Will the Royals make rotation change after Michael Lorenzen falters vs. Cardinals?
The Royals will have a decision to make this week.
Prior to Tuesday’s matchup, manager Matt Quatraro announced that left-hander Cole Ragans will start in Thursday’s series finale at Busch Stadium. Ragans has been sidelined with a left groin strain. The Royals placed him on the 15-day injured list last month.
Now, Ragans is due to return. He threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and felt fine after. His impending return creates a dilemma as the Royals will have six healthy starters: Ragans, Lorenzen, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Noah Cameron.
“We have to decide something before Cole pitches on Thursday,” Quatraro said. “We have not come to that yet.”
The Royals could opt for a six-man rotation. However, with multiple off-days this month, it might not be feasible. There is a chance one pitcher is left out of the mix or sent to the bullpen.
Lorenzen didn’t help his case on Tuesday. He surrendered all seven runs on seven hits in 2 ⅔ innings. The Cardinals did damage on his sinker and four-seam fastball. St. Louis scored five runs in the third inning against him.
“We will look at it,” Lorenzen said postgame. “I feel like I’m throwing to righties pretty well and lefties are kind of getting me right now, which is usually not the case. So we’ve got to figure out why that switch is happening and whether it’s sequencing or pitch selection or whatever.”
Cardinals duo Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman were responsible for both homers and four of the seven runs allowed.
“I go through this maybe once or twice a year, so you just have to remain consistent,” Lorenzen said. “And I enjoy the work. I enjoy making adjustments and stuff like that. And that’s the only way you can last in this game is if you enjoy it. Otherwise, getting punched in the face like this, no one wants to go through it. But I’ll watch some video as soon as tonight and show up wanting to come to the field tomorrow to get better.”
Cameron, meanwhile, has had a remarkable first stint in the pros. Vinnie Pasquantino called him “incredible for us,” while Cavan Biggio noted each of his starts “has been nails” back on May 23.
Cameron is even getting some early Rookie of the Year buzz after going at least six innings in each of his four starts and surrendering no more than a single run in any of them. He has a 1.05 ERA entering his start Wednesday.
This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 9:27 PM.
