How did Cole Ragans look in Royals return? Here’s the answer from latest KC win
The Royals’ most pressing question heading into Monday night was whether left-handed starter Cole Ragans would look like himself after skipping a start with a groin injury.
Consider the ace back to his normal self.
Ragans was dominant in his return to the mound Monday, tying a season-high with 11 strikeouts in five innings as the Royals shut out the Chicago White Sox 3-0 at Kauffman Stadium.
With that, the Royals continued their current hot streak. KC won its 12th game in 14 tries and also improved its season record to 20-16.
Ragans didn’t appear to show any ill effects from his earlier ailment, ramping his fastball up to 98 mph while overpowering a tepid White Sox lineup.
In all, Ragans recorded 17 whiffs while leaning heavily on his fastball. Forty-five of his 94 pitches were heaters, with the White Sox only able to put two of those offerings in play.
The Royals couldn’t replicate Sunday’s power surge — when they hit seven home runs against the Orioles — but they still cobbled together enough offense without putting one over the fence Monday.
Maikel Garcia remained KC’s hottest hitter, opening the scoring in the fourth with an RBI single to left that scored teammate Bobby Witt Jr.
After that, Witt and Drew Waters added RBI doubles to give KC some extra cushion.
The lead held from there. John Schreiber, Steven Cruz, Daniel Lynch and Carlos Estevez each pitched a scoreless inning; the four scoreless innings mean that KC’s bullpen, since April 24, has allowed just five earned runs in 39 2/3 innings — good for an MLB-best 1.15 ERA in that time.
Estevez earned the save, his 10th of the season.
Brian Sweeney away from team
Royals pitching coach Brian Sweeney was away from the team Monday because of a personal matter. With Sweeney gone, assistant pitching coach Zach Bove served as pitching coach, while strategist Andy Ferguson joined the dugout as a game-day assistant.
What’s next: The Royals will continue their four-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday. Seth Lugo is scheduled to face White Sox right-hander Sean Burke.
This story was originally published May 5, 2025 at 9:16 PM.
