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Out · expected back around Nov 4
Spence's move to the IL represents yet another hit to the Royals' starting pitching depth, as the organization has already lost Cole Ragans, Stephen Kolek, Luinder Avila, Ryan Bergert and Ben Kudrna to season-ending elbow surgeries. The 28-year-old righty has been part of the Royals' 40-man roster throughout the 2026 campaign, logging a 5.35 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 16 starts with Omaha and yielding 22 earned runs in 9.1 innings over three appearances at the big-league level.
2026 season
- GP
- 3
- W-L
- 0-2
- ERA
- 21.22
- WHIP
- 3.00
- K
- 6
- IP
- 9.1
Game log
| Date | Opp | Result | Dec | IP | H | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26 | @CWS | L 1-22 | L | 1.1 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 2 |
| Jun 15 | @WSH | L 3-7 | L | 4.0 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 18 | @NYY | L 4-13 | - | 4.0 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| 2025 season | ||||||||
| Sep 28 | vs KC | L 2-9 | - | 3.0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 21 | @PIT | L 0-11 | L | 3.1 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Sep 16 | @BOS | W 2-1 | W | 3.2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Jul 9 | vs ATL | L 2-9 | L | 6.0 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
| Jul 2 | @TB | L 5-6 | L | 5.0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| Jun 27 | @NYY | L 0-3 | L | 5.0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Jun 21 | vs CLE | L 2-4 | L | 4.2 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Jun 16 | vs HOU | W 3-1 | - | 5.0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Jun 10 | @LAA | L 1-2 | - | 5.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Jun 5 | vs MIN | W 14-3 | W | 5.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Jun 1 | @TOR | L 4-8 | - | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| May 30 | @TOR | L 7-11 | - | 2.2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| May 27 | @HOU | L 1-11 | - | 1.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| May 24 | vs PHI | L 6-9 | L | 1.0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| May 22 | vs LAA | L 5-10 | - | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| May 19 | vs LAA | L 3-4 | - | 2.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| May 15 | @LAD | L 2-19 | - | 3.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| May 11 | vs NYY | L 2-12 | - | 2.0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| May 7 | vs SEA | L 5-6 | - | 0.2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| May 5 | vs SEA | W 7-6 | - | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 4 | @MIA | W 3-2 | W | 1.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| May 1 | @TEX | W 3-0 | - | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 28 | @TEX | W 2-1 | - | 1.1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 25 | vs CWS | W 6-5 | - | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Apr 23 | vs TEX | W 5-2 | - | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Apr 20 | @MIL | L 1-14 | - | 2.2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 15 | @CWS | W 12-3 | S | 3.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Apr 11 | vs NYM | L 6-7 | - | 1.2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Apr 6 | @COL | L 5-12 | - | 4.1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Apr 2 | vs CHC | L 2-10 | - | 2.0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Mar 31 | vs CHC | L 3-18 | - | 0.2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Mar 28 | @SEA | W 7-0 | - | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024 season | ||||||||
| Sep 29 | @SEA | L 4-6 | L | 4.1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| Sep 24 | vs TEX | W 5-4 | - | 4.2 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Sep 17 | @CHC | W 4-3 | W | 5.0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Sep 12 | @HOU | L 3-6 | - | 7.0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Sep 6 | vs DET | W 7-6 | - | 4.1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Sep 1 | @TEX | L 4-6 | - | 5.0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Aug 27 | @CIN | W 5-4 | - | 5.1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Aug 21 | vs TB | L 2-4 | L | 7.0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 10 |
| Aug 15 | @NYM | W 7-6 | - | 2.2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Aug 9 | @TOR | L 1-3 | L | 5.2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Aug 3 | vs LAD | L 0-10 | L | 5.2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Jul 27 | @LAA | W 3-1 | W | 6.0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Jul 20 | vs LAA | W 8-2 | W | 5.1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Jul 13 | @PHI | L 5-11 | L | 3.2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Jul 7 | vs BAL | L 3-6 | L | 6.0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Jul 2 | vs LAA | W 7-5 | W | 5.1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Jun 25 | @LAA | L 5-7 | L | 5.1 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| Jun 20 | vs KC | L 2-3 | - | 6.0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Jun 14 | @MIN | L 5-6 | - | 5.2 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Jun 9 | vs TOR | L 4-6 | - | 7.0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Jun 4 | vs SEA | L 3-4 | L | 6.0 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| May 28 | @TB | W 3-0 | W | 5.1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| May 22 | vs COL | L 3-4 | - | 3.0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| May 17 | @KC | L 2-6 | L | 4.2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| May 13 | @HOU | L 2-9 | - | 0.2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| May 11 | @SEA | W 8-1 | - | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 5 | vs MIA | L 3-12 | - | 4.2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Apr 30 | vs PIT | W 5-2 | W | 3.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Apr 26 | @BAL | W 3-2 | W | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Apr 21 | @CLE | L 2-6 | - | 1.1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Apr 16 | vs STL | L 2-3 | - | 3.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Apr 14 | vs WSH | W 7-6 | W | 1.2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Apr 9 | @TEX | W 4-3 | - | 3.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Apr 2 | vs BOS | L 4-5 | L | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 29 | vs CLE | L 4-6 | - | 3.0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Latest news
Spence was placed on the 7-day injured list Monday at Triple-A Omaha due to an unspecified injury.
The 28-year-old righty's move to the IL represents yet another hit to the Royals' starting pitching depth, as the organization has already lost Cole Ragans, Stephen Kolek, Luinder Avila, Ryan Bergert and Alec Marsh to season-ending surgeries. Spence has been part of the Royals' 40-man roster all year, logging a 5.35 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 16 starts with Omaha and yielding 22 earned runs in 9.1 innings over three appearances at the big-league level.
RotoWire via ESPN · Aug 7
The Royals optioned Spence to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.
Spence was lit up for 10 earned runs in just 1.1 innings during Friday's 22-1 blowout loss, so the Royals will send him back to the minors in favor of Eric Cerantola. Spence has given up at least six earned runs in all three of his MLB appearances this season and owns a 6.47 ERA through 48.2 frames at Omaha.
RotoWire via ESPN · Jun 27
Spence (0-2) took the loss against the White Sox on Friday, allowing 10 runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts over 1.1 innings.
Spence was recalled to handle bulk-relief duties due to Stephen Kolek being placed on the paternity list, and Spence was charged with 10 runs in a nightmare third inning. The 28-year-old has surrendered 22 earned runs in just 9.1 major-league innings this season and will likely be sent back to Triple-A Omaha upon Kolek's return.
RotoWire via ESPN · Jun 27
The Royals recalled Spence from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
With Stephen Kolek going on paternity leave and missing his scheduled start Friday against the White Sox, Spence will give the Royals' bullpen some length behind opener Steven Cruz. Spence has appeared in two games for Kansas City this season, allowing 12 runs on 11 hits and six walks with just four strikeouts across eight innings. He's operated as a starter with Omaha.
RotoWire via ESPN · Jun 26
The Royals optioned Spence to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old was called up to make a spot start Monday against the Nationals, and he'll return to Omaha after surrendering six runs across four innings. Spencer has given up six runs in both of his big-league appearances this season and has also struggled to a 6.54 ERA across 42.2 innings at Triple-A.
RotoWire via ESPN · Jun 16
Spence (0-1) took the loss Monday against the Nationals, allowing six runs on seven hits and one walk in four innings. He struck out one.
Making his first major-league start of 2026, Spence was mostly ineffective Monday. The 28-year-old right-hander has now given up six runs in four innings during both of his big-league outings this year, posting a 4:6 K:BB in the process. It's possible that Seth Lugo (concussion) will be ready to come off the injured list and take his next turn in Kansas City's rotation versus the Cardinals over the weekend, so Spence could soon be heading back to Triple-A Omaha following a spot start.
RotoWire via ESPN · Jun 16