Royal starting pitcher Lugo has been placed on the injured list due to a lower back strain, with hopes for a swift return.

As the Kansas City Royals attempt to pursue a postseason berth in the last month of the season, they will be missing a key pitcher for at least a fortnight.

Right-hander Seth Lugo was added to the 15-day injured list today because of a lower back strain, effective from September 1. Lugo and the Royals both hope this will be just a brief 15-day absence.

Meanwhile, Stephen Kolek has been recalled from Triple-A Omaha and is expected to start in the game against the Twins the day after tomorrow. Kolek, acquired from the Padres at the trade deadline, pitched six innings allowing just one run last Sunday against the Tigers (filling in for Noah Cameron), then was optioned back down. However, since he replaced an injured player, he is eligible to return to the majors before the 15-day minimum period ends.

Lugo, who finished second in the 2024 AL Cy Young voting, has struggled significantly in the second half of the season, posting a 7.51 ERA and an alarming 9.11 ERA over his last six starts. He reported increased back tightness during bullpen sessions on Wednesday. When the discomfort did not improve during Thursday’s catch practice, the Royals postponed his scheduled start against the Angels today, opting to have rookie Cameron take the mound instead.

Lugo was originally scheduled for a bullpen session today to assess his readiness for this weekend, but it quickly became clear he would not be able to pitch.

“Very stiff,” Lugo described how he felt over the past couple of days. “I thought that after completing a full start it would affect me less than I expected. So this was the sensible decision.”

Manager Matt Quatraro said that while the roster move was made today, the team is still working on a treatment and return plan for Lugo. When asked if he is optimistic about Lugo returning this season, Quatraro responded promptly:

“Oh, yes, absolutely,” Quatraro said.

At the start of today’s game, the Kansas City Royals were 2.5 games behind the AL wild card spot.

If they want to make a run in October, the Royals will need not only Lugo back on the mound but also at his best. Lugo has clearly been off in the past month, although both he and the team have publicly denied that the 35-year-old has been pitching through injury.

Lugo’s season ERA has now risen to 4.15, up from 2.65 in early July. His 3.41 walks per nine innings mark is the second highest of his career, well above his 2.09 rate in 2024. In six starts during August, he managed to pitch five innings only once.

Lugo said he has been “constantly” managing his back since undergoing surgery in 2012 to treat spondylolisthesis.

“But since then, it hasn’t been severe enough for years to feel like it would impact my pitching,” Lugo said.

By Thursday, both Lugo and the Royals agreed the wisest course was to let him rest and recover, hoping to restore his physical and mental condition for the final weeks of the season.

This marks Lugo’s second stint on the injured list this season; he missed two starts in May due to a right-hand finger injury. His form was inconsistent upon returning but improved steadily, posting a 2.25 ERA over eight starts from June 12 to July 23. That performance made Lugo one of the top trade candidates at the July deadline, but the Royals responded midseason by signing him to a two-year, $46 million extension, quashing trade rumors.

Lugo’s placement on the injured list means three members of the Royals’ Opening Day rotation are now sidelined. He joins Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic, both dealing with left shoulder strains. Bubic is expected to miss the rest of the season, while Ragans might pitch in a rehab game this weekend.

Kansas City has had to rely heavily on its pitching depth this season. Kolek is the next man up, joining a rotation that includes Cameron, Michael Wacha, Ryan Bergert, and Michael Lorenzen.