Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (calf) is lined up to start Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday. Veteran right-hander Michael Wacha will get the opener in Game 1 on Saturday. Ragans was forced from his outing in Game 1 of the Wild-Card series versus the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday due to left-calf cramping, but he still managed to throw six shutout innings in the victory and will be able to make his next start in the Division Series. Ragans was the Royals' ace in 2024, going 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP and 223 strikeouts in 186 1/3 innings over his 32 starts. The 26-year-old southpaw faced the Yankees just once in 2024, picking up a quality start by allowing two earned runs with three walks and seven strikeouts in six innings pitched for a no-decision back on Sept. 11 in the Bronx. Ragans will be facing one of baseball's best offenses, but he has the stuff to shut them down if he's on.
Cole Ragans Pulled Early From Game 1 Start Due To Cramps
Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (calf) was pulled from his start early on Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards in Game 1 of the wild-card series with left-calf cramps. Ragans said his leg cramped up with two batters left in his final inning and could have gone back out. He will be ready to go in the ALDS against the New York Yankees if the Royals advance past the Orioles this week. Before departing, Ragans threw six shutout innings with four hits allowed, no walks and eight strikeouts to pick up the victory in the eventual 1-0 win. The 26-year-old southpaw was on his game on Tuesday and will now hope to pitch again versus the Yankees at some point next week. The former 30th overall pick of the Texas Rangers in 2016 was a first-time All-Star in 2024 and went 11-9 during 32 regular-season starts (186 1/3 innings) with a 3.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a career-high 223 strikeouts as KC's ace.
Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (calf, hamstring) is penciled in to make his next scheduled start this Saturday against the Houston Astros. Ragans was pulled slightly early from his last start on Monday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians due to cramps in his left calf and hamstring. Manager Matt Quatraro downplayed the injury after the game, though, and the Royals were never really expecting the 26-year-old southpaw to miss his next turn through the rotation this weekend. While the matchup against the first-place Astros isn't the greatest by any means, Ragans has been a pretty reliable fantasy starter in 2024, going 10-8 with a 3.28 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 187 K's in 156 1/3 frames over his 27 starts. His lone start against the 'Stros came back on April 9, when he gave up three earned runs on 10 hits while walking one and fanning five in five innings in a no-decision.
Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (calf, hamstring) was pulled early from Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field with a left-calf/hamstring cramp. Ragans was pulled in the fifth inning after giving up a walk to open the frame. The 26-year-old southpaw went four innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking four and striking out four. He didn't make it long enough to qualify for a victory in the team's 4-3 win. Although we don't know for sure yet, it doesn't seem like Ragans' injury is serious enough to keep him from making his next start for the Royals. His poor command in this one could have been attributed his calf/hamstring injury. Ragans has been a solid fantasy starter in all formats in 2024, as he came into Monday's game 10-8 with a 3.31 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 183 K's in 152 1/3 innings over his 26 starts. UPDATE: Manager Matt Quatraro said Ragans is "fine" after he cramped up. The Royals were about to pull him from the game anyway, and there are no concerns health-wise about Ragans.
Cole Ragans Logs Quality Start With Eight Strikeouts
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans logged a quality start in Wednesday's victory over the hosting division-rival Minnesota Twins at Target Field, striking out eight batters in the win. Ragans tossed seven innings of one-run ball on Wednesday against the Twins, allowing five hits and no walks en route to his 10th win of the year for the Royals. On the season as a whole, the 26-year-old All-Star left-hander owns a 3.18 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 174 punchouts and 47 walks over 25 starts (147 1/3 innings) in KC's rotation.
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans picked up the win in Wednesday's 8-4 victory over the Red Sox. The southpaw went six-and-a-third innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out seven. The 26-year-old is now 9-7 on the year with a 3.27 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 166 strikeouts (third-most) in 140 1/3 innings pitched. He'll get the Twins on the road in his next turn through the rotation, a team he's faced twice already this season. Over those two outings he's thrown 11 innings, allowing a total of four earned runs on 13 hits and four walks while striking out 16 batters.
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans was outstanding in Friday night's victory over the hosting Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, fanning seven batters over seven innings of work in his start. Ragans allowed just one run on four hits and a walk on Friday against Boston, coming away with his sixth win of the season. The 26-year-old former first-round pick has proven to be the key coup to last season's Aroldis Chapman trade for the Royals, delivering an excellent 3.16 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 141 strikeouts and 28 walks across 20 starts (116 2/3 frames) in KC's impressive rotation this year. We'll see him next in Tuesday's All-Star Game in Arlington.
Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (5-5) struck out 11 in just six innings during Monday's 4-1 win over the Miami Marlins. Ragans recorded his 12th quality start, allowing one earned run on four hits and three walks as he improved his record to (5-5). He is third behind Tyler Glasnow of the Los Angeles Dodgers (135) and Garrett Crochet of the Chicago White Sox (130) with 120 strikeouts over 98 innings. The Royals ace has been an anchor for fantasy managers this season. The 26-year-old owns a 3.05 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, with just 33 walks and six home runs allowed in 2024. Ragans will continue his run making batters swing and miss on Saturday when he faces the American League Central-leading Cleveland Guardians.
Cole Ragans Strikes Out Seven, Takes Loss In Quality Start
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans went six innings in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to the Athletics, allowing two earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out seven. It was Ragans' fourth straight quality start and seventh consecutive start in which he allowed three earned runs or fewer. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, the good pitching hasn't translated to wins, as the southpaw hasn't recorded a victory since May 22. Still, the 26-year-old has a strong 3.13 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and the third-most strikeouts in all of baseball with 109 over 92 innings pitched. Ragans will get a favorable matchup in his next start, which lines up with the Miami Marlins at home next Monday.
Cole Ragans Grabs Quality Start While Striking Out Nine
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans dominated the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, striking out nine over six innings of one-run ball in a 6-5 extra-innings loss. Ragans did all he could to get a win in this one, allowing just three hits and a walk, but the bullpen let him down. Outside of a couple blow-up starts, the 2023 breakout has lived up to expectations and then some this season. He now owns a 3.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 98 strikeouts in 79 IP. He should be treated as a fantasy ace at this point.
Cole Ragans
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Royals
