Royals Place Seth Lugo on 15-Day Injured List for Back Strain

The Kansas City Royals have placed starting pitcher Seth Lugo on the 15-day injured list due to lower back tightness, sidelining him during a crucial postseason push. Lugo had been struggling with effectiveness and command in recent starts, posting a 9.11 ERA over his last six outings despite signing a two-year, $46 million contract extension earlier in the season. In response, the Royals recalled right-handed pitcher Stephen Kolek from Triple-A Omaha to fill Lugo's spot in the rotation. Kolek, acquired in a deadline trade, recently impressed with a solid start, allowing one run over six innings in a win against the Detroit Tigers. The Royals also shuffled their rotation, with Noah Cameron and Michael Wacha taking starts previously expected for Lugo. The team remains 2.5 games behind the final AL Wild Card spot and continues to face injuries, including left-hander Cole Ragans on the injured list since June.