Cole Ragans is set to begin a rehab assignment on Sunday, with a scheduled two-inning start planned with Triple-A Omaha. It has now been over three months since Ragans was sidelined by a rotator cuff strain, and if the southpaw is able to make it back to the Royals rotation before the season is over, it won’t be in a full-fledged starting role. “We know we don’t have the time to get him built up to five or six innings,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters (including Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star), indicating that Ragans would still be a starter, but perhaps in a piggyback capacity or as the lead pitcher of a bullpen game.
Seth Lugo was just placed on the 15-day IL earlier this week due to a back strain, and Kris Bubic’s season was ended by a rotator cuff strain in late July. Despite these and other injuries, the Royals’ pitching staff has still been the biggest factor in keeping the team afloat in the wild card race, as Kansas City’s offense has remained inconsistent. If the Royals can stick around in the playoff hunt until late September, getting Ragans back in even a limited capacity might be a huge boost in helping K.C. return to the postseason.
More from around the AL Central…
- Paul Sewald began a rehab assignment with the Tigers’ high-A affiliate on Thursday. Sewald hasn’t pitched since July 11 when he was still a member of the Guardians, and his placement on Detroit’ 60-day IL means that he can’t be activated until September 10 at the absolute earliest. Though Sewald remains on the mend with a right shoulder strain, the Tigers felt comfortable enough in his ability to return this season that the righty was acquired from the Guards at the deadline. Shoulder problems have limited Sewald to only 15 1/3 innings this season, and he has a 4.42 ERA over his last 55 MLB frames with Cleveland and Arizona during the 2024-25 campaigns.
- Turning to another pitcher on the Tigers’ 60-day injured list, Reese Olson has started a throwing progression as he works his way back from his own right shoulder strain. Ramping up throwing work now might give Olson a chance at making a playoff roster — he was placed directly on the 60-day IL on July 28, so he is only eligible to return for the last couple of games of Detroit’s regular-season schedule. Even the slightest setback would almost surely shut Olson down for 2025 entirely, and even if healthy, it remains to be seen if the Tigers would entrust a playoff roster spot to a pitcher coming off such a long layoff. Olson has pitched well as a starter over his three seasons in Motown, but would likely be used as a reliever in the playoffs since he doesn’t have enough time to fully rebuild his arm strength.
- Guardians outfielder Will Brennan underwent a sports hernia surgery to correct a lingering groin injury, according to MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins. Brennan’s 2025 season was already over due to a Tommy John surgery back in June, but even after the TJ procedure and his latest surgery, Brennan is expected to be ready for the start of Cleveland’s spring camp in February. The outfielder played in 252 games with the Guardians in a part-time capacity in 2023-24, but after starting 2025 in the minors and then getting injured, Brennan appeared in just six MLB contests this year.
If the Tigers could get Reese back even for a solid 3 innings a game would be huge in the playoffs. Limited history shows that he does best starting games or at least a fresh inning.
Getting Finnegan back and plugging Olson and Sewald into the bullpen would be good for the playoffs. Leave the “tweener” experiments in the minors.
I agree, bring those three back and cut Paddack!
They already will need to add Finnegan and Hurter back. Playoff bullpen guarantees if healthy: Vest, Finnegan, Kahnle, Hurter, Holton, R Montero, and Melton. The Starters are Skubal, Mize, Flaherty, and Morton. Flaherty and Morton starts will be pitching chaos games.
That leaves two spots. Hanifee is likely as Hinch has shown loyalty. So one spot available for the rest.
I agree with all of that if they stay healthy which is always the challenge. Hannifee’s surface numbers are good but if Sewald looks good rehabbing it will be interesting.
R olson
Three solid but injury plagued seasons in the majors
What is Reese O’s height and weight?
Paul Sewald. L. O. Loudddd.
The Tiger pitching is looking rough again. I’m hoping they can win enough to get the bye week. GO TIGERS !
Olson would slot right in as the Game 2 starter. I hope this humbled Scott Harris and he starts getting serious in free agency. You can’t nickel and dime your way to a World Series championship.
Most of what he and Hinch have done has worked. I’ll take it. I wonder if they will sign a starter in the offseason? Could run with Skubal, Olson, Flaherty (if he stays), Mize and Melton? A big bat might help.
Improved infield defense would go a long way too. The left side is especially porous…
Who should they have signed this last offseason that was available and willing to come here?? Its easy to just say spend $, but let’s hear how.
My only real issue was not signing Boyd. He looked great at end of last season and he and has wife still do a lot of charity work here. Seemed like a no brainer. The Cobb signing seemed odd from day 1 and was only time Ive truly questioned Harris’s moves.
I agree on Boyd and Verlander would have been nice too.
kentonwebb I’ve never posted before. After the stretch between 2016 and 2024, I’d be happy if the Royals finished at .500. Get everyone healthy for 26.
Oh, and RIP Davey Johnson. Awesome rivalry between Mets and Cards mid eighties.