Carlos Estévez Fantasy Stats

Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (ankle) is still in a walking boot on Monday, and the team will see how he feels, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Estevez probably won't be available to pitch to begin the week, but with an off day on Tuesday, the Royals will determine if he needs to go on the injured list. The 33-year-old veteran took a line drive off his left ankle when he allowed a whopping six runs in a blown save on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves, and he wasn't available to pitch in the series finale in Atlanta on Sunday. With Estevez out, Lucas Erceg picked up the save for KC in the 4-1 win. Even if Estevez was available on Sunday, manager Matt Quatraro hinted that the Royals want to use the struggling reliever in lower-leverage situations going forward. Estevez could certainly be used in save situations again in 2026, but right now, he's firmly on the closer hot seat, and fantasy managers need to scoop up Erceg wherever they can. An IL stint seems likely for Estevez, mainly so that he can figure out a way to get his velocity back up.

Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (ankle) was in a walking boot on Sunday morning and will have his ankle contusion re-evaluated, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Manager Matt Quatraro said that he would be "surprised" if Estevez would be available on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. And if Estevez was available, Quatraro said, "We would not be averse to putting him in a lower-leverage situation." "I'm not going to say he wouldn't do it, but I also think it would be probably smarter for us to try to build him a little bit in lower leverage first," Quatraro added when asked if he would use Estevez in the ninth inning. Estevez took a line drive off his left ankle in an eventful blown save on Saturday in which he allowed six runs in just one-third of an inning. The 33-year-old saw a drop in his strikeout rate in 2025, and his velocity has been noticeably down this spring. It appears that Estevez is already on very shaky ground early on in 2026, so fantasy managers chasing saves need to run to the waiver wire and add Lucas Erceg, who figures to be next in line for ninth-inning duties in KC as the Royals look to get Estevez right.

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez (ankle) was hit with a comebacker during the ninth inning of Saturday's loss to the Atlanta Braves. Initial X-rays came back negative, but he will be reassessed on Sunday morning, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Estevez entered Saturday's game with a two-run lead and an opportunity to earn the save. However, he allowed six runs, including a walk-off grand slam to Dominic Smith, while recording just one out. The veteran closer surrendered four hits and two walks along the way, and he was charged with the loss and blown save. Depending on the severity of the injury, Estevez could be headed for a stint on the injured list. Given that he likely lost his job as the team's closer on Saturday night, the Royals might feel less pressure to have him play through his ankle injury. Lucas Erceg, who had 14 saves in 2024, could be Estevez's successor if he does get removed from the closer role.

Kansas City Royals right-handed closer Carlos Estevez had a rough night on Saturday in the 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Estevez was hit with a blown save and his first loss of the 2026 season after surrendering six runs on four hits (one home run) while walking two in one-third of an inning. The 33-year-old entered the ninth inning in Atlanta with a 2-0 lead in his season debut, but he imploded and continued to exhibit the diminished velocity that we also observed during spring training. Estevez will likely get some more chances to redeem himself early in the season, but this could become a real problem for his fantasy managers. The Dominican reliever was an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2025 and had a 2.45 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, a league- and career-high 42 saves, 54 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 66 innings pitched. Estevez's drop in velocity and strikeout rate have definitely made him more susceptible to outings like this. If it continues, Lucas Erceg would likely be next in line for save situations in KC.

Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estevez's velocity was "way down" during his Cactus League debut on Tuesday at 86-89 mph, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Rogers says it's "eyebrow-raising" and "something to monitor," but it's also "exactly what came up last year." Estevez typically starts slow in the spring, and the Royals "really rely on how he says he feels." The 33-year-old was an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2025 in his first season with the Royals, posting a 2.45 ERA (3.67 FIP), 1.06 WHIP, a league- and career-high 42 saves, 54 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 66 innings pitched out of the bullpen. His 89.4% team save share was the highest among all relievers in MLB last year. Regression could be coming -- he had a career-low 20.1% strikeout rate in 2025 -- but he'll be KC's primary closer again, making him at least a low-end No. 1 fantasy closer in his second year with the Royals.

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez surpassed all expectations during the 2025 campaign. In his debut season in Kansas City, Estevez would tally 42 saves, which were the most in the major leagues. Through 66 innings, the right-hander would post a strong 2.45 ERA with a 106 WHIP. Even though he would strike out only 54 batters (at a low 20.1% rate), he would be a must-start option given his effectiveness in the closer role. However, managers should expect Estevez to see some significant regression in 2026. The 33-year-old generated a 3.69 xERA with a .228 xBA, suggesting his ratios could take a step back. Additionally, he generated a 10.6% barrel rate (14th percentile) and a low 25.4% ground-ball rate (first percentile), suggesting his 2025 production is not sustainable. While he remains a safe bet for 20+ saves, managers should draft him expecting his ratios to return to his career averages of a 3.97 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.

Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estevez (back) left Sunday's game with mild back tightness, reports Anne Rogers of MLB.com. He walked one and recorded two outs in eight pitches in the ninth before being pulled in favor of Luinder Avila. After the game, the 32-year-old said he was fine with coming out of the game, but he's pitched with worse. That makes the move seem primarily precautionary, especially considering the Royals had a seven-run lead over the Phillies at the time. Estevez has been one of the most reliable closers in baseball this season, recording 39 saves while posting a 2.43 ERA.

Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estevez picked up his MLB-leading 37th save of the season on Thursday in his team's 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Estevez allowed one hit but worked around it and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning. In his first season with the Royals, the 32-year-old has converted 37 out of 43 save chances while pitching to a 2.54 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. With just a 22.4% K-BB ratio, Estevez does not have dominant underlying numbers. However, the veteran has now recorded at least 26 saves in each of the last three seasons and remains a must-start fantasy closer.

Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estevez converted his 30th save of the season in Monday's 7-4 win over the Nationals. Estevez came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first two outs on a ground-out and a fly-out, allowed a walk, and ended the game with another ground-out. The 32-year-old has been a high-floor fantasy option once again this season, converting 30 of 36 save opportunities with a 2.81 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and a 7.36 K/9 rate in 51 1/3 innings of work. His strikeout numbers may not be as strong as other closers, but he is currently second in baseball in saves.

Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estevez (4-3) blew a save and took the loss in an 8-7 heartbreaker against the Miami Marlins on Friday. After the Royals took a 7-5 lead in the top of the 10th inning, Estevez was unable to close the door on the Marlins in a costly defeat. Estevez retired the first hitter he faced, but the right-hander allowed the automatic runner to score on an Agustin Ramirez RBI single and then surrendered a walk-off homer to All-Star Kyle Stowers. The 32-year-old now has six blown saves, three of which have come over his past four appearances, and has yielded five earned runs in 7 2/3 innings this month. While Estevez still has 25 saves and a 2.76 ERA over 42 1/3 frames, his underwhelming 35:15 K:BB isn't befitting of a lights-out closer. He may end the season in a setup role if the Royals deal him before the July 31 trade deadline.