Lucas

Erceg

Erceg was working with a three-run lead, so the solo shot leading off the ninth wasn’t particularly damaging. Erceg went on to give up a two-run single to Jon Berti, but he then got Gleyber Torres to ground out to end the game. The homer tonight was the first he’d allowed since June 12, when he was still with the A’s.

Erceg had two strikeouts including getting Heston Kjerstad swinging to end the game. He allowed three home runs in 61 appearances and had a 28 percent strikeout percentage and six percent walk percentage. Erceg, 29, is under team control through the 2029 season and looks like a top flight closer going forward.

Erceg breezed through the Washington lineup; needing only 11 pitches to pick up the save, and added a strikeout. The 29-year-old has been effective as the KC closer — for the most part, anyway — and he’s now up to 14 saves with a 3.36 ERA to pair with them.

If not for his freak-injury and subsequent implosion, Erceg could’ve gone down as one of the best second-half closer and trade deadline acquisitions in recent memory. He’s now up to 10 saves and six holds since joining the Royals and has all the makings of a lock-down closer moving forward.

Erceg retired the first batter of the 10th, but he then balked to advance the automatic runner to third and gave up a flare single to center. A second run scored with two outs after a walk and a line-drive single. With his pitch count up to 35, Erceg was pulled at that point. He might need Wednesday off after this, perhaps leading a save chance for John Schreiber.

Erceg has put his sore hand and cold stretch behind him in a big way with three saves during the Royals’ current four-game win streak. His slider looked incredible and he once again looks like one of the best closers to roster down the stretch.

Erceg’s save was his 10th of the season. He struck out one in a perfect ninth inning. Erceg seems to be over his hand injury and looks as good as ever as the Royals’ closer.

Erceg needed a dominant outing like this one. He didn’t pitch for five days after missing time with a swollen hand and allowed three runs in his return to the mound on Tuesday. Wednesday was a different story as he blew past the same Guardians’ lineup with 100 MPH heat and showed all four of his pitches. Hopefully he’s officially back to being the lights-out closer we saw through August.

This was an absolutely horrible play for the Royals, since after the ball bounced away from Erceg, his late throw to first base resulted in a collision at first and an apparent wrist or arm injury for Vinnie Pasquantino. Plus, the Royals didn’t get any outs in a tie game in the eighth, when they almost surely would have gotten one if Erceg hadn’t touched the ball at all. At least Erceg’s injury didn’t look overly serious. James McArthur will likely be the favorite for saves if Erceg misses any time.

Erceg came into a 5-3 game with two on and none out and gave up three soft singles, none of them hit more than 78 mph. Erceg has been reserved mostly for closing situations lately, but the Royals got aggressive with him today in a big spot, probably partly because the team’s other two high-leverage relievers had pitched each of the last two days and were likely unavailable. Erceg remains the heavy favorite for saves in Kansas City.