Kolek was traded from the Padres to the Royals on Thursday along with Ryan Bergert in exchange for Freddy Fermin, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Kolek was optioned to Triple-A earlier this week after logging a 4.18 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 56 strikeouts across 79.2 innings in the big-league rotation. Bergert and/or Kolek could get a look in the Royals rotation down the stretch, given the injuries to Cole Ragans (shoulder) and Kris Bubic (shoulder).
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Sent down to El Paso
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The Padres optioned Kolek to Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday.
Kolek will lose his place in San Diego's rotation in favor of Ryan Bergert, who was recalled to start Tuesday's game against the Mets. Kolek has surrendered five earned runs in 11.2 innings across two starts since the All-Star break, but he figures to have a good chance to make another start for the Padres before the end of the season.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Notches quality start in win
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Kolek (4-5) allowed two runs on four hits and three walks over six innings to pick up the win Sunday at St. Louis. He struck out two.
The San Diego righty limited the Cardinals offense to just one extra-base hit -- an Alec Burleson two-run homer in the sixth -- as he looked sharp in this 98-pitch appearance. This marks the fourth quality start of the season for Kolek, who should remain in the rotation for another turn given this performance. He'll carry a 4.18 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 56:26 K:BB across 79.2 frames into a rematch with the Cardinals at home next weekend.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Awarded another start
Rotowire
Kolek is slated to start Sunday's game against the Cardinals in St. Louis.
Kolek will make another turn through the San Diego rotation after he was recalled from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday to fill the vacant fifth starter spot. Taking the hill for the big club for the first time since July 5, Kolek was dealt the loss against the Marlins after giving up three earned runs on eight hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. In 13 starts with San Diego this season, Kolek has gone 3-5 with a 4.28 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 54:23 K:BB across 73.2 innings.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Chased by Rangers in loss
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Kolek (3-4) allowed six runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 5.1 innings in a loss to Texas on Saturday.
Kolek struggled throughout the outing -- of the six innings in which he pitched, he was charged with at least one run in four of them. It's never a positive for a starting pitcher to allow as many homers as he notches strikeouts, which is exactly what Kolek did Saturday with two of each. The right-hander's six runs allowed tied a season-worst mark, and the nine hits were the most he has surrendered in an outing this year. Kolek has been fading of late, giving up three or more earned runs in four of his past five starts. That's pushed his season ERA up to 4.24 through 68 innings.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Fans five in no-decision
Rotowire
Kolek allowed one run on three hits and one walk over 5.2 frames in a no-decision Sunday at Cincinnati. He struck out five.
After coughing up three or more earned runs in each of his three previous starts, Kolek looked much sharper in this 71-pitch outing over which he fired 44 strikes. The San Diego right-hander scattered three singles, with the only run he conceded coming on an Elly De La Cruz single in the sixth inning. Kolek wraps up his June with a respectable 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 23:11 K:BB across 32 total frames. The 28-year-old is currently scheduled to make his next start against the Rangers at home next weekend.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Takes loss Friday
Rotowire
Kolek (3-2) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.1 innings to take the loss versus the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Kolek had come away with a pair of no-decisions in his last two outings despite covering 11.1 scoreless innings in that stretch. He had some trouble with the Diamondbacks, including allowing two solo home runs, and a rally in the fifth inning was enough to knock him from the game at 82 pitches (52 strikes). Kolek is now at a 3.50 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 34:18 K:BB across 46.1 innings over eight starts this season. His next start is projected to be on the road versus the Dodgers.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Tosses 5.2 scoreless frames
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Kolek allowed three hits and issued two walks while striking out three batters over 5.2 scoreless innings in a no-decision against San Francisco on Monday.
Kolek struggled in the first two innings, allowing five baserunners and working out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second. He settled in nicely after that, yielding just one additional hit. The right-hander couldn't quite manage a quality start -- he was pulled with two outs in the fifth after having thrown 98 pitches -- but he bounced back nicely after surrendering six runs over 5.1 frames against Miami in his previous outing, a start which also featured early struggles before he settled in. Kolek has held down a spot in the Padres' rotation with a 3.47 ERA through 36.1 frames, and he's projected for a road matchup against Milwaukee in his next start.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Solid in no-decision
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Kolek did not factor into the decision during Thursday's 7-6 extra-innings loss against the Blue Jays. He went six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks with six strikeouts.
After a clean first two starts in which he didn't allow a run, Kolek has now surrendered eight earned runs over his last two starts spanning 11 innings. Regardless, the 28-year-old has certainly delivered all that's been asked of him as the Padres continue to bide time before the return of veteran Yu Darvish (elbow). Kolek's ERA is up to 2.84 following Thursday's quality start.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Solved by Seattle
Rotowire
Kolek (2-1) took the loss Friday, coughing up five runs on eight hits -- including three home runs -- and a walk over five-plus innings. He struck out four.
After blanking the Pirates and Rockies over 14.1 innings in his first two starts since being promoted at the beginning of May, the 28-year-old right-hander ran into trouble against a much better offense Friday. Kolek saw the first pitch he threw ripped down the right-field line for a solo shot by J.P. Crawford, and two-run homers by Rowdy Tellez in the fourth inning and Cal Raleigh in the sixth accounted for the rest of the damage off him. Kolek will take a 2.33 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB through his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Toronto.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Blanks Pittsburgh in season debut
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Kolek (1-0) earned the win Sunday against the Pirates, allowing four hits and two walks over 5.1 scoreless innings. He struck out four.
It was a strong season debut for the 28-year-old Kolek, who held the Pirates to just four singles en route to a victory. Kolek made 42 appearances out of the bullpen for San Diego last year, pitching to a 5.21 ERA with a 1.52 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB across 46.2 regular-season innings. Kolek figures to stick around as the Padres' fifth starter following Sunday's performance. He'd line up for a road matchup in Colorado in his next outing.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Getting start Sunday
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The Padres plan to recall Kolek from Triple-A El Paso to have him start Sunday's game against the Pirates at PNC Park, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
San Diego had been getting by with a four-man rotation since optioning Kyle Hart to El Paso on April 24, but the team will transition back to a five-man starting staff this weekend and call upon Kolek to fill the void. After losing out to Hart in spring training in the competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, Kolek turned in an inflated 6.38 ERA and 1.54 WHIP over 24 innings across his five starts in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, though his 14.4 K-BB% has been encouraging. Kolek will get a favorable draw against a weak Pirates offense for his first career MLB start, and a strong showing could allow him to stick around for multiple turns through the rotation while Yu Darvish (elbow) remains at least a few weeks away from making his season debut.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Impressive in rotation audition
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Kolek completed four innings in a Cactus League appearance against the Royals on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits while issuing one walk and striking out two batters.
Yu Darvish started the game and tossed four frames for San Diego, and Kolek followed with four innings of his own. The latter held Kansas City to a lone run, which is the only run he's surrendered through nine frames this spring. Kolek's five punchouts over that span isn't impressive, but he's walked just one batter and given up only five hits. The right-hander is among several pitchers competing for the Padres' final rotation spot this spring, and to this point it's unclear who among the group -- which also includes Kyle Hart, Matt Waldron and Randy Vasquez -- has the upper hand.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Makes good impression Tuesday
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Kolek tossed two scoreless innings in a Cactus League game against San Diego on Tuesday, allowing two hits and striking out two batters.
Kolek came out of the bullpen for all 42 of his appearances as a rookie last season, but he's getting stretched out this spring to compete for the Padres' fifth rotation spot. The right-hander looked good in his spring debut Tuesday, throwing five different types of offerings among his 25 pitches and keeping the Angels off the scoreboard. San Diego's other options to break camp as the fifth starter include Kyle Hart, Matt Waldron, Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Will be stretched out this spring
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Kolek will be stretched out as a starting pitcher this spring, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
All 42 of Kolek's appearances with the Padres last season came in relief and he was a full-time reliever in the minors in 2023, as well. However, the 27-year-old made 25-plus starts on two occasions during his time in the minors, so starting is not completely foreign to him. Stretching Kolek out makes sense for a Padres team that lacks rotation depth, but he's a long shot to break camp as one of the team's starting five. Kolek missed the final two months of last season with a forearm issue but appears to be healthy as camp opens.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Yet to throw off mound
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Kolek (forearm) has been playing catch but hasn't yet thrown off a mound, per MLB.com.
Kolek is rehabbing from right forearm tendinitis, but it's not clear how close he may be to a return to the Padres. The righty reliever logged 42 appearances with the team prior to getting hurt, posting a 5.21 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB over 46.2 frames. If Kolek makes it back to the big-league bullpen before the end of the season, he'll likely take on a low-leverage role.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Not yet throwing
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Kolek (forearm) is rehabbing at San Diego's team complex in Arizona, but he has not yet resumed throwing, per MLB.com.
Kolek landed on the 15-day injured list due to right forearm tendinitis July 31. He's eligible to be activated but appears to be some time away from returning given that he hasn't yet begun a throwing program. The rookie reliever appeared in 42 games prior to the injury, posting a 5.21 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB while picking up three wins and two holds over 46.2 innings.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Out with forearm tendinitis
Rotowire
The Padres placed Kolek on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to right forearm tendinitis.
The right-hander presumably suffered the injury during his appearance against the Dodgers on Tuesday, during which he allowed two walks over a scoreless inning. Kolek is without an official timeline for his return but will be eligible to be reinstated in mid-August.
