Royals' Cole Ragans: Struggles with command in loss
Rotowire
Ragans (7-5) took the loss Thursday, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks over 6.1 innings against the Tigers. He struck out eight.
Ragans shut out the Tigers over the first six innings, but ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh after allowing a single and back-to-back walks. The lefty would eventually be charged with four runs in the frame, though two of those runs came across after he was relieved by Carlos Hernandez. Ragans has allowed four or more runs in two of his last three starts, though this was the third consecutive outing in which he's gone at least six innings. He's also issued four walks in back-to-back starts.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Earns seventh win
Rotowire
Ragans (7-4) yielded two runs on three hits and four walks over six innings Friday, striking out five and picking up a win over Houston.
Ragans gave up a run in each of the first two innings but was able to limit the damage in his quality start. It was a solid rebound after the Astros tagged him for five runs in his last appearance, but he's now walked 12 batters over his last 17.2 frames. Ragans owns a 2.34 ERA and an 81:23 K:BB in 11 starts since joining the Royals. He's lined up to take the mound in Detroit next week for his final start of the season.
Ragans came away with a no-decision Saturday, surrendering five runs on six hits and two walks over six-plus innings as the Royals downed the Astros 10-8. He struck out seven.
The southpaw blanked Houston for four innings before beginning to unravel, but after putting the first two batters aboard in the seventh, Ragans still left the mound in line for his seventh win before Collin Snider served up a game-tying homer to Jose Altuve. Ragans has been a revelation since being acquired from Texas in the Aroldis Chapman deal, delivering a 2.28 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 76:19 K:BB through 59.1 innings over his first 10 starts for Kansas City. He lines up for a rematch with the Astros back in Houston next weekend.
Royals' Cole Ragans: Falters late against Blue Jays
Rotowire
Ragans allowed two runs on one hit and six walks while striking out six over 5.2 innings Sunday against the Blue Jays. He did not factor into the decision.
Ragans was cruising for most of the game until the wheels fell off in the sixth. He got the first two batters out of the frame but then proceeded to walk four straight and threw two very wild pitches that allowed two runs to score before he wound up being replaced in the inning by Taylor Clarke. It was an uncharacteristic ending to the outing for Ragans, who is fresh off winning the August AL pitcher of the month honors. The 25-year-old now boasts a 1.69 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 69:17 K:BB in 53.1 innings since debuting with the Royals on July 15. He's lined up for a tough matchup against the Astros in the new week.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Dominates in sixth win
Rotowire
Ragans (6-4) earned the win Monday against the White Sox, allowing two runners (one hit and one hit-by-pitch) over six scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
Ragans' amazing break out continued Monday afternoon as he retired the first 13 batters faced. In total, he only had to face 19 total batters to record 18 outs while generating 22 swings-and-misses. Ragans has been elite since debuting for the Royals on July 15. In eight starts since then, he's had a 1.51 ERA and 11.9 K/9 over 47.2 innings.
Ragans did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing three hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings against the Pirates. He struck out nine.
Ragans turned in yet another dominant performance, holding the Pirates scoreless across seven frames while fanning nine batters. The southpaw has now recorded back-to-back scoreless starts and boasts a 1.72 ERA and 53:9 K:BB in August (36.2 innings). He's tentatively scheduled to take on the White Sox at Kauffman Stadium in his next start.
Ragans (5-4) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two hits over six scoreless innings while striking out 11 in a 4-0 win over Oakland.
Ragans blanked the A's for six innings Wednesday, matching a season high with 11 strikeouts en route to his third win in his last five starts. The 25-year-old southpaw has been quietly excellent since he was recalled from Triple-A on Aug. 2, pitching to a 1.93 ERA while recording 44 strikeouts in five starts (32.2 innings). Ragans' ERA is down to 3.66 with a 1.27 WHIP and 71:24 K:BB across 59 innings between Kansas City and Texas this season. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, tentatively lined up for next week against Pittsburgh.
