The Royals keep stacking wins, and the stretch is starting to look a lot more like a team building something than one just trying to limp to the finish line. Kansas City has taken four of its last six games, with those results coming in series wins over the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Guardians. Even better, the Royals have now won five straight series.
That backdrop makes the weekly stock report pretty easy to read. The club may still face long odds in the playoff race, but the recent run has left plenty to like about where this roster is headed.
Michael Wacha was the headliner on the mound. The veteran put together his best start of the season in the Guardians series, working eight innings and allowing no earned runs on four hits while striking out a season-high 10 batters. He was in full control throughout the outing and even had more velocity than usual, a detail that made Kansas City’s choice not to move him before the trade deadline look all the better.
Jac Caglianone is no longer just flashing upside. He’s producing like a hitter who belongs.
Over his last 23 at-bats, he’s hit .435 with a 1.087 OPS, six RBIs and a home run. The young slugger has been on a real tear, and there’s no sign of it cooling off.
Carter Jensen is also starting to turn the corner at the plate. The rookie catcher has six hits over the last seven days, and two of them left the yard.
He’s also shown a strong eye, drawing seven walks during that stretch. Jensen already made MLB history as the first player to hit five leadoff home runs in a season while playing catcher, and he continues to look like part of the Royals’ long-term picture.
Josh Rojas made the most of a small window, collecting four hits and four RBIs in his last nine at-bats. Isaac Collins has also given the lineup a lift, batting .316 over the past week as he seems to be settling in offensively.
Anthony Gose deserves a mention on the pitching side after returning to the mound for the first time in a Royals uniform and for the first time since 2024. He’s been flawless through 2 2/3 innings, with no hits or earned runs allowed.
Not everyone had the kind of week they wanted. Seth Lugo was hit hard in his latest outing against the Guardians, lasting just 3 2/3 innings while giving up nine earned runs on nine hits, including two home runs. With one month left in the year, the 36-year-old is looking to finish on a much better note.
Kyle Isbel’s week landed somewhere in the middle. He hit .176 over his last 17 at-bats, struck out six times, and still managed three hits, including a double, along with one RBI.
Luke Maile didn’t do much with his limited chances. In five at-bats over the past seven days, he finished without a hit, RBI, walk or strikeout.
In Other News...
Royals Bring Back A Familiar Name With His Future Still Unclear
The Royals used the roster expansion to add some familiar depth, recalling right-handers Nolan Hoffman and Easton McGee while also selecting the contract of outfielder Drew Waters. For Kansas City, the move gives the club a little more flexibility as the season enters its final stretch, and Waters is set to provide bench help or emergency coverage in the outfield.
Waters return comes with his place on the roster still very much in flux. He has already exhausted his options and had been designated for assignment before clearing waivers, so the Royals are not bringing him back with a long runway, especially after a stint in which his offense and defense both fell short of league average. For now, he fits as a useful extra body, but the bigger question is how long he can hold that spot. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Just Lost A Bullpen Piece They Planned To Build Around
Carlos Estvezs season is over before it really got going, and the Royals are now bracing for the reality that his time in Kansas City may be finished, too. The right-hander is scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery next week after a frustrating run of injuries wiped out his season and kept him from delivering the kind of bullpen help the Royals envisioned when they brought him in.
Estvez had not pitched since March, first dealing with a left foot contusion before a right rotator cuff strain added to the setback, and his velocity never fully came back during rehab. While the club moved ahead with its September roster additions by bringing up relievers Easton McGee and Nolan Hoffman along with outfielder Drew Waters, the loss of a bullpen arm they had planned to build around leaves another hole to manage as the season winds down. [Read more 🡒]
Jac Caglianone Is Forcing A Big Royals Question
Jac Caglianones rise has become one of the more important developments in Kansas Citys season. After struggling through 2025 and the early part of 2026, he caught fire in June, when he mashed nine home runs and posted a 1.036 OPS, enough to earn a spot in the leagues Home Run Derby and remind everyone why his bat has been so closely watched.
By late August, the numbers had backed up the breakout, with 23 home runs and an .832 OPS on the season. The bigger intrigue for the Royals is what comes next, because the improved plate discipline and elite exit velocity suggest this isnt just a hot stretch but a possible long-term answer in the middle of their lineup. [Read more 🡒]