2026 Stats
W-L
0-1
ERA
6.14
WHIP
1.50
K
5
SV
5
Rest-of-Season Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
After racking up 14 saves between the Athletics and Royals in 2024, Erceg served as a late-inning fireman in 2025 after Kansas City signed Carlos Estevez to be their closer. Erceg's 2.33 Win Probability Added was the highest among Royals relievers and 12th highest overall, while his 1.64 Game Leverage Index was also a top-20 mark. The 30-year-old righty was fourth among relievers with eight wins and his 22 holds were also a career-best. However, Erceg's strikeout rate dropped precipitously; down 9.2 percentage points from 2024 and roughly six points below his career average. Perhaps it was due to a slight dip in velocity - he was down about one mile per hour on all of his offerings - or maybe due to injuries (foot, back, shoulder), two of which required stints on the injured list. Assuming he's back to full health for the start of the 2026 campaign, Erceg has proved enough over the past two seasons to retain his high-leverage role for the Royals. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year contract with the Royals in February of 2026.
Blows save Thursday
Erceg (0-1) blew the save and took the loss Thursday against the Tigers. He allowed three runs on three hits and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.
Analysis
Erceg entered the ninth inning with a two-run lead but failed to secure the victory, as a two-out double from Riley Greene tied the game at 9-9 before Colt Keith delivered a walk-off single. Erceg had converted each of his first five save opportunities prior to Thursday, but this outing bloated his ERA from 2.70 to 6.14 and his WHIP from 1.05 to 1.50 WHIP across 7.1 innings and eight appearances. The 30-year-old stepped into the closer role after Carlos Estevez (foot) was placed on the injured list following his season debut, but with the incumbent expected to begin a rehab assignment soon, Erceg's time filling the ninth-inning role may not last much longer.
Erceg entered the ninth inning with a two-run lead but failed to secure the victory, as a two-out double from Riley Greene tied the game at 9-9 before Colt Keith delivered a walk-off single. Erceg had converted each of his first five save opportunities prior to Thursday, but this outing bloated his ERA from 2.70 to 6.14 and his WHIP from 1.05 to 1.50 WHIP across 7.1 innings and eight appearances. The 30-year-old stepped into the closer role after Carlos Estevez (foot) was placed on the injured list following his season debut, but with the incumbent expected to begin a rehab assignment soon, Erceg's time filling the ninth-inning role may not last much longer.
Pitching Stats
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2026 MLB Game Log
2026
2025
2024
2023
Minor League Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
15
Last 10 Games
15
Last 5 Games
18
How many pitches does Lucas Erceg generally throw?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
121+
What part of the game does Lucas Erceg generally pitch?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2024
-10%
BAA vs LHP
2026
-43%
BAA vs RHP
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024vs Left | .217 | 66 | 24 | 53 | 3 | |||
| Since 2024vs Right | .241 | 59 | 13 | 58 | 4 | |||
| 2026vs Left | .353 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2026vs Right | .200 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2025vs Left | .200 | 26 | 11 | 24 | 1 | |||
| 2025vs Right | .280 | 22 | 7 | 30 | 3 | |||
| 2024vs Left | .215 | 37 | 11 | 23 | 2 | |||
| 2024vs Right | .210 | 35 | 5 | 26 | 1 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2024
-7%
ERA at Home
2026
-33%
ERA at Home
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024Home | 3.07 | 1.14 | 67.1 | 8.7 | 2.5 | ||||
| Since 2024Away | 3.29 | 1.13 | 63.0 | 8.6 | 2.6 | ||||
| 2026Home | 4.91 | 1.09 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 2.5 | ||||
| 2026Away | 7.36 | 1.91 | 3.2 | 7.4 | 4.9 | ||||
| 2025Home | 1.64 | 1.09 | 33.0 | 6.8 | 2.7 | ||||
| 2025Away | 3.81 | 1.27 | 28.1 | 7.3 | 2.5 | ||||
| 2024Home | 4.40 | 1.21 | 30.2 | 11.2 | 2.3 | ||||
| 2024Away | 2.32 | 0.90 | 31.0 | 9.9 | 2.3 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Lucas Erceg compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
K/BB
1.67K/9
6.1BB/9
3.7HR/9
0.0Fastball
97.4 mphERA
6.14WHIP
1.50BABIP
.338GB/FB
1.83Left On Base
54.5%Exit Velocity
81.1 mphBarrels/BBE
3.4%Spin Rate
2006 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
13.8%Swinging Strike
5.8%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2025
2024
2019
2018
2017
Erceg posted a 3.68 ERA and 41:13 K:BB over 36.2 innings for the Athletics before the team capitalized on the prices being paid in the relief market, trading him to Kansas City at the end of July. The 29-year-old former infielder was even more impressive for the Royals, posting a 2.88 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 31 strikeouts against only three walks across 25 innings. After tallying only three saves with the A's, Erceg racked up 11 of Kansas City's 15 saves after the team acquired him. He went slider heavy as he moved into the closer role, increasing his usage of the pitch by 13.2 percent compared to 2023. Conversely, he tossed fewer changeups, which was his best pitch the year prior. Erceg is under team control through 2029 and was the favorite to open 2025 as the Royals closer, but the offseason signing of Carlos Estevez presents some major competition. It remains to be seen whether a committee approach is utilized or if Erceg or Estevez is shifted to a setup role.
More Fantasy News
Collects fifth save of 2026
Erceg earned his fifth save the season in Saturday's 2-0 win over the White Sox, striking out one batter in a perfect ninth inning.
Analysis
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Records fourth save Friday
Erceg picked up his fourth save in Friday's 2-0 win over the White Sox with a hitless and scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis
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Picks up third save
Erceg earned the save Monday against the Guardians, working a clean ninth inning with one strikeout.
Analysis
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Cleans up mess for save
Erceg retired both batters he faced to earn the save in Wednesday's 13-9 win over the Twins.
Analysis
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Notches save Sunday
Erceg converted a save in Sunday's 4-1 win over Atlanta, striking out one batter while allowing a base hit over a scoreless inning. inducing a game-ending double play ball.
Analysis
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Potential trade piece?
The Athletics may be willing to trade Erceg this summer, per Jim Bowden of The Athletic.
Analysis
Oakland isn't expected to deal dominant closer Mason Miller this summer, but the organization is likely more willing to part with Erceg, who has been working as a setup man. Erceg surrendered two runs during Wednesday's loss to San Diego in his first outing back from a forearm injury, but prior to that he had a 2.86 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 27:8 K:BB over 22 innings. The 29-year-old still has two more seasons with a pre-arbitration salary, so the Athletics could be patient while evaluating trade options.
Oakland isn't expected to deal dominant closer Mason Miller this summer, but the organization is likely more willing to part with Erceg, who has been working as a setup man. Erceg surrendered two runs during Wednesday's loss to San Diego in his first outing back from a forearm injury, but prior to that he had a 2.86 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 27:8 K:BB over 22 innings. The 29-year-old still has two more seasons with a pre-arbitration salary, so the Athletics could be patient while evaluating trade options.