8 K:BB in 14 innings across three appearances for Kansas City since being called up from Triple-A Omaha on July 1. He should have a decent amount of leash in the rotation after Stephen Kolek (forearm) recently joined Kris Bubic (elbow/shoulder) and Cole Ragans (elbow) on the 60-day injured list.
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Royals' Randy Dobnak: Goes 4.1 frames in first start
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Dobnak did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Padres, allowing a run on four hits and four walks across 4.1 innings. He struck out three.
Despite throwing 96 pitches (60 strikes) across 4.1 innings, Dobnak managed to hold San Diego to a lone run on a Fernando Tatis homer in the third. Overall, the right-hander has been solid since he was recalled from Triple-A earlier this month, allowing just three runs across 14 innings in three appearances with the Royals. If Kansas City elects to give him another start, Dobnak would line up to face the Tigers on the road his next time out.
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Royals' Randy Dobnak: Starting Saturday
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Dobnak will start Saturday's game against the Padres in Kansas City, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
After firing 5.2 shutout innings as a bulk reliever during his final outing of the first half July 8 against the Mets, Dobnak will now be rewarded with his first start with the big club. The 31-year-old righty will get a favorable draw Saturday, as he'll be facing a Padres lineup that's posted an MLB-worst .673 OPS and has also scored the fewest runs (385) this season.
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Royals' Randy Dobnak: Blanks Mets in no-decision
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Dobnak took a no-decision Wednesday against the Mets, allowing no runs on three hits and three walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out two.
Working in bulk relief, Dobnak kept the New York bats in check with a scoreless outing Wednesday. The 31-year-old right-hander has given up just two runs on nine hits and four walks in 9.2 major-league innings so far this year, and he was able to build up to 95 pitches Wednesday in his second appearance of 2026. Stephen Kolek (personal) figures to be activated from the bereavement list by the time the All-Star break is finished, so Dobnak is a likely candidate to revert back to Triple-A Omaha.
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Royals' Randy Dobnak: Traded to Kansas City
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The Mariners traded Dobnak to Kansas City on Wednesday, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Dobnak spent his 2026 season with Seattle's Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma before being dealt to the Royals. With Tacoma, the 31-year-old posted a 4.24 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 39:24 K:BB across 70 innings. Dobnak will join Kansas City's 40-man roster and report to Triple-A Omaha.
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Randy Dobnak: Option declined
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The Tigers declined Dobnak's $6 million option for 2026, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
He'll be given a $1 million buyout instead. Dobnak's inclusion in the deadline trade that also sent Chris Paddack from the Twins to the Tigers was a way for Minnesota to offload additional salary. The 30-year-old is now a free agent after spending nearly all of 2025 at the Triple-A level, where he posted a 5.84 ERA over 18 starts and eight relief appearances.
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Tigers' Randy Dobnak: Will remain at Triple-A
Rotowire
Dobnak, who was acquired in a trade from Minnesota on Monday, is set to report to Triple-A Toledo, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Dobnak has spent most of this season with Triple-A St. Paul outside of one long-relief appearance for the Twins back on March 30. The veteran righty could eventually be a swingman for the Tigers while injuries begin to mount for the big-league pitching staff, but for now, Dobnak will stick as organizational depth in the minors.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Outrighted to Triple-A
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The Twins outrighted Dobnak to Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.
Dobnak is no longer on the 40-man roster, but he'll remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. It's uncertain whether the Twins intend to use him in the rotation or in long relief with St. Paul.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Loses spot on 40-man roster
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The Twins designated Dobnak for assignment Monday, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Dobnak tossed a bullpen-saving 5.1 innings of one-run ball in relief of an ineffective Bailey Ober in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals. His reward is an exit from the 26-man active roster and 40-man roster in favor of a fresh arm in Darren McCaughan, who was called up from Triple-A St. Paul.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Selected to active roster
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The Twins selected Dobnak's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.
Dobnak pitched six shutout innings while striking out seven batters this spring before being moved to minor-league camp March 9, but injuries to Brock Stewart (hamstring) and Michael Tonkin (shoulder) will lead to Dobnak opening the season with Minnesota. The 30-year-old righty owns a 4.99 ERA in his big-league career and has made just five appearances since 2021, so he'll almost certainly be limited to low-leverage situations.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Cut from big-league camp
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The Twins reassigned Dobnak to minor-league camp Sunday, Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Dobnak had been attending camp as a non-roster invitee after the Twins had removed him from their 40-man roster following the 2024 season. The 30-year-old right-hander spent most of the past season at Triple-A St. Paul but made five relief appearances for Minnesota in the second half of the campaign, logging a 5.59 ERA and 1.66 WHIP over 9.2 innings. He's poised to once again serve as pitching depth at the Triple-A level in 2025 before likely heading into free agency next offseason, when Minnesota is expected to decline his $6 million team option for 2026.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Jettisoned from 40-man roster
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The Twins outrighted Dobnak to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
It's not the first time Dobnak has been outrighted, so he has the option to elect free agency. If he doesn't he'll represent rotation depth at St. Paul, where he held a 4.25 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with 134 strikeouts over 133.1 innings in 2024.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Dobnak's contract was selected from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.
He will take Diego Castillo's 40-man roster spot on the final day of the season after being designated for assignment less than two weeks ago. Dobnak may not hold his 40-man roster spot all offseason, as he logged a 5.87 ERA and 1.83 WHIP in 7.2 innings in the majors this season and will turn 30 in January. Dobnak had a 4.25 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 134 strikeouts in 133.1 innings at Triple-A this season.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Twins outrighted Dobnak to Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.
Dobnak was removed from the 40-man roster earlier this week but will remain in the organization for now after passing through waivers unclaimed. The righty made it back to the majors this season for the first time in three years, allowing five runs over 7.2 innings during his brief time with the Twins.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Exits 40-man roster
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The Twins designated Dobnak for assignment Monday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Cole Irvin, who has been claimed off waivers. Dobnak made it back to the majors briefly in 2024 for the first time since 2021, allowing five runs over 7.2 frames covering four relief appearances. Given his $2.25 million salary, Dobnak is a good bet to pass through waivers unclaimed.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Sent back to minors
Rotowire
The Twins optioned Dobnak to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday.
Dobnak wasn't going to be available for at least a day or two after throwing three scoreless relief innings in Sunday's loss to the Guardians. He'll cede his spot on the 26-man active roster to left-hander Steven Okert (personal), who was reinstated from the bereavement list.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Summoned from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Twins selected Dobnak's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday.
Dobnak will join the Twins for the first time since the 2021 season after posting a 3.61 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through 99.2 innings at Triple-A.Though he's served primarily as a starter in the minor leagues, he'll likely operate out of the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever while with Minnesota. In order to create space on the 40-man roster, the Twins transferred Alex Kirilloff (back) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Throwing without finger pain
Rotowire
Dobnak's oft-injured finger has been pain-free all winter, and he's been throwing bullpen sessions without issue, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "I think we're way over the hump now. I've been down here for a month. I threw live Friday, that was probably my 10th bullpen," Dobnak said. "I've been slinging it fine."
Dobnak had ligaments called pulleys in his right middle finger rupture over the past two years, which has led him to appear in just 30 games during that span. Dobnak does not have great velocity, but he generated ground balls at a high rate before his injury. His success was largely due to his sinker, and the Star Tribune report says he's had to modify the pitch with more horizontal break due to the damaged finger. He'll need to re-establish himself at Triple-A before getting another shot at the majors, and his damaged finger raises serious doubts he can reclaim his prior form.
