Lugo (1-0) earned the win Sunday over Atlanta, allowing five hits over 6.1 scoreless innings. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

It was a strong start to the year for Lugo, who held Atlanta to a lone extra-base hit en route to the Royals' first win this season. Lugo is looking to turn things around after an up-and-down 2025 campaign where he finished 8-7 with 125 strikeouts and a 4.15 ERA, his highest in five seasons. Lugo is tentatively scheduled to face the Brewers at home in his next outing.

Lugo threw five innings in a minor-league game Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lugo threw 72 pitches without issuing a walk and worked through some traffic, reportedly feeling great as he returned to Royals' camp after participating in the World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico. It was a mixed bag for the right-hander in the WBC, as he tossed four scoreless innings in his first start against Colombia but was chased after recording just one out and surrendering four runs in the quarterfinals against Italy. After posting a 4.15 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 26 starts and 145.1 innings, Lugo was shut down in September to close the 2025 campaign due to a back injury, though it doesn't appear to be lingering into the spring. The veteran will slot into a solid Kansas City rotation and will look to improve on last year's results and get closer to his 2024 production, when he posted a 3.00 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 33 outings and 206.2 innings.

Lugo (back) threw a bullpen session in Royals camp Thursday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lugo was sidelined for the final month of last season with a nagging back injury, but he does not appear to have any restrictions at the start of spring training. The veteran right-hander collected a 2.67 ERA in the first half in 2025 but posted a 7.51 ERA in his final nine starts before getting hurt. Lugo could very well bounce back in 2026 now that he's healthy, but he's 36 and has a 21.1 percent strikeout rate since 2024, so there is risk.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro confirmed Sunday that Lugo (back) won't return this season, Jackson Stone of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lugo landed on the injured list due to a back issue in early September. He was able to throw a bullpen session early this week but did not respond well. Quatraro explained Sunday that the injury is "not getting better quickly enough to do anything meaningful for him to come out here and force it." Lugo will finish his 10th MLB campaign with a 4.15 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 125:55 K:BB while posting an 8-7 record over 26 starts spanning 145.1 innings. There's currently no reason to believe that he won't be able to have a normal offseason.

Lugo (back) hasn't resumed throwing after a recent setback and Royals manager Matt Quatraro said this week that a 2025 return is a "longshot," Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lugo's back didn't respond well to a bullpen session he threw Monday, and he remains shut down from throwing. With just over a week remaining in the regular season and the Royals all but eliminated from playoff contention, a 2025 return seems very unlikely.

Lugo (back) did not respond well to his bullpen session Monday, so he will be shut down for a few more days, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lugo was looking at a possible return in the middle of the week, but Cole Ragans is set to start Wednesday and Stephen Kolek will now take the mound Thursday. Lugo's next probable start as of Tuesday is Sept. 24 at the Los Angeles Angels.

Lugo (back) received a cortisone injection Thursday and will resume throwing Sunday or Monday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Royals placed Lugo on the injured list Thursday with a lower back strain and also gave him a cortisone shot to address the injury. He'll be back to throwing after a brief shutdown. The shutdown should have minimal impact on his return timeline.

The Royals placed Lugo on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a lower-back strain, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Royals originally planned to push Lugo's next start back to Saturday after he reported tightness in his lower back. However, he didn't feel any improvement while playing catch Thursday and will now spend the next couple of weeks on the shelf in order to get back to 100 percent. Stephen Kolek was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move and is expected to start Saturday's game against the Twins.

Manager Matt Quatraro said Wednesday that Lugo's next start will be delayed due to lower-back tightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lugo reported tightness in his back Monday, so the Royals will give him a few extra days to recover before sending him back to the mound. The 35-year-old was initially lined up to start Thursday's series finale against the Angels, but that game will now instead belong to Noah Cameron. No official starter has been named for Saturday's contest against the Twins, however, so Kansas City may look to get Lugo on the bump then if his back cooperates.

Lugo (8-7) took the loss Friday against the Tigers, allowing four runs on eight hits and four walks in 3.1 innings. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Lugo's struggles during the second half of the season continued, as he's now given up at least four runs in five of his last nine starts. The veteran right-hander has also been unable to throw at least five innings on five occasions since the All-Star break, and he has a ghastly 7.51 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 37:24 K:BB over his last 44.1 frames during that period. Lugo has also issued multiple walks in all but one of his last nine outings, so he'll have plenty to clean up next week at home against the Angels.