Cole Ragans returns to form in Royals' win over White Sox

Jesse Newell, The Kansas City Star on May 5, 2025

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals’ most pressing question heading into Monday night was whether left-handed starter Cole Ragans would look like himself after skipping a start with a groin injury.

Consider the ace back to his normal self.

Ragans was dominant in his return to the mound Monday, tying a season-high with 11 strikeouts in five innings as the Royals shut out the Chicago White Sox, 3-0, at Kauffman Stadium.

With that, the Royals continued their current hot streak. Kansas City also improved its season record to 20-16.

Ragans didn’t appear to show any ill effects from his earlier ailment, ramping his fastball up to 98 mph while overpowering a tepid White Sox lineup.

In all, Ragans recorded 17 whiffs while leaning heavily on his fastball. Forty-five of his 94 pitches were heaters, with the White Sox only able to put two of those offerings in play.

The Royals couldn’t replicate Sunday’s power surge — when they hit seven home runs against the Baltimore Orioles — but they still cobbled together enough offense without putting one over the fence Monday.

Maikel Garcia remained Kansas City’s hottest hitter, opening the scoring in the fourth with an RBI single to left field that scored teammate Bobby Witt Jr.

After that, Witt and Drew Waters added RBI doubles to give Kansas City some extra cushion.

The lead held from there. John Schreiber, Steven Cruz, Daniel Lynch and Carlos Estevez each pitched a scoreless inning; the four scoreless innings mean that Kansas City’s bullpen, since April 24, has allowed just five earned runs in 39 2/3 innings — good for an MLB-best 1.15 ERA in that time.

Estevez earned the save, his 10th of the season.

Brian Sweeney away from team

Royals pitching coach Brian Sweeney was away from the team Monday because of a personal matter. With Sweeney gone, assistant pitching coach Zach Bove served as pitching coach, while strategist Andy Ferguson joined the dugout as a game-day assistant.

What’s next: The Royals will continue their four-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium at 7:40 p.m. ET. Tuesday. Seth Lugo is scheduled to face White Sox right-hander Sean Burke.

____