JAMES MCARTHUR NEWS

Expected to be ready for spring McArthur (elbow) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact McArthur was diagnosed with a Grade 1 UCL sprain in his right elbow in mid-September, resulting in a premature end to his season. While a Grade 1 sprain is the least severe, there is always going to be some long-term concern when UCL damage is involved. For now, though, the expectation is McArthur will be ready for spring training after some rest and rehab.

OCTOBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

Won't return in October McArthur (elbow) will not return in 2024, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact McArthur is being shut down after his attempts to rehab a Grade 1 UCL sprain have not gone well. The right-hander functioned as the Royals' closer for a large part of the year, racking up 18 saves in 25 chances with a 4.92 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 49:14 K:BB over 56.2 innings. Given the nature of his injury, it's unclear if he'll be ready to go from the start next spring.

SEPTEMBER 25 • ROTOWIRE

Won't return in October McArthur (elbow) will not return in 2024, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact McArthur is being shut down after his attempts to rehab a Grade 1 UCL sprain have not gone well. The right-hander functioned as the Royals' closer for a large part of the year, racking up 18 saves in 25 chances with a 4.92 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 49:14 K:BB over 56.2 innings. Given the nature of his injury, it's unclear if he'll be ready to go from the start next spring.

SEPTEMBER 25 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with Grade 1 UCL sprain McArthur, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, was diagnosed with a Grade 1 UCL sprain in his right elbow and will be shut down from throwing for 5-to-7 days, Anne Ro...

Impact The 27-year-old won't be able to return before the end of the regular season, but manager Matt Quatraro is hopeful a playoff return is possible. That's likely an optimistic outlook for a UCL injury, but for now McArthur has yet to be fully ruled out for 2024.

SEPTEMBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Goes on IL with sprained elbow The Royals placed McArthur on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right elbow sprain.

Impact A sprain indicates that he is dealing with ligament damage, although there's no word yet regarding the possibility of surgery. McArthur won't be eligible to return before the end of the season and also seems unlikely to be back for the postseason even if surgery isn't required. The former closer posted just a 6.87 ERA in the second half.

SEPTEMBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Diagnosed with elbow tightness McArthur exited Monday's game against Detroit due to right elbow tightness.

Impact McArthur initially appeared to suffer an injury to his right hand on a play at first base, but the team has since revealed that he was forced from the game due to an elbow issue. He'll be considered day-to-day until more information on the issue comes to light.

SEPTEMBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Exits with trainer McArthur left Monday's game against the Tigers with a right hand injury, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact McArthur appeared to suffer the injury while covering first base, and he would later leave the game with the team trainer after facing one more batter. The severity of his injury is unknown at this time.

SEPTEMBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Falters in seventh inning McArthur (5-7) allowed four runs on three hits and a walk while failing to record an out versus the Yankees on Monday, taking the loss and a blown save.

Impact Entering Monday, McArthur had allowed just one run over his previous 11.2 innings after losing the closer job in early August. He couldn't find any traction in the seventh inning Monday, with Austin Wells' three-run home run being the big hit against McArthur. The right-hander is now at a 5.01 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 48:12 K:BB over 55.2 innings, though his ERA is 7.27 over 17.1 innings since the All-Star break.

SEPTEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

High-leverage struggles return McArthur (5-6) took the loss Friday, giving up one run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning as the Royals fell 3-2 to the Astros.

Impact With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, McArthur got the call and gave up a one-out single to Jake Meyers, setting the stage for Jose Altuve to walk it off with a double. With Lucas Erceg (hand) not 100 percent, the closer role is up for grabs again in Kansas City, at least in the short term, but McArthur may not be in the mix for save chances despite his 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB through 12 innings in August.

AUGUST 31 • ROTOWIRE

Collects win Tuesday McArthur (5-5) struck out four over two perfect innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Guardians.

Impact Between Michael Lorenzen's hamstring injury and a rain delay, this contest turned into an impromptu bullpen day for the Royals. They never trailed, and McArthur was deemed the most effective reliever to pick up his first win since June 20. After struggling in the closer role in late July, McArthur has adjusted well to pitching in low-leverage situations. He's on a 9.2-inning scoreless streak dating back to Aug. 5, and he has a 13:1 K:BB in that span. Overall, he's at a 4.36 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 45:10 K:BB through 53.2 innings, though he likely won't have many chances to add to his 18 saves now that Lucas Erceg is thriving in the ninth inning.

AUGUST 28 • ROTOWIRE

Finding success outside of closing McArthur has not allowed a run over his last seven appearances, allowing just five hits while striking out eight and walking none across 6.2 innings in that span.

Impact McArthur surrendered 11 runs (nine earned) over 5.2 innings over his first six outings following the All-Star break, converting just one of three save chances in that span. He hasn't had the opportunity to close since, with Lucas Erceg moving into the closer role since he was acquired from the Athletics via trade. McArthur has just one hold since he lost the closer job, and he's more frequently been deployed in the seventh and eighth innings in recent weeks. McArthur has a 4.62 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 40:9 K:BB over 50.2 innings while going 18-for-24 in save chances this year, but he'll likely be a second or third option for closing duties when Erceg is unavailable.

AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE

Blows another save Saturday McArthur (4-5) blew the save and took the loss Saturday, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning in a 6-5 extra-innings loss to the Tige...

Impact The Kansas City bullpen had a disastrous day, as Hunter Harvey and Kris Bubic blew leads in the ninth and 10th innings, respectively, before McArthur finished the job by surrendering a walk-off single to Wenceel Perez in the bottom of the 11th. The big takeaway was manager Matt Quatraro's reluctance to use McArthur in a save situation, and with good reason -- since the beginning of July, the right-hander has an 8.71 ERA, 1.84 WHIP and 5:2 K:BB in 10.1 innings, and he's blown two of his last three save opportunities including Saturday. Harvey's usage in the ninth could mark him as the next man up to get a chance to close for the Royals, but Lucas Erceg might also be in the mix after he picked up a hold with a perfect eighth inning. McArthur hasn't officially been removed from the role, but his job security seems to be hanging by a thread.

AUGUST 4 • ROTOWIRE

Secures 18th save McArthur picked up the save in Monday's 8-5 win versus the White Sox, pitching a clean inning with no strikeouts.

Impact The Royals right-hander entered this contest on a cold spell, having allowed nine runs (eight earned) over his previous three outings, but he swiftly retired the Chicago side on 10 pitches. McArthur now sports a 5.31 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 32:8 K:BB across 42.1 innings while going 18-for-23 in save chances this season. Given the unsteady performance, his role as the Kansas City closer may be relinquished if a more trustworthy reliever is acquired before Tuesday's trade deadline.

JULY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Secures 18th save McArthur picked up the save in Monday's 8-5 win versus the White Sox, pitching a clean inning with no strikeouts.

Impact The Royals right-hander entered this contest on a cold spell, having allowed nine runs (eight earned) over his previous three outings, but swiftly retired the Chicago side on 10 pitches. McArthur now sports a 5.31 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 32:8 K:BB across 42.1 innings while going 18-for-23 in save chances this season. Given the unsteady performance, his role as the Kansas City closer may be relinquished if a more trustworthy reliever is acquired before Tuesday's trade deadline.

JULY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Implodes in ninth inning McArthur (4-4) allowed five runs on four hits and a walk while striking out one over one inning, taking the loss and a blown save Wednesday versus the Diamondbacks.

Impact McArthur had been better of late, allowing just two runs (one earned) over his previous 12 innings, but it was a full meltdown for the right-hander in Wednesday's contest. He blew a one-run lead on a Gabriel Moreno two-run double and then surrendered a three-run home run to Ketel Marte. McArthur is now 17-for-22 in save chances this year with a 4.91 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 33:9 K:BB through 40.1 innings. He's hardly been convincing throughout the campaign, though the Royals previously lacked better options to replace him in the ninth inning. That may change going forward with Hunter Harvey on the roster, though Harvey was used in the eighth inning Wednesday and could remain in a setup role he's filled all year both with Washington and Kansas City.

JULY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Notches pair of saves Wednesday McArthur earned a save in both games of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, pitching two total innings during which he gave up one run on three hits while striking out...

Impact McArthur gave up a Paul Goldschmidt solo homer and a Nolan Arenado single in the first game of the twin bill but managed to get through the ninth frame in 15 pitches. That left him fresh enough to be called upon again in the ninth inning of Game 2, and he finished off that contest in 19 pitches without yielding a run. McArthur thus became the first Kansas City pitcher with two saves in one day since Greg Holland in 2013. McArthur went through an over-two-week stretch between June 7 and June 23 during which he didn't record a single save (or get a single save opportunity), but since then he's registered five saves while giving up just one run over 7.2 frames.

JULY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Executes five out save McArthur picked up his 15th save of the season in Wednesday's win over the Rays, allowing a hit and no walks while striking out one in 1.2 innings of work.

Impact McArthur entered in the eighth with two runners on and one out with the Rays already having scored a run in the inning. He was able to navigate through the traffic and then pitched around a leadoff single in the ninth to lock down the save. McArthur has been lights out of late, throwing eight scoreless innings over his last eight appearances since June 13 and he's converted each of his last four saves.

JULY 4 • ROTOWIRE

KC Royals express confidence in reliever James McArthur after two blown saves The Kansas City Royals say they’ll stick by James McArthur in high-leverage situations.

MAY 8 • KANSASCITY.COM

Royals rally around McArthur after tough 9th against Crew KANSAS CITY -- The Royals were one out away from another gritty comeback win on Tuesday night, one centered around the way the offense ralli...

MAY 8 • MLB.COM

Blown save, loss versus Texas McArthur (1-1) blew a save and picked up the loss after he pitched two innings, surrendering two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out three batters in Sunday's 3-2 ext...

Impact McArthur entered the game with the Royals up 2-1 in the top of the ninth inning, giving up a game-tying solo home run to Jonah Heim with one out in the inning. He later returned for the top of the 10th frame, allowing the inherited runner to score on an RBI single by Nathaniel Lowe. The blown save was McArthur's second in nine total save opportunities this season and he currently possesses a 2.87 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 18 strikeouts over 15.2 innings in 13 appearances this season.

MAY 5 • ROTOWIRE

'Change in the culture': McArthur thriving in overhauled 'pen MESA, Ariz. -- There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the Royals this spring, much of which comes from the $288.7 million contract extensi...

MARCH 11 • MLB.COM

How Royals pitcher James McArthur found a 'sense of relief' after tough MLB debut Kansas City Royals reliever James McArthur is looking to build off his strong finish last season.

MARCH 8 • KANSASCITY.COM

Closes out fourth save of season McArthur picked up the save in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Yankees. He allowed one hit while striking out four over two scoreless innings.

Impact McArthur has emerged as a closing option for the Royals in the last month as he now leads the team in saves since September 1. Sunday's game marked the longest save of his career so far, with McArthur working two innings without trouble to shut the door. The rookie right-hander has improved his ERA in each month and has not allowed a run in his last 16.1 innings. He concludes his debut season with a 4.63 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 23.1 innings with 23 strikeouts. His solid performance to end the season will hopefully improve his chances of starting the year with the big club in 2024.

OCTOBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Secures third save McArthur picked up the save in Sunday's 6-5 victory over the Astros. He allowed one hit and no walks while striking out one over a scoreless inning.

Impact McArthur appears to be in a share for the Royals' closer job as he and Taylor Clarke split three saves this weekend in a sweep of the Astros (two for McArthur and one for Clarke). They have both earned preference over Carlos Hernandez, who has earned holds in consecutive games, setting up both Clarke and McArthur. The 27-year-old McArthur has not allowed a run in 13.1 innings since being recalled Sept. 1. He makes an intriguing pick up for saves as the Royals finish the season against the Tigers and Yankees.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches five-out save McArthur allowed a hit over 1.2 scoreless frames Friday. He struck out two and earned a save against Houston.

Impact McArthur entered a 7-5 game in the eighth inning and had no trouble recording the final five outs to secure the win. He's picked up his first two career saves over the last week and is currently riding a 12.1-inning scoreless streak. McArthur allowed seven runs in one inning in his MLB debut June 28; in 18.1 innings since then, he's registered a 2.45 ERA with a 17:1 K:BB.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE