Ragans (0-2) took the loss Thursday against the Twins, allowing one unearned run on four hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings.

EDGE Analysis

Ragans turned in a strong outing and bounced back nicely from his rough season debut, but the southpaw was tagged with the loss due to a defensive miscue and limited run support. His lone blemish came in the second inning when a pickoff attempt by Salvador Perez sailed high and deflected into center field, allowing a run to score. Ragans otherwise kept Minnesota in check, limiting hard contact while once again racking up strikeouts to bump his season total to 13 across 10 innings. After injuries sidelined the 28-year-old for much of last season, Thursday's performance was an encouraging one. Ragans will look to replicate that success in his next start, scheduled to come against Cleveland.

Ragans (0-1) took the loss Friday, giving up four runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and four walks over four innings as the Royals were downed 6-0 by Atlanta. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

It was a rough beginning to 2026 for the southpaw, as Ragans got taken deep by Ozzie Albies, Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris before getting the hook after 90 pitches (52 strikes). Ragans' first priority this season is just to stay healthy after he managed only 13 starts last season, and on that front his workload was encouraging, even if his command and control aren't yet in peak form. Ragans will look to bounce back in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Twins.

Ragans will start for the Royals on Opening Day (March 27) in Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

It will be the third year in a row that Ragans will start KC's first game of the campaign. The left-hander has had an uneven spring, posting an 8.44 ERA and 1.59 WHIP through four games (three starts), but he's also posted a great 15:3 K:BB across 10.2 innings. Ragans will look to stay healthy this year after managing to make just 13 starts in 2025.

Ragans allowed six runs on five hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch over 1.2 innings in Thursday's Cactus League loss to the Rangers. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Ragans was ambushed early, allowing the first three hitters of the game to reach before Jake Burger launched a homer from the cleanup spot that quickly put the Rangers ahead by four in the first inning. Kansas City allowed Andrew Perez to finish the first frame before sending Ragans back out for the second inning, where he surrendered another home run to Wyatt Langford. While it certainly wasn't a banner outing for the southpaw, his velocity wasn't a concern, as his fastball averaged 96.8 mph and topped out at 98.5 mph. It was an injury-riddled and disappointing 2025 season for the 28-year-old, who posted a 4.67 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 13 starts and 61.2 innings. However, a 2.50 FIP, 14.3 K/9 and a career-worst .354 BABIP are data points that have Kansas City believing Ragans can rebound and return closer to his 2024 form in 2026.

Ragans didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Athletics, allowing two hits and one walk over 4.1 scoreless innings. He struck out eight.

EDGE Analysis

The left-hander was electric despite the short outing, piling up 17 swinging strikes on 72 pitches while leaning heavily on his fastball. He put together a particularly dominant stretch during which he struck out six of eight batters faced. Since returning from the injured list, Ragans has been exactly what the Royals hoped for, looking sharp across three outings. Over that span, he's delivered a 2.77 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and a 22:4 K:BB across 13 innings, showing not only that his strikeout ability remains intact but also that there are no lingering concerns about his durability or effectiveness heading into the offseason.

Ragans (3-3) earned the win Tuesday, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over five innings against the Angels. He struck out 10.

EDGE Analysis

Ragans worked four scoreless frames before surrendering a two-run homer to Bryce Teodosio in his fifth and final inning of Tuesday's start. It was an impressive showing for the southpaw in just his second outing back from a left rotator cuff strain that kept him sidelined for more than three months. The 27-year-old has had a tough-luck season with a 5.02 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 12 starts and 57.1 innings, surface numbers that hide a much stronger 2.69 FIP. He's currently lined up for one more regular-season start Sunday against the Athletics, though that has not yet been confirmed.

Ragans didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Mariners, allowing two runs on one hit and two walks in 3.2 innings. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

Ragans was understandably limited in his first major-league start since June 5, throwing just 62 pitches in his return following over three months on the shelf due to a strained rotator cuff. A two-run homer by Eugenio Suarez represented the big blow to the southpaw's ledger, though it was encouraging to see him register 13 whiffs in an abbreviated outing. Ragans should have his workload restrictions loosened a bit in his next scheduled appearance against the Angels. He has a 5.16 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a strong 80:18 K:BB over 52.1 innings.

The Royals activated Ragans (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

After being sidelined for more than three months with a left rotator cuff strain, Ragans will make his return to the Royals rotation Wednesday against the Mariners at Kauffman Stadium. Ragans made two rehab starts with Triple-A Omaha prior to being activated, allowing just one run with a 14:2 K:BB over 6.2 innings. The left-hander threw 56 pitches in his most recent rehab outing this past Friday, so his workload will be relatively limited versus the Mariners.

The Royals will activate Ragans (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Mariners in Kansas City, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

The upcoming start will mark Ragans' first with the big club since June 5, after a left rotator cuff strain kept him out of commission for more than three months. The southpaw began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha on Sept. 7 and tossed 56 pitches and 3.2 innings in his second and final outing on the farm this past Friday, striking out seven in that start while allowing no runs on one hit and two walks. Though Ragans looked sharp in both of his appearances at Omaha, he's not yet fully stretched out for a typical starter's workload and could be limited to around 70-to-80 pitches Wednesday.

Ragans (shoulder) will make continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander made his first rehab appearance with Omaha on Sunday and threw 45 pitches across three innings. Ragans will continue building up his workload Friday and could require another rehab start after that before being cleared to rejoin the Royals.