Estevez struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Astros.
Estevez retired the side on six pitches, all strikes, to earn his seventh save of the season. The right-hander ceded a save chance to Lucas Erceg on Friday, but that was likely because Estevez had pitched two of the previous three days. He's still got the upper hand for save chances in the Royals' bullpen, having converted seven of nine opportunities so far this season. Estevez has a steady 2.77 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 11:9 K:BB over 13 innings. He's no stranger to having a high walk rate -- his 2.0 BB/9 over 55 innings last year was by far the lowest mark of his career. That said, it could become an issue if he starts allowing more hits.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Rebounds for sixth save
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Estevez earned the save in a 7-4 over Colorado in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader, turning in a perfect ninth inning.
After allowing three runs in a blown save in his last appearance Tuesday, Estevez bounced back with a clean ninth inning Thursday to lock down his sixth save of the year. The 32-year-old Estevez sports a 3.00 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP and 10:9 K:BB through his first 12 innings this season.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Charged with blown save
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Estevez was charged with a blown save after allowing three runs on one hit and three walks Tuesday against the Rockies. He did not record a strikeout.
Estevez was brought in for the ninth inning to protect a two-run lead. He got two outs on just four pitches but then proceeded to load the bases with three straight walks, and Jacob Stallings made him pay with a bases-clearing double. The Royals were able to get a run back in the ninth to send the game to extras and save Estevez from a loss, but Estevez has now issued a walk in three straight appearances and has an unsightly 1:5 K:BB in four innings over that span. For the season, he owns a 3.27 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 10:9 K:BB in 11 innings.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Collects first win Sunday
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Estevez (1-0) picked up the win in 10 innings Sunday at Detroit, pitching two scoreless innings with a strikeout. He allowed no hits and one walk.
Estevez worked the ninth and 10th innings to pocket his first win with the Royals. Despite a shaky 5.4 BB/9 through 10 innings this season, the veteran right-hander now sports a 0.90 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB. Estevez is also 5-for-6 on save chances and remains cemented as the closer over Lucas Erceg in Kansas City.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Fans side for save
Rotowire
Estevez allowed a hit in a scoreless inning during Sunday's win over Cleveland. He struck out three and earned a save.
Estevez coughed up a single to Steven Kwan to open the ninth inning but punched out the next three batters he faced to close out the 4-2 win. It was Estevez's fifth save in six chances. He dropped his ERA to 1.29 with a 9:4 K:BB through seven innings this season. Estevez has collected five of Kansas City's six saves so far.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Picks up fourth save
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Estevez earned the save in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Twins, allowing a hit while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
Estevez found himself in trouble, allowing a one-out single before hitting Harrison Bader with a pitch to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base. However, the right-hander struck out Matt Wallner before inducing a groundout from Willi Castro to seal the Royals' one-run victory. While it hasn't always come easily, Estevez has converted four of Kansas City's five save chances this year while allowing one earned run on three hits and four walks in his first six innings.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Shaky in third save
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Estevez picked up the save in Monday's 4-2 win against the Twins, allowing one run on a hit and a walk. He struck out one.
For the second consecutive day, Estevez was called upon for a save chance; however, unlike Sunday, this outing was not clean. After inducing a flyout to open the ninth, the right-hander allowed three of the next four batters to reach, including Harrison Bader knocking an RBI single. Estevez then generated a groundball to wrap up his 23-pitch outing. The 32-year-old remains the preferred closer in Kansas City but does not have much room for error with Lucas Erceg lurking.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Collects second save
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Estevez secured the save in Sunday's 4-1 win against the Orioles, pitching a clean inning with a strikeout.
After blowing a save in his last outing Wednesday against Milwaukee, Estevez righted the ship with this performance, retiring the side succinctly on nine pitches. The offseason addition continues to be the main saves source in Kansas City over Lucas Erceg, as Estevez has entered the ninth in all three save chances for the Royals.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Blows save in 10th inning
Rotowire
Estevez was charged with the blown save Wednesday against the Brewers after he allowed an unearned run on a hit and two walks during the 10th inning. He struck out one.
The right-hander was called upon for the bottom of the 10th inning with a 2-1 lead, but he quickly blew the save as leadoff man Jackson Chourio brought home the designated runner with a double. A balk and two intentional walks then loaded the bases with no outs, but Estevez successfully navigated the tightrope and retired the next three batters to force an 11th inning. The 32-year-old has recorded the Royals' lone save through seven games and has yet to allow an earned run in three appearances this year. Estevez is currently the lead man for saves in Kansas City, though setup man Lucas Erceg should also see some opportunities.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Makes spring debut
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Estevez (back) made his first appearance of spring training Friday, giving up one unearned run and two hits over an inning. "I feel great," Estevez told MLB.com. "Everything is going well with my body, and I'm in a good spot. For me, it usually takes me three, maybe four outings to say, 'OK, this is it, this is the point I want to be at.'"
Estevez has been slowed in camp by lower-back tightness, but the Royals say they are confident he'll be ready for Opening Day. He'll make six appearances between major-league and minor-league games barring any setbacks before spring training ends, according to MLB.com. Estevez is expected to be the primary closer for the Royals, with Lucas Erceg also getting some save chances.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Slated for Cactus League debut
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Estevez (back) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Angels, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Estevez has been slowed in camp by lower-back tightness but has been throwing off a mound without issue for several days and is nearly ready to test himself in a game setting. The 32-year-old is expected to have enough time to get ready for Opening Day and projects to begin the season as the Royals' closer.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Nursing lower-back tightness
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Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Thursday that Estevez has not appeared in a Cactus League game yet due to mild lower-back tightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Estevez was able to throw off a mound Wednesday and felt good. Quatraro believes there's still plenty of time for Estevez to appear in "6-to-7 outings later in camp." Signed to a two-year, $20.2 million contract in January, Estevez is the perceived favorite to serve as the Royals' closer. If Estevez is not physically ready or the Royals want to go in another direction at closer, Lucas Erceg would be the next man up.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Signing with Kansas City
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Estevez agreed to a two-year, $20.2 million contract with the Royals on Wednesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
The deal also reportedly features a $13 million club option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout. Estevez is coming off the best year of his career, finishing 2024 with a 2.45 ERA and 0.91 WHIP through 55 regular-season innings while converting 26 saves between the Angels and Phillies. Now in Kansas City, the 32-year-old righty is likely to take over as the Royals' primary closer, which would push Lucas Erceg into a setup role.
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Phillies' Carlos Estevez: Earns 26th save
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Estevez earned the save against the Mets on Saturday, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning.
Estevez was summoned to protect a 6-4 lead in the ninth and worked around a leadoff single to secure his sixth save with the Phillies. The 31-year-old has yielded just four earned runs in 17 appearances since being traded while continuing to see the bulk of ninth-inning opportunities. On the year, he is 26-for-31 in save chances with a 2.22 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 48:9 K:BB across 52.2 innings.
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Phillies' Carlos Estevez: Secures save No. 25
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Estevez gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his 25th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Rays.
The right-hander bounced back from a blown save Monday, firing seven of 10 pitches for strikes to set down the bottom of Tampa Bay's order. Estevez has blown two of seven save chances since joining the Phillies at the trade deadline, but over 17.2 innings for his new squad he's posted a stellar 2.04 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB. He's the primary ninth-inning option for Rob Thomson, although the team's deep bullpen gives the manager plenty of alternatives against specific matchups, or when Estevez needs a breather.
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Phillies' Carlos Estevez: Blows save, gets win
Rotowire
Estevez (4-4) blew the save but picked up the win in Monday's 2-1 victory against the Rays, giving up one run on two hits in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
Estevez entered with a 1-0 lead in the ninth and immediately gave up a game-tying home run to pinch hitter Brandon Lowe. It's the second time since joining the Phillies that Estevez blows a save but still grabs the win. The 31-year-old has only allowed four earned runs since being traded late in July. Estevez has a 2.16 ERA with three wins and four saves in 16.2 innings with Philadelphia.
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Phillies' Carlos Estevez: Up to 24 saves
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Estevez earned the save in Wednesday's 4-2 win over Toronto. He issued one walk while striking out a pair in a scoreless ninth inning.
It's the sixth straight scoreless appearance for Estevez, who's allowed just two hits while striking out six in that span (seven innings). Estevez's ERA is down to a pristine 2.17 with a 0.79 WHIP and 48:9 K:BB across 49.2 innings between the Phillies and Angels this season. He's converted 24 of 28 save chances.
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Phillies' Carlos Estevez: Grabs save Saturday
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Estevez allowed a hit and struck out two over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 3-0 win over Atlanta.
Estevez didn't receive Philadelphia's last save chance, which went to Jeff Hoffman on Thursday. Hoffman handled the eighth inning Saturday against the top of Atlanta's lineup while Estevez worked through the heart of the lineup in the ninth. Estevez has allowed five runs (three earned) over 12.2 innings while earning three saves across 12 appearances since he was traded from the Angels. He now has a 2.31 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 44:8 K:BB with 23 saves in 27 chances this year. Manager Rob Thomson looks to be sticking with a committee approach to closing, with Estevez, Hoffman and Jose Alvarado all in the mix for high-leverage spots.
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Phillies' Carlos Estevez: Takes fourth loss
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Estevez (1-4) was charged with the loss in an extra-inning battle against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing one run on two walks over 1.2 innings while also hitting a batter with a pitch. He struck out two.
Estevez entered the game with the score tied in the bottom of the ninth and retired the side on 12 pitches before being brought back out for the 10th. The right-hander then proceeded to intentionally walk Cal Raleigh to open the frame before recording outs in the next two at-bats. However, things fell apart for Estevez after he hit Dylan Moore in the following at-bat, then walked Mitch Haniger to send home the winning run for Seattle. The two walks on the night marked a season high for the reliever, while the run that came home, albeit unearned, was the first that scored on his watch since May 21 against the Astros.
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Phillies' Carlos Estevez: Open to any role
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Estevez, when asked Monday what his role with the Phillies would be, responded, "I'm down for whatever, man," Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Estevez was acquired in a trade with the Angels on Saturday, with pitching prospects George Klassen and Samuel Aldegheri going the other way. Estevez saved 20 games and produced a 2.38 ERA and 0.74 WHIP prior to the move, but his new manager Rob Thomson typically preferred a committee approach. Estevez may well be ahead of both Jose Alvarado (13 saves) and Jeff Hoffman (nine saves) on the closer depth chart, but his share of the ninth inning will likely be smaller than it was in Los Angeles.
