Noah Cameron’s rise has turned into one of the most encouraging developments in the Royals’ rotation this season.
The Kansas City left-hander is coming off an uneven start to his sophomore year, but the finish has been far more in line with the pitcher who put together a strong rookie campaign. Last season, Cameron logged 138 1/3 innings and finished with a 2.99 ERA, good for fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. That set the bar high entering this year.
The early results weren’t pretty. Cameron gave up 19 earned runs across his first six starts, then worked to a 5.52 ERA over 31 innings in June. For a pitcher expected to build on last season, it was a rough opening stretch.
Then came the adjustment that changed everything: Cameron began calling his own pitches. That move has helped put him right back on track, and the numbers since then tell the story. In August, he threw 33 2/3 innings with a 1.87 ERA and 24 strikeouts, a stretch that earned him American League Pitcher of the Month honors.
The last two outings have only reinforced that momentum. Against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cameron worked six innings, gave up three hits, and didn’t allow an earned run while striking out seven. He followed that with another six-inning effort against the Boston Red Sox, allowing one earned run on four hits and striking out four.
Cameron’s season line now sits at a 3.84 ERA, and he has reached new career highs in innings pitched at 166 1/3 and strikeouts at 149, with more baseball still to come.
Given the injuries that have thinned out the rotation and the uncertainty surrounding 2027, Cameron looks like a pitcher the Royals can count on. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he enters next season as the club’s No. 2 starter.
In Other News...
Royals Ugly 2026 May Not Be The Dead End Fans Fear
A disappointing 2026 season has left the Royals staring at a finish near the bottom of the American League, and the numbers around it are grim enough: fewer than 70 wins and a 10th playoff miss in 11 seasons would normally feel like the kind of year that closes a window rather than opens one. But this roster is not starting from zero, because Bobby Witt Jr. is still the centerpiece and the young support around him, from Jac Caglianone to Carter Jensen, gives Kansas City a base that looks more encouraging than the standings do.
The bigger reason for optimism is the setting around them. The AL Central has not looked especially imposing, and if the Royals can add the right reinforcements, the gap between ugly now and competitive soon may not be as wide as frustrated fans fear. In other words, the 2026 stumble could end up looking less like a dead end and more like the last messy step before a club that is ready to push for the division in 2027. [Read more 🡒]
Jac Caglianone Returns With Royals Fans Watching One Lingering Concern
Jac Caglianone was back in the lineup against the Pirates after sitting out the previous game because of a cut on his hand, the result of punching a dugout wall. The Royals have plenty invested in his development, and the episode added an avoidable detour to what has otherwise been a strong overall season, even if his recent work at the plate has been uneven.
Caglianone called the incident selfish and immature, saying he wants to learn from it, which is the right instinct for a player trying to settle in and keep his focus on the bigger picture. For Kansas City, the larger concern now is less about the one-game absence than whether the lessons from it carry over into the daily grind, especially with his bat still searching for the consistency the Royals need. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Massey Is Giving The Royals A Reason To Believe
Michael Massey has quietly given the Royals another reason to feel better about the shape of their infield and the direction of his bat. The second baseman is putting together the most productive season of his major league career, setting personal bests in doubles and hits while continuing to look like a steady presence on both sides of the ball.
Since returning from a concussion in late August, Massey has kept producing at the plate, including a recent home run against the Pirates, and he has backed it up with strong work defensively. His 12 outs above average at second base have only added to the value, leaving Kansas City with a player whose ceiling still feels worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]