Ragans’ one-hit gem extends scoreless streak to 21 innings

KANSAS CITY — The ace of August has now continued that dominance into September.

Cole Ragans was glorious once more within the Royals’ 12-1 series-opening rout over the White Sox on Monday at Kauffman Stadium, shoving for six scoreless innings and increasing his career-long scoreless streak to 21 innings, the longest present stretch within the Major Leagues. Only two White Sox reached base in opposition to Ragans — a bloop single with one out within the fifth inning and a leadoff hit by pitch batter within the sixth.

Ragans gained the American League Pitcher of the Month due to his 1.72 ERA throughout six begins final month, changing into the primary Royals pitcher to win the league’s month-to-month award since Zack Greinke in 2009. But Ragans has been nice for the Royals ever since they acquired the lefty starter from Texas for reliever Aroldis Chapman on the finish of June.

In eight begins for Kansas City, Ragans has a 1.51 ERA, permitting eight earned runs in 47 2/3 innings. He’s walked simply 11 batters, struck out 63 and posted a 0.97 WHIP whereas holding batters to only a .205 batting common.

In different phrases, Ragans is without doubt one of the finest pitchers in baseball proper now.

“I know he dominated all of August, and it was really fun to actually see it in person today,” stated Nick Loftin, who went 2-for-3 with a stroll whereas taking part in his first large league sport at third base. “Great human being, great character and definitely a great pitcher.”

Ragans’ 21-inning scoreless streak started on Aug. 23 in Oakland, and it’s the longest by a Royal since Wade Davis’ 22 innings from April 6-May 31, 2015, and longest by a Royals starter since Jeremy Guthrie’s 22-inning run from Aug. 8-19, 2012. On Monday, whereas the Royals offense erupted in opposition to the White Sox with 12 runs on 16 hits, Ragans took an ideal sport into the fifth inning for the second straight begin.

“Every time I go out there, I try to give us a chance to win,” Ragans stated. “Today, the guys made it pretty easy. They’re unbelievable. The homers, the good at-bats. Even in the beginning, one in the first, one in the second, one in the third, just keep adding on each inning made it a lot easier.”

As the Royals tacked on seven runs within the fifth with homers from Edward Olivares, who had two on the day, and Nelson Velázquez, Ragans continued to maintain the White Sox off stability along with his combine of 5 pitches. Chicago swung 55 occasions in opposition to Ragans and whiffed 22 occasions for a 40% whiff charge. His slider generated a 56% whiff charge, whereas his fastball obtained seven whiffs (35%) and averaged 97 mph.

“In today’s game, guys are throwing hard,” White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn stated. “But a lefty throwing 98 [mph] and commanding his stuff, you don’t see that every day.”

Entering Monday, Ragans’ whiff proportion on his fastball had elevated from 11.7% final season to 26.3% in 2023. Part of the reason being due to the 4-5 mph improve in velocity, however Ragans can be mixing his arsenal higher than ever earlier than.

“Especially getting ahead, having the slider, changeup, cutter and curveball,” Ragans stated, “If I’m throwing them all in the zone … they have to think about all of them.”

Even when some at-bats obtained lengthy, Ragans was capable of finding the standard out pitch, and he threw strikes with all 5 of his pitches. He was within the zone 50% of the time, and of his 92 pitches, 62 had been strikes.

“If they’re fouling off fastballs, he can go to any of the other pitches,” supervisor Matt Quatraro stated. “He’s had them in the zone so much that they have to honor it. They can’t just eliminate a pitch, and with five of them, it’s quite an arsenal for guys to defend against.”

The Royals knew after they signed Chapman to a low-risk, one-year deal this offseason that he might internet an excellent return in the event that they helped him flip issues round. That’s precisely what they did, and the Royals obtained a starter, in addition to Dominican outfielder Roni Cabrera. In Ragans, the Royals hoped so as to add a stable arm to their future rotation, whereas doubtlessly growing competitors among the many starters they’ve within the system already.

Right now, Ragans is wanting like their ace.

“When you watch him pitch, we’ve talked a lot about his composure and poise, the way he reigns in his misses,” Quatraro stated. “We just hope that the consistency of his performances are something that raises the floor for our entire, not only pitching staff, but our team.”