Royals send another key pitcher to injured list. The good news? One is returning
Kansas City Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg (60) is helped off the field by manager Matt Quatraro (33) and training staff during the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 18, 2025.
It was a good news/bad news situation Friday for the Royals regarding their pitching staff.
As expected, starting pitcher Seth Lugo returned from the injured list. He missed time because of a strained middle finger on his pitching hand.
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Unfortunately for the Royals, room was made on the active roster when relief pitcher Lucas Erceg went on the 15-day injured list because of a strained lower back. The move was retroactive to May 27.
Kansas City fans took note of Erceg's absence Wednesday in the Royals' 3-2 win over the Reds. After the game, Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Erceg was ill.
Erceg said the injury happened Tuesday but that he also had been sick.
'Yeah, I was not feeling so well in that Twins series (last weekend). Took a couple of days off and then wanted to get back into the weight room (and) work out once I was feeling better from the illness, and kind of just tweaked my lower back,' Erceg said. 'And that was gonna be, you know, a day or so, but hasn't really progressed the way I wanted it to. So we're just gonna take it day to day and make sure it feels better before I get back out there.'
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Erceg said he's had back injuries in the past and doesn't expect this stint on the IL to stretch beyond the 15 days.
Lugo, who hasn't pitched since May 11, returned as the starting pitcher for the Royals in Friday night's game against the Detroit Tigers.
Erceg has played an important role as KC's fireman reliever this season. He sports a 1.96 ERA in 2025.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro doesn't expect anyone to take Erceg's role. Sixteen of Erceg's 24 appearances have come in the eighth inning of a Royals game this season.
'We're going to go by matchup,' Quatraro said. 'We feel confident with the guys we have. We know our depth is going to be tested throughout the year as it already has been. You know, losing (Hunter) Harvey, losing Sam Long, so it's a good opportunity for some of the other guys to pitch in higher leverage.'
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Quatraro said his message to the Royals relief pitchers is to be themselves.
'He's been one of the best relievers in the game since we traded for him (last summer),' Quatraro said of Erceg. 'So you don't want anybody to go out there and think, 'I need to be Erceg.' That's not fair to anybody. So just go out there and execute your pitches and try to get the guys out that you're asked to get out.'
Plan for Seth Lugo
Lugo, who is 3-4 with a 3.02 ERA, didn't have a rehabilitation outing, but Quatraro said there won't be a pitch count on Friday night.
'He says he feels good, he's ready to go,' Quatraro said. 'His effectiveness is going to dictate how far into the game he can go, but we'll be responsible.'
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