The Kansas City Royals' bullpen was a massive reason that the team suffered through a frustrating year in 2026.
Kings of Kauffman writer Matthew Swigonski graded the Kansas City Royals' bullpen following the 2026 season, identifying it as the club's primary undoing. The unit posted an ERA over 5.00 and recorded 26 blown saves after closer Carlos Estévez suffered season-ending injuries following his first appearance in March. The collapse created instability across the entire relief corps.
Swigonski assigned grades to key relievers, awarding Daniel Lynch IV a B+ as the standout with a 1.96 bullpen ERA. Steven Cruz earned a C, Lucas Erceg received a D after struggling to replace Estévez, Mason Black received a D-, and Alex Lange received an F after posting a -1.1 fWAR.
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