Hernandez picked up the save in Tuesday's 11-10 victory over the White Sox. He allowed one run on a hit and a walk while striking out one over one inning.
Hernandez allowed a run for a fourth straight appearance, though he'd manage to hang on to a one-run lead Tuesday, earning his fourth save. It's been a tough run for Hernandez, who's allowed six runs in his last 2.2 innings while blowing two saves in that span. His ERA is up to 4.87 with a 1.21 WHIP and 75:26 K:BB this season. While Hernandez should still see high-leverage work in Kansas City, it's hard to trust him for fantasy purposes.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Takes 10th loss
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Hernandez (1-10) allowed three runs on two hits and two walks over one-third of an inning, taking the loss and a blown save Friday versus the Blue Jays.
Austin Cox started the eighth inning but sustained a left knee injury after facing two batters. Hernandez proceeded to allow an inherited runner to score before getting tagged for three runs himself. He has three blown saves and two saves over his last seven appearances, a span in which he's allowed six runs over six innings. He's at a 4.81 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 74:25 K:BB with three saves, 12 holds and five blown saves through 63.2 innings this season. Hernandez should continue to see high-leverage looks, but the quality of his performance of late puts him on the fantasy fringe.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Takes blown save, loss
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Hernandez (1-9) allowed a run on a two hits over one-third of an inning, taking the loss and a blown save Tuesday versus the Pirates.
Austin Cox left a man on base in the eighth inning and Hernandez surrendered a two-run home run to Ke'Bryan Hayes. Hernandez's uneven August -- 8.68 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 2-for-4 in save chances -- has prevented him from outright claiming the closer role that opened up when Scott Barlow was traded to San Diego. Hernandez has a 4.33 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 73:22 K:BB through 62.1 innings overall while adding three saves, 12 holds and four blown saves this season.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Notches five-out save
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Hernandez picked up the save in Wednesday's 4-0 win over Oakland, striking out one over 1.2 scoreless innings.
Hernandez was able to strand the bases loaded after coming on with one out in the eighth inning before closing out the A's in the ninth to earn his third save. The 26-year-old Hernandez has now converted his last two save chances after allowing three runs in his previous two appearances (1.1 innings). He now sports a 4.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 73:21 K:BB across 61 innings this season. Hernandez should see the majority of closing chances going forward in Kansas City, though the left-handed Austin Cox could see opportunities as well, depending on matchups.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Handed eighth loss
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Hernandez (1-8) allowed a run on one hit over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss and a blown save Thursday versus the Mariners. He did not strike out or walk a batter.
Taylor Hearn was called upon to protect a two-run lead in the eighth inning, but he put two of the three batters he faced on base. Hernandez relieved him and immediately gave up a three-run moonshot to Julio Rodriguez. Hernandez has allowed nine runs (eight earned) over 5.1 innings in August, and he has two holds and a blown save without converting a save chance this month. He has one save, 12 holds, a 4.47 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 70:20 K:BB through 58.1 innings this year. Should the Royals have any leads to protect down the stretch, it's likely the save chances will be distributed on a committee basis.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Gives up walk-off grand slam
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Hernandez (1-7) took the loss Monday versus the Red Sox, allowing four runs on two hits and two walks with one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning.
Hernandez was brought in to keep the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, but instead loaded the bases. Pablo Reyes unloaded them with a walk-off grand slam. Hernandez gave up just two runs over 13.1 innings in July, but he's already surrendered six runs in 2.2 innings in August. He's now at a 4.20 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 66:19 K:BB through 55.2 innings this season. Hernandez is still likely to see most of the Royals' save chances, but on a team that doesn't win much, he can't be counted on for a steady stream of saves.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Picks up first win
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Hernandez (1-6) allowed two runs (one earned) on a hit and a walk while striking out two over one inning to earn the extra-inning win Tuesday over the Mets.
Hernandez didn't pitch well in the 10th inning, giving up a two-run home run to Francisco Alvarez. The Royals were able to rally back and get a walk-off balk for the win. Hernandez is now in the driver's seat to be the Royals' closer after Scott Barlow was dealt to San Diego earlier Tuesday. Hernandez has a mediocre 3.67 ERA, but a 1.00 WHIP and 65:16 K:BB over 54 innings suggest he has the stuff to handle late-inning assignments. There won't be a lot of save chances while pitching for a last-place team, but he's worth a speculative add in fantasy on the strikeout upside alone.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Picks up save Sunday
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Hernandez secured his first-career save Sunday in a 2-1 win over the Twins. He did not allow a hit, but did walk a batter and struck out two.
Hernandez was called upon to close out the game in the ninth with Scott Barlow presumably unavailable after throwing 41 pitches over the last two days. Hernandez has now recorded three holds and a save while tossing four shutout innings in his last four appearances. He's a prime candidate to take over the Royals' closing duties if Barlow were to get dealt to a contending team before the deadline. Hernandez is putting up career-best numbers thus far, posting a 3.57 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 63:15 K:BB in 53 innings.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Takes sixth loss
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Hernandez (0-6) allowed a run on one hit and struck out one over one inning to take the loss Saturday versus the Yankees.
Hernandez has allowed two runs over 9.1 innings in July, but both instances led to him taking losses. His mistake Saturday resulted in a solo home run by DJ LeMahieu in the seventh inning. Hernandez has a solid 3.86 ERA for the season, but his 1.02 WHIP and 57:13 K:BB through 49 innings suggests he's gotten a little unlucky. He's added seven holds and two blown saves while often seeing high-leverage spots.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Handed loss in nightcap
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Hernandez (0-5) took the loss in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Rays, allowing a run on two hits while striking out one in one inning.
The Rays took the lead on a Luke Raley RBI single in the eighth inning, sticking Hernandez with his first decision since June 12. After some troubles in early June, the right-hander has settled down, allowing three runs (two earned) over his last 13.1 innings. He's at a 3.94 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 52:12 K:BB with five holds through 45.2 innings this season. Hernandez could be an option to take over the closer role if the Royals trade Scott Barlow before the deadline, though save chances on a last-place team are likely to remain sparse.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Opening versus O's on Sunday
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Hernandez will serve as the opening pitcher against the Orioles on Sunday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Hernandez will get the start, and Mike Mayers is expected to receive the bulk innings, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. Hernandez will likely only go a couple of innings at most, so he won't have the counting stats -- nor the chance to pick up a decision -- against Baltimore on Sunday.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Set to open Monday
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Hernandez (thumb) will start Monday's game against the Marlins, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Hernandez exited Friday's game after a callus on his thumb opened up, but he'll return to the mound Monday in Miami to serve as Kansas City's opener. The 26-year-old has a 4.76 ERA across 28.1 innings this season and should cover a frame or two before giving way to bulk pitcher Mike Mayers.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Leaves with apparent injury
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Hernandez left Friday's game against the Rockies with an apparent injury, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Hernandez allowed four runs while getting just one out before leaving the game, with Nick Wittgren taking over on the mound. The nature or severity of Hernandez's injury isn't yet clear.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Strikes out four as opener
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Hernandez allowed two hits and struck out four over two scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Wednesday.
Hernandez has kept runs off the board in five of his seven appearances in May, including this turn as an opener. The right-hander hasn't had much success at the major-league level, but he's been more effective as a reliever this season. He has a 4.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB through 22 innings while adding an 0-1 record, three holds and a blown save in 19 appearances.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Set for spot start
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Hernandez will start Wednesday's game versus the Padres, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The specifics of the Royals' pitching plan were not revealed, but Hernandez last pitched Saturday, so he's unlikely to be available for more than three innings. He's been a full-time reliever this season after coming up through the minors as a starter. Hernandez owns a 4.50 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB over 20 innings across 18 relief outings in 2023. With Daniel Lynch (shoulder) a possibility to return next week, Hernandez is unlikely to get more than one turn as a starter.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Doing well in spring
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Hernandez has covered five innings without allowing an earned run over three Cactus League appearances.
Hernandez has also posted a 6:1 K:BB with just three hits allowed. His workload hasn't been that heavy in the spring, but he's performed well in the limited sample. The 26-year-old right-hander looks set to fill a bullpen role as a multi-inning option this season. He struggled to a 7.39 ERA and 1.84 WHIP over 56 innings last season, but if he carries over his improved control from the spring to the regular season, he should at least enjoy a little more job security.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Dealt fourth loss
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Hernandez (0-4) allowed a run on a hit and a walk in one-third of an inning, taking the loss Friday versus the Tigers.
Hernandez allowed two of the three batters he faced to reach base, and Jose Cuas couldn't prevent the Tigers from scoring the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. Since he was recalled Aug. 13, Hernandez has given up six runs in 10.1 innings across seven appearances. He's struggled as both a starter and a reliever this year with an 8.18 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 26:24 K:BB across 44 innings through 15 appearances (seven starts). The 25-year-old should be expected to finish 2022 in a low-leverage role.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Heads back to minors
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Hernandez was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.
Hernandez was recalled from Omaha on Friday, and he allowed four runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out two in four innings during Friday's loss to the Blue Jays. He'll head back to the minors after Collin Snider was called up Saturday.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Recalled from Triple-A
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Hernandez was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Hernandez made seven starts for the Royals early in the season and posted a 9.10 ERA and 2.16 WHIP in 29.2 innings prior to his demotion in mid-May. He isn't listed among the team's probable starters for the team's weekend series in Toronto so he should be available as a long reliever, as the club is dealing with several absences due to the vaccination requirements in Canada.
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Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Struggles to find zone
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Hernandez allowed three earned runs on five hits and five walks while striking out three across three innings Thursday against the White Sox. He did not factor into the decision.
Hernandez struggled to find the strike zone as he walked two batters in the first inning and an additional three in the third. He managed to effectively work around the free passes, but he allowed four consecutive singles -- two of which didn't leave the infield -- to begin the fourth frame that accounted for two of his earned runs. Hernandez has had disastrous results across his last three starts, surrendering 18 earned runs across 11.2 frames. Overall, he has maintained a 9.10 ERA with a 16:20 K:BB for the season.
