Carlos Estévez Fantasy Stats

Kansas City Royals veteran right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (shoulder) suffered a right rotator-cuff strain while rehabbing a foot injury on May 6, but he resumed playing catch on Wednesday, May 27, according to MLB.com. Estevez got bombed for four runs in just one-third of an inning against the Atlanta Braves in his season debut on March 28 and has been on the 15-day injured list ever since. In addition to a foot injury he suffered in that outing, Estevez was working through a noticeable dip in velocity, which was an issue in spring training as well. It's positive news that the 33-year-old is throwing again, but he has a ways to go before he'll be an option late in games for the Royals again, and he might not return until early July. Despite the disappointing season so far, his track record (124 career saves) and Lucas Erceg's struggles in the ninth inning in his absence make him a stash candidate for saves-needy fantasy managers in deeper leagues. Estevez is rostered in half of Yahoo leagues currently.

Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro said on Tuesday that right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (foot, shoulder) was scheduled to see the team doctor, and if all goes well, he could be cleared to resume throwing again, according to Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star. The 33-year-old veteran was pummeled for four runs in one-third of an inning in his 2026 season debut and then landed on the 15-day injured list with a left-foot contusion on April 1. While rehabbing, Estevez suffered a rotator-cuff strain in his right shoulder, pushing his return back even further for the Royals' bullpen. He has been trending in the right direction of late, but Estevez still has some boxes to check and will need to go on another minor-league rehab assignment before being reinstated from the IL. Lucas Erceg has been KC's primary closer with Estevez out, but he blew yet another save on Monday in a loss to the New York Yankees and could be demoted to a setup role once Estevez returns. For that reason alone, Estevez is worth stashing in deeper fantasy leagues for saves-needy managers. He's rostered in half of Yahoo leagues right now.

Kansas City Royals veteran right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez's (foot, shoulder) velocity was noticeably down in spring training, and then he allowed six earned runs on four hits in just one-third of an inning before being placed on the 15-day injured list with a foot injury. While rehabbing in the minors and working on his mechanics, Estevez suffered a rotator-cuff strain in his right shoulder, pushing his return back even further. Despite his rough 2026 season so far, though, he is rostered in exactly half of Yahoo leagues because of the potential for him to be reinstated as KC's primary closer when he returns to full health. It's unclear when Estevez might come off the IL, but current closer Lucas Erceg blew his fourth save of the season and was hit with his second loss in the 4-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Monday. Fantasy managers desperate for saves with room on their IL should consider stashing Estevez, who had a league-leading 42 saves in his first year with the Royals in 2025.

Kansas City Royals right-hander Carlos Estevez (shoulder) has had a miserable start to his 2026 season. The 33-year-old gave up six earned runs in his first outing of the year in late March before hitting the injured list with a foot injury. Then, while working his way back, Estevez was diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain in early May and is currently in the midst of a three-week shutdown from throwing. At this point, a return in mid-to-late June appears to be the best-case scenario for Estevez. Still, Estevez is coming off a 42-save season in 2025 and could be worth monitoring on the waiver wire in deeper leagues. While Royals right-hander Lucas Erceg has pitched to a 3.26 ERA with 11 saves in Estevez's absence, Erceg has also blown three saves and owns a highly unimpressive 5% K-BB rate. Estevez is not a lock to immediately reclaim the ninth-inning role in Kansas City when he returns, but he may still have some appeal as a stash candidate off the waiver wire.

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez (shoulder) will be shut down for the next three weeks, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Estevez was removed early during his rehab outing on Wednesday after displaying reduced velocity. The right-hander was diagnosed with a right rotator cuff strain on Thursday. Estevez won't throw for three weeks, and then will hopefully begin a rehab assignment after that. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Estevez to be back in the mix for at least a month or so. With that being said, Lucas Erceg should continue to hold down the full-time closer role in Kansas City.

Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (shoulder, foot) left his minor-league rehab outing on Wednesday early at Triple-A Omaha with right-shoulder discomfort, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Estevez recorded two outs, but his velocity was down, and he exited after the second out when a trainer came to visit with him. Estevez has been on the 15-day injured list since he was hit by a comebacker on his left foot after his first appearance of the season. The 33-year-old Dominican veteran and two-time All-Star allowed six earned runs in one-third of an inning of work before being hit in the foot, and his velocity was noticeably down in spring training as well. Estevez might have recovered from his foot injury, but now he has shoulder concerns and could need to restart a rehab assignment. It's becoming harder to justify stashing Estevez in fantasy leagues, and Lucas Erceg's run as KC's primary closer could be extended, depending on how serious Estevez's shoulder injury is. Estevez is currently rostered in 64% of Yahoo leagues.

The Kansas City Royals are anticipating right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (foot) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday. Estevez only made one appearance for the Royals before being hit in the foot by a comebacker and going on the 15-day injured list with a left-foot contusion, but he's nearing a return to the big-league bullpen and could be back with the club this week. The 33-year-old veteran had a league-high 42 saves and was an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2025 in his first year with the Royals, but his velocity was noticeably down during spring training, and he was lit up for six earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out none in one-third of an inning in his only appearance so far this year before going on the IL. Lucas Erceg has been up and down as the Royals' fill-in closer with Estevez on the shelf, so the veteran reliever may regain closer duties upon his return from the IL. Fantasy managers searching for saves could take a flier on Estevez in hopes that he can regain some velocity and turn things around in 2026. He's only rostered in 64% of Yahoo leagues currently.

Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (ankle) threw to live hitters in Arizona on Tuesday, and president of baseball operations JJ Picollo said that his velocity was "closer to what it needed to be," according to Cody Tapp of 96.5 The Fan. It's good news, but Tapp also guesses that Estevez is two weeks from a potential return to KC's bullpen. He's expected to throw to live hitters again later this week before potentially starting a minor-league rehab assignment. The 33-year-old veteran is recovering from a left-ankle contusion that he suffered in his first and only outing of 2026, in which he was hit by a comebacker on the mound. Not only was Estevez injured, but his velocity had been down, dating back to spring training in March, so the Royals are likely working on his mechanics as he rehabs. It remains to be seen if Estevez will have an opportunity to retake the closer's role when he's reinstated from the 15-day injured list. Fill-in closer Lucas Erceg has seven saves in his 12 1/3 innings pitched, but he's been inconsistent with a 4.38 ERA and 1.62 WHIP. Despite Estevez's blowup in his only outing of the year and his injury, he's currently rostered in 65% of Yahoo leagues.

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez (foot) was able to throw a two-up bullpen on Saturday and is scheduled to face hitters in Arizona on Tuesday. The right-hander has been sidelined since getting hit by a comebacker in late March. His recovery from his left foot contusion has been slow, but it sounds like Estevez is making progress. Estevez only made one appearance this season before landing on the Injured List. He allowed six earned runs on four hits across 0.1 innings of work. Lucas Erceg has been working as the closer while Estevez has been out. He has converted six of eight save chances, but holds a 5.23 ERA right now. Estevez could be back in the mix for saves once he's back with the Royals.

Kansas City Royals veteran right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (foot) is still on the 15-day injured list with a left-foot contusion, and he looked awful in his first appearance of the 2026 season before getting injured, but he could still be worth stashing in fantasy leagues due to reliever Lucas Erceg's recent struggles in the closer's role in KC. Erceg was perfect in his first five save chances after Estevez went on the shelf, but since then, he's blown both of his save chances while allowing four earned runs on four hits while walking four and striking out only one. The 30-year-old now has an ugly 6.48 ERA and 1.80 WHIP over his 8 1/3 innings pitched early in the campaign, firmly putting himself on the closer hot seat. It's unclear when Estevez might return, and he has issues of his own (primarily reduced velocity), but his demise as a closer might be premature. Estevez is still rostered in 67% of Yahoo leagues. If you're hurting for saves, you should consider picking up the injured Estevez. He could be thrown right back into the closing mix for the Royals when he's cleared to come off the IL.