The Kansas City Royals’ path to the 2025 postseason may have hit a snag with starting pitcher Seth Lugo going on the 15-day injured list with lower back tightness.
Going into Thursday’s MLB schedule, the Royals (70-69) are 2.5 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the American League’s third wild-card playoff spot. (The Texas Rangers are ahead of Kansas City by one game at 72-69.)
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Lugo, 35, has a 4.15 ERA in 26 starts for the Royals this season, striking out 125 batters in 154 1/3 innings. He’s been Kansas City’s second-most reliable starter behind Michael Wacha in 2025. However, Lugo has struggled in the second half of the season, posting a 7.51 ERA in nine starts (and 9.11 ERA in his six appearances during August).
Last season, Lugo finished as the runner-up in AL Cy Young Award voting after compiling a 3.00 ERA and 16-9 record in 33 starts. He threw 206 2/3 innings, striking out 181 batters. The Royals signed Lugo to a two-year, $46 million extension at the end of July after he was a rumored midseason trade candidate.
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