A second opinion that Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (shoulder) received on Tuesday confirmed his initial diagnosis of a left rotator-cuff strain, according to MLB.com's Anne Rogers. Ragans will be shut down from throwing for four weeks from when he initially injured his shoulder, which means he has roughly two weeks to go. The 27-year-old southpaw will be re-evaluated then to determine if he can start a throwing progression. We'll have a more clear timetable for his potential return once he's looked at again, but fantasy managers now know that we won't see him again until after the mid-July All-Star break. The former first-rounder was a first-time All-Star in 2024 and was a fantasy ace with 223 K's, making him stash-worthy in all fantasy leagues. Ragans just hasn't been right this year while dealing with injuries and has an ERA over 5.00 with 76 K's in 48 2/3 frames over 10 starts.

Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (shoulder) went back on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, less than a week after returning from a left-groin strain, with a left rotator-cuff strain. According to manager Matt Quatraro, the team doesn't think Ragans will require surgery, but he'll be shut down from throwing for "a while." The 27-year-old southpaw will receive a second opinion on his shoulder next week, which will help give KC a better idea of how long he might be out. Ragans spent 20 days on the IL because of his groin, but this absence will be longer. He allowed five runs and three walks in three innings in the second game of a doubleheader against the Cardinals last Thursday and now has a 5.18 ERA over 10 starts after finishing fourth in the AL Cy Young voting in 2024. Rotator-cuff injuries are pretty serious, so it's possible Ragans won't be the same until next year.

The Kansas City Royals announced on Wednesday that they placed left-hander Cole Ragans (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 8) with a left rotator-cuff strain and reinstated right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg (back) from the injured list in a corresponding move. It's yet another IL stint for Ragans, who just hasn't been able to get going due to injuries in 2025. The 27-year-old southpaw returned from his previous IL stint due to a groin injury to start on June 5 and didn't look good, allowing five earned runs while walking three and striking out four in three innings against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a first-time All-Star in 2024 as the Royals' ace, but he just hasn't looked anything like an ace so far in 2025, going 2-3 with a 5.18 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 76 strikeouts and 16 walks in 48 2/3 frames over 10 starts. We might not see him again until after the All-Star break in mid-July.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (groin) will be activated off the 15-day injured list to start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. Ragans will finally make his return to the mound after missing nearly three weeks of action due to a left groin strain. The return of Ragans should be both a boost to fantasy managers and the Royals rotation. He posted a 4.53 ERA in nine starts before going down in mid-May. Fantasy managers should prepare to take him off their IL on Thursday.

Kansas City Royals left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans (groin) could be cleared to return to action on Thursday. Currently, the Royals do not have a starter listed for this game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Ragans has been sidelined on the 15-day injured list due to left groin tightness since May 17. However, the southpaw is nearing a return. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status over the next few days. He was able to complete several bullpen sessions and logged one rehab outing with Double-A on Saturday. In this outing, Ragans tossed 3 2/3 innings and allowed seven hits and five runs (four earned). Before his injury, the 27-year-old logged 45 2/3 innings to the tune of a 4.53 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP. He struck out batters at an elite 37.7% rate and sits in the 97th percentile in xERA. He should be viewed as a high-end starting pitcher in all leagues when he returns to the rotation.

The Kansas City Royals expect left-hander Cole Ragans (groin) to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Saturday. If Ragans looks good this weekend and doesn't have any setbacks with his groin injury, he might only need the one rehab outing before rejoining KC's starting rotation in early June. The 27-year-old southpaw is the Royals' ace when healthy and should be stashed in all fantasy leagues until he returns. The former first-rounder (30th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2016 didn't get off to the best start in his first nine starts in 2025, with an ERA of 4.53, but he did strike out 72 batters while walking just 13 with a 1.20 WHIP in 45 2/3 innings pitched. Ragans could be on a limited pitch count in his first start back in the big leagues, but normally he's a must-start in fantasy.

Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (groin) threw a two-up bullpen session on Wednesday, and if he comes out of that well, he's likely to start a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend, according to MLB.com's Anne Rogers. Ragans is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list this Sunday, but that obviously isn't going to happen. However, the 27-year-old southpaw could have a pretty short rehab assignment, depending on how his first start goes this weekend. When healthy, Ragans serves as the Royals' ace after he was a first-time All-Star in 2024 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with a career-high 223 strikeouts in 186 1/3 innings over 32 starts. Injuries have been a nuisance so far this year and have likely played a big part in his elevated 4.53 ERA, but Ragans does have 72 K's and only 13 walks in his 45 2/3 frames.

Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (groin) threw a "competitive" bullpen session on Sunday, according to manager Matt Quatraro, and felt good afterward. Ragans has been playing catch and is expected to return from the injured list when he's eligible on June 1. The 27-year-old southpaw is currently on the 15-day injured list after he left his last start on May 16 with tightness in his left groin. He was eventually diagnosed with a mild left-groin strain. Ragans won't require a minor-league rehab assignment, which is good and bad for fantasy managers. He'll return when eligible this weekend, but Ragans will be much more risky in his first start back, whenever that may be. Although he has a 4.53 ERA in his nine starts in 2025, he has struck out 72 batters and walked only 13 in his 45 2/3 innings pitched. If he returns to start on June 1, he'd be facing the division-rival Detroit Tigers at home.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (groin) has continued to play catch and is expected to come off the 15-day injured list when first eligible. The southpaw hit the injured list after experiencing groin tightness during his start on May 16. However, Ragans has continued progressing well and remains on track to return to action when first eligible. Prior to his injury, Ragans was enjoying a strong start to the season, tallying 72 punchouts (fourth most in the AL) across 45 2/3 innings. He has posted a 4.53 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP. However, under the hood, the left-hander has generated an elite 2.26 xERA with a .190 xBA, suggesting he should see significant positive regression when he returns to action. While he remains sidelined, Noah Cameron and Daniel Lynch IV should remain in the starting rotation.

The Kansas City Royals have placed starting pitcher Cole Ragans (groin) on the 15-day injured list with a left groin strain. Ragans exited his start on Friday due to groin tightness and will now be held out of action for at least the next two weeks. The 27-year-old has enjoyed a strong start to the season, holding a 4.53 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP across 45 2/3 innings. Ragans has tallied an impressive 72 strikeouts, which is the second-highest total in the American League. Under the hood, Ragans has generated a 2.29 xERA and a .190 xBA, which place him in the 95th and 93rd percentile, respectively. Earlier on Saturday, the Royals also placed Seth Lugo (finger) on the 15-day IL. While Noah Cameron is set to replace Lugo, the team has yet to announce who will replace Ragans in the rotation. Fantasy managers should stash Ragans in all formats, given his elite strikeout potential.

Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (groin) left his start on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals with left-groin tightness, the team announced. Ragans did strike out seven batters and didn't give out any free passes on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium, but he also allowed four earned runs on five hits in five innings of work before being pulled in the sixth inning after a visit from trainer Kyle Turner. It's unclear how severe the 27-year-old southpaw's groin injury is, but his next scheduled start next Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants is now in question. Injuries have been an issue for Ragans this year, as he left his start on April 13 with cramps and then skipped a start on April 30 with a mild left-groin strain. He has recorded an out in the sixth inning just twice in his nine starts this year after failing to do so just eight times in 32 starts in 2024. Don't be surprised if the Royals place him on the injured list in the coming days.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (groin) looked perfectly healthy in Monday's 3-0 win over the White Sox. Ragans was pushed back from his normal rotation due to a groin strain, but he tossed five excellent innings, allowing three hits and two walks with 11 strikeouts. The 27-year-old's ERA has been a little higher than fantasy managers would expect, but he is now 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and an impressive 14.38 K/9 rate in seven starts and 35 2/3 IP. He will face a tough matchup in his next scheduled start, which will be at home against the Red Sox. Even with the slightly inflated ERA, Ragans' strikeout potential makes him a start in all leagues.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (groin) is slated to start Monday's game against the Chicago White Sox. Ragans was unable to pitch this week due to a groin strain. However, it appears the southpaw will be making a quick return to the bump. This past week, the Royals promoted left-handed pitching prospect Noah Cameron to make his MLB debut as a replacement. He carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning but was sent back to Triple-A Omaha following this outing, suggesting Ragans would be clear to make his next start. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Ragans in case he faces a setback leading up to Monday's contest. Through his first 30 2/3 innings of work this season, Ragans has posted a 4.40 ERA but flashed elite strikeout potential, tallying 46. If he gets the starting nod on Monday, he will be a popular play in DFS facing the White Sox.

Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (groin) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday afternoon, and as long as that goes well, he could be ready to return to KC's starting rotation on Monday at home against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. Ragans has avoided being placed on the injured list, but a mild left-groin strain caused him to be skipped from his last start in the rotation on Wednesday versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Pitching prospect Noah Cameron looked good in his MLB debut in a spot start on Wednesday, but he was already sent back to Triple-A Omaha, so it appears that the 27-year-old Ragans will be ready to go for Monday's series opener against the White Sox. He has a disappointing 4.40 ERA through his first six starts but has also contributed 46 strikeouts in 30 2/3 frames. If Ragans is good to go on Monday, fantasy managers will want to start him in all formats.

Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (groin) will not make his regularly scheduled start in Tampa against the Rays on Wednesday, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Instead, the Royals will call up pitching prospect Noah Cameron to make the start in Ragans' place on Wednesday. Ragans was pulled from his last start last Thursday against the Colorado Rockies due to a mild strain of his left groin. The 27-year-old southpaw said he had been feeling better since the injury, though, so there's a good chance he'll only have to miss one turn through KC's rotation. Fantasy managers will be hoping he'll avoid a stint on the injured list and will be able to make his next scheduled start in a great matchup on May 5 against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. If Ragans is cleared for that outing, he'll be a must-start in all fantasy formats.

Although Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (groin) has been feeling better after playing catch since suffering a mild left-groin strain in Game 1 of a doubleheader on April 24 against the Colorado Rockies, it's still unclear if he'll be able to make his next scheduled start on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Ragans said he's currently day-to-day. Whether he makes the start on April 30 will depend on how he feels in the next couple of days. Ragans has now allowed nine earned runs in his last seven innings, and he said the tightness in his quad was affecting his command on breaking balls. Despite allowing two homers in his previous 27 2/3 frames (five starts), he gave up two homers to the Rockies last Thursday before being pulled. Ragans leads the American League with 46 strikeouts but will be a bit more risky in fantasy whenever he makes his next start.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (groin) was forced to exit early from Thursday's start against the Colorado Rockies. On Friday, Royals' manager Matt Quatraro announced that Ragans is dealing with a mild groin strain. He continued by saying that Ragans feels better, but the team will monitor him over the next few days. It's unclear at the moment if Ragans will be able to take the ball against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. It sounds like he might be able to avoid a trip to the injured list, but that all depends on how the next few days go for Ragans. Fantasy managers will need to monitor his status over the next couple of days.

The Kansas City Royals announced that left-hander Cole Ragans (groin) was pulled from his outing in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the visiting Colorado Rockies on Thursday due to groin tightness. Ragans only made it three innings in the eventual 7-4 win, giving up four earned runs on three hits (two homers allowed) while walking two and striking out four for a no-decision. The 27-year-old southpaw will most likely go for additional testing, and fantasy managers should probably prepare for the worst, which would mean Ragans landing on the 15-day injured list. If his groin injury is minor, Ragans is lined up to make his next start next week against the Tampa Bay Rays. The former first-rounder came into Thursday's outing with a 3.58 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 42:7 K:BB in 27 2/3 innings over his five starts. Check back on Friday morning for an update on the severity of his groin injury.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans had his swing-and-miss stuff going during Sunday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. The left-hander was electric as he struck out 10 batters while allowing one run on four hits over 7 2/3 innings in the win. Ragans has now posted three straight outings with 10 strikeouts or more. He gave up three runs in his season opener, but has allowed one run in each of his last three starts. He's a must-start fantasy option as he takes a 2.28 ERA into his next start versus the Detroit Tigers.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans was dealing in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Twins. Ragans pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits and no walks with 11 strikeouts. He also hit a batter. Unfortunately for him, Pablo Lopez (hamstring) was able to silence the Royals' bats, and they weren't able to pull ahead until late in the game. Ragans has delivered what fantasy managers were expecting through his first three starts, compiling a 2.81 ERA, a 13.50 K/9 rate, and a 2.25 BB/9 rate in 16 IP. He has yet to earn a win, but he has done everything in his power to position himself for them. Ragans will draw a decent matchup in his next start at the Guardians, a lineup that has been mediocre to this point but has not struck out much.