LUCAS ERCEG NEWS

Perez, Renfroe hit 2-run shots during 5-run frame, Royals beat Phillies 7-4 to open interleague set

Salvador Perez and Hunter Renfroe hit two-run homers during a five-run third inning and the Kansas City Royals went on to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 in the opener of an int...

AUGUST 24 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fans two for sixth save Erceg picked up the save over the Angels on Wednesday, striking out two over a perfect ninth inning.

Impact Erceg again looked the part after assuming close duties with a three-run lead in the ninth Wednesday, striking out the first two batters he faced before getting Joe Adell to line out to end the game. The right-hander has converted each of his three save opportunities with Kansas City and is also yet to allow any runs since being acquired by his new club at the end of July. Over his nine outings (10.1 innings) with the Royals Erceg has posted a 14:0 K:BB, recording double-digit strikeouts in five separate appearances in that span.

AUGUST 22 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Lorenzen's strong start leads Royals over Angels 3-0

Michael Lorenzen pitched seven shutout innings, MJ Melendez homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 on Wednesday for their sixth win in seven games

AUGUST 22 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Impresses with four-out save Erceg did not allow a baserunner in 1.1 innings to earn his fifth save of the season Wednesday against the Twins. He did not record a strikeout.

Impact Erceg was called upon with two runners on and two out in the eighth inning. The 29-year-old promptly induced a groundout to end the threat before pitching a flawless ninth inning to record his second save as a member of the Royals. Erceg has been dominant since coming over from the Athletics at the trade deadline, allowing just three hits over 7.2 scoreless innings with a flawless 8:0 K:BB. Erceg has handled the last two save opportunities and appears to be the closer moving forward with Hunter Harvey (back) on the shelf and James McArthur owning a 5.01 ERA on the season.

AUGUST 14 • ROTOWIRE

Notches first save as Royal Erceg earned a save against the Cardinals on Saturday, allowing two hits and striking out two batters over 1.1 scoreless innings.

Impact Erceg entered in a tight situation with a three-run lead and two outs in the top of the eighth frame, as the Cardinals had two runners on base and Paul Goldschmidt -- who homered earlier in the contest -- at the plate. The righty reliever fanned Goldschmidt to end the frame, then remained in the contest after the Royals put up two runs in the bottom of the inning. Erceg allowed back-to-back singles to begin the ninth but retired the next three batters to secure his first save since joining Kansas City at the trade deadline. He's been lights out since becoming a Royal, recording 6.1 scoreless frames during which he's posted an 8:0 K:BB. James McArthur has been struggling and Hunter Harvey (back) landed on the injured list Saturday, so Erceg appears to be the team's reliever most likely to see save opportunities, at least for the time being.

AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE

Notches first save as Royal Erceg earned a save against the Cardinals on Saturday, allowing two hits and striking out two batters over 1.1 scoreless innings.

Impact Erceg entered in a tight situation with a three-run lead and two outs in the top of the eighth frame, as the Cardinals had two runners on base and Paul Goldschmidt -- who homered earlier in the contest -- at the plate. The righty reliever fanned Goldschmidt to end the frame, then remained in the contest after the Royals put up two runs in the bottom of the inning. Erceg allowed back-to-back singles to begin the ninth but retired the next three batters to secure his first save since joining Kansas City at the trade deadline. He's been lights out since becoming a Royal, recording 6.1 scoreless frames during which he's posted an 8:0 K:BB. James McArthur has been struggling and Hunter Harvey (back) landed on the injured list Saturday, so Erceg appears to be the team's reliever most likely to see save opportunities, at least for the time being.

AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE

Learn more about Erceg from his longtime playing mate on Royals This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers’ Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularl...

AUGUST 1 • MLB.COM

Michael Lorenzen joins Royals rotation, Alec Marsh sent to Triple-A

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen, acquired by Kansas City in a trade from Texas on Monday, will join the Royals rotation and start on Saturday at Detroit, manager Matt Quatraro said b...

JULY 31 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Marsh optioned to make room for Erceg on Royals roster CHICAGO -- The Royals optioned right-handed pitcher Alec Marsh to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday, making room for reliever Lucas Erceg to join...

JULY 31 • MLB.COM

Royals close to acquiring Lucas Erceg | 07/30/2024 Jon Heyman discusses how the Royals are close to adding Lucas Erceg to their bullpen following a potential trade with the A's

JULY 30 • MLB.COM

Reports: Royals land Paul DeJong from White Sox, Lucas Erceg from A's Rare buyers at the MLB trade deadline, the Kansas City Royals acquired shortstop Paul DeJong from the Chicago White Sox and right-handed rel...

JULY 30 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

KC finalizing deals for INF DeJong, RHP Erceg (source) CHICAGO -- The Royals are close to finalizing two deals with just a few hours to go until the 5 p.m. CT Trade Deadline on Tuesday. They have...

JULY 30 • MLB.COM

Lands with Kansas City The Royals acquired Erceg from the Athletics on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Erceg hasn't even reached arbitration eligibility yet, but the Athletics have decided to take advantage of the prices being paid in the relief market. The 29-year-old former position player has posted a 3.68 ERA and 41:13 K:BB across 36.2 innings out of Oakland's bullpen in 2024, collecting three saves along the way. Erceg could get a shot to close in Kansas City, especially with James McArthur's recent struggles.

JULY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Secures third save Erceg allowed a hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 5-4 win over the Angels.

Impact Erceg was deployed in the eighth inning Thursday to protect a one-run lead, but he was called on to close things out Friday in a similar situation. With Mason Miller sidelined by a fractured finger on his non-throwing hand, Erceg is expected to be the favorite for saves for the Athletics in the short term, though Tyler Ferguson received the first chance in Miller's absence. Erceg has been a fine setup man this year with a 3.68 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 41:13 K:BB to go with three saves, 12 holds and three blown saves over 36.2 innings. He's kept runs off the board in 12 of his last 13 appearances, the exception being a four-run meltdown last Sunday against the Angels.

JULY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Nightmare outing for third loss Erceg (2-3) took the loss against the Angels on Sunday, allowing four earned runs on two hits, a walk, a hit batsman and a wild pitch without retiring a batter.

Impact Erceg was handed a solid 5-2 lead when he entered in the eighth, but matters unraveled for him immediately, as his final line implies. The reliever allowed all four batters he faced to reach via a pair of singles, a hit-by-pitch and a bases-loaded walk, and Scott Alexander subsequently allowed three more runs that were charged to Erceg. The normally reliable right-hander saw a nine-appearance scoreless streak (8.2 innings) snapped with the disastrous appearance, while his ERA shot up from 2.94 to 4.01.

JULY 22 • ROTOWIRE

Nightmarish outing for third loss Erceg (2-3) took the loss against the Angels on Sunday, allowing four earned runs on two hits, a walk, a hit batsman and a wild pitch without retiring a batter.

Impact Erceg was handed a 5-2 lead when he entered in the eighth inning, but the reliever allowed all four batters he faced to reach base before Scott Alexander subsequently allowed all the runners he inherited from Erceg to score. The normally reliable right-hander saw a nine-appearance scoreless streak (8.2 innings) snapped by the disastrous appearance, while his ERA shot up from 2.94 to 4.01.

JULY 22 • ROTOWIRE

Angels rally against Oakland bullpen in final scheduled visit to Coliseum, beat A's 8-5

Kevin Pillar hit a two-run double in the eighth as Los Angeles rallied against Oakland’s bullpen, and the Angels beat the Athletics 8-5 in likely their final game ever at the Colis...

JULY 21 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Grabs 11th hold Wednesday Erceg was credited with his 11th hold in a win over the Red Sox on Wednesday, firing 1.1 scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and a walk while recording a strikeout.

Impact Erceg filled his usual setup role with customary proficiency, generating his eighth straight scoreless appearance. The right-hander coaxed his ERA back under 3.00 (2.97) for the first time since May 25 with Wednesday's outing, and the 11 holds equals the total he mustered during his rookie 2023 season, albeit over 17 additional appearances.

JULY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Athletics' Sean Newcomb becomes 1st in team history to win without officially facing batter

Sean Newcomb picked up a win with a pickoff and without officially facing a batter

JUNE 22 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

A's reinstate RHP Lucas Erceg from injured list The Oakland Athletics reinstated right-hander Lucas Erceg from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday.The 29-year-old setup man landed on the...

JUNE 12 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Athletics place RHP Lucas Erceg (forearm) on 15-day IL The Oakland Athletics placed right-hander Lucas Erceg on the 15-day injured list on Friday due to a strained right forearm.The move is retro...

JUNE 1 • THESTATE.COM

Bound for injured list Manager Mark Kotsay said Thursday that Erceg will be placed on the 15-day injured list due to forearm tightness, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.

Impact With a 2.86 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through 22 innings, Erceg has emerged as a quality setup man for closer Mason Miller this season. However, a forearm injury will keep him on the shelf until at least mid-June. Austin Adams, who has also been effective so far this season, is the likely choice to take on the role of Oakland's main setup man while Erceg is sidelined.

MAY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Gets second win Tuesday Erceg (2-2) got the win against the Rockies on Tuesday, firing a perfect eighth inning.

Impact Erceg's blink-and-you-missed-it frame was done in a tidy 11 pitches, seven of which he located for strikes. The 29-year-old right-hander has had a couple of hiccups along the way, but he sports a pair of saves and seven holds alongside his two wins. Erceg, who's now averaging 98.6 mph on his fastball this season, has the stuff to form a gnarly 1-2 punch with dominant closer Mason Miller in the late innings, and he lowered his ERA and WHIP to 3.32 and 1.05, respectively, with what was his third scoreless effort in the last four appearances.

MAY 22 • ROTOWIRE

Toro hits solo homer in 8th and A's end 8-game skid with 5-4 win over Rockies

Abraham Toro hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth after Seth Brown hit a tying two-run drive the previous inning, and the Oakland Athletics snapped an eight-game losing streak with a...

MAY 22 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Corey Seager hits a 3-run homer in the 8th inning to rally the Rangers past the A's 4-2

Corey Seager hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Texas Rangers rallied past the Oakland Athletics 4-2

MAY 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS