Seth Lugo Fantasy Stats

The Kansas City Royals announced on Friday that they reinstated veteran right-hander Seth Lugo (head) from the seven-day concussion injured list and optioned right-hander Mason Black to Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. Lugo will return from the IL to face the Washington Nationals on Friday after he was struck in the forehead by a line drive in a scary scene at Kauffman Stadium against the Texas Rangers in his last start on June 10. The 36-year-old veteran will return to a 2-4 record with a 3.86 ERA (3.56 FIP) and 1.35 WHIP with 66 strikeouts and 25 walks in 79 1/3 innings pitched over his 14 starts in his 11th year in the majors. Despite being a soft-tosser with a below-average 19.8% strikeout rate, Lugo has kept hitters off balance enough to make him a deep-league streaming option. We would not recommend him in his first start off the IL, though, against a Nationals ballclub that ranks fifth in the league in OPS (.744). Lugo has little room for error with a lack of strikeout upside, and he'll likely have a limited pitch count in this one after not making a minor-league rehab start.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo (head) is "on track" to make the start in his team's matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Lugo is currently on the 7-day concussion injured list after being struck in the head by a line drive off the bat of Texas Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo during his most recent start on June 10. It's a great sign for everyone involved that Lugo appears to have avoided a more significant injury after the scary scene. Across 79 1/3 innings (14 starts) in 2026, Lugo has recorded a 2-4 record with a 3.86 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 66 strikeouts. The 36-year-old's fantasy upside is limited by his 19.8% strikeout rate, but he remains a savvy innings-eater who carries deep-league and streamer appeal in the right matchups.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo (head) was placed on the 7-day concussion Injured List on Friday. This doesn't come as a surprise after Lugo was drilled in the head by a comebacker off the bat of Brandon Nimmo during Wednesday's game. Lugo underwent a CT scan, which came back negative. The right-hander will now need to pass the league's concussion protocol before taking the mound again. In a corresponding move, reliever Eli Morgan has been recalled from Triple-A Omaha. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update on Lugo. It's possible that Lugo doesn't miss another start, but we'll need to see how he progresses.

Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo's (head) CT scan came back clear, and he will continue to be monitored, according to the team. Lugo was hit in the forehead by a 106.6 mph line drive off the bat of Texas Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo on Wednesday night in a scary scene at Kauffman Stadium. The veteran hurler was able to get up right away, although he quickly had a large lump on his head and was pulled from the game as a precaution. The 36-year-old will also likely be put through concussion tests, but for now, he appears to have avoided a serious injury. Lugo's next scheduled start on Monday against the Washington Nationals is up in the air, though, and fantasy managers will want to check back again in the next few days. Before leaving on Wednesday, Lugo allowed an earned run on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings pitched. The savvy veteran doesn't light up the radar gun or punch out hitters at a high rate, limiting his fantasy upside, but he's still a matchup-based streaming option in the right matchups.

Kansas City Royals veteran right-hander Seth Lugo (head) was involved in a scary scene at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday night against the visiting Texas Rangers, when he took a 106.6 mph line drive off his head off the bat of outfielder Brandon Nimmo, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Lugo got up quickly, but he had a sizeable lump on his forehead immediately and was pulled from the game as a precaution. The 36-year-old will be sent for concussion tests, at which point we'll have a better idea of whether he'll need to miss time. The good news is that Lugo was able to get up quickly, but that doesn't mean he won't be forced to go on the injured list. Before leaving, Lugo allowed an earned run on three hits while walking one and striking out two in 3 1/3 innings of work. Lugo is rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues because he has a strikeout rate under 20%, but in deeper leagues, he can still be useful as a matchup-based streamer. He entered his start on Wednesday with a 3.91 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 64:24 K:BB in 76 innings over 13 starts.

Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (back) was seen throwing a bullpen session at camp on Thursday, according to Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star. It's good to see the veteran hurler throwing again after he was shut down for the final month of last season due to a nagging back injury. Lugo doesn't have any restrictions this spring and mentioned that he wants to use his fastball more in early counts in 2026. The 36-year-old started the year off strong last season but really struggled down the stretch (likely due to his back) to finish with a 4.15 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 125 strikeouts in 145 1/3 innings pitched over 26 starts in his second year in KC. Lugo could bounce back in 2026 with better health, but nobody should be expecting another career year from him at this stage of his career, especially with a 21.1% strikeout rate since the start of 2024. The heavy workload may be catching up to him after he transitioned to a full-time starting role three years ago.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo (back) won't take the mound again this season, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Lugo has been sidelined since early September due to back discomfort. The right-hander was able to throw a bullpen session, but didn't respond well. It doesn't sound like Lugo is healing fast enough to take the mound again before the regular season ends. He'll finish the 2025 campaign with a 4.15 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 125/55 K/BB across 26 starts. Lugo should be ready in time for spring training next season.

Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (back) is "a long shot" to pitch again this season, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Lugo has been on the 15-day injured list since Sept. 1 with a strained lower back, and after he had a setback in a Sept. 15 bullpen session, it appears his season is over. While Lugo's condition has improved since then, he still hasn't resumed throwing. After finishing as the American League Cy Young runner-up in 2024, the 35-year-old's production has gone backward this season. Lugo has made 26 starts and posted an 8-7 record with a 4.15 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, 125 strikeouts, and 55 walks in 145 1/3 innings.

Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (back) has been temporarily shut down after he did not respond well to a bullpen session on Monday, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. He'll go a few days without throwing before potentially returning to the mound. Lugo has been on the 15-day injured list with a low-back strain since Sept. 1, and it's now up in the air whether he'll be able to return this season. Between Lugo's injury and his horrid performance in August (9.11 ERA in 26 2/3 innings), it has been a rough month-plus stretch for the 35-year-old. After finishing as the AL Cy Young runner-up in 2024, Lugo has gone 8-7 with a 4.15 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and 125:55 K:BB in 145 1/3 innings this season.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Thursday. At first, Lugo had his start pushed back to the weekend due to a back issue. However, Lugo didn't feel any improvements after playing catch on Thursday, so the team decided to place him on the shelf. He has been awful with the ball lately as he's allowed 10 earned runs over his last two starts. Hopefully, Lugo can get back on track in a couple of weeks. The assumption is that Lugo will be able to return by mid or late September. In the meantime, Stephen Kolek will be recalled and take the ball for the Royals on Saturday. He'll offer some low-end streaming appeal versus the Minnesota Twins.