Estevez (4-5) took the loss Wednesday, giving up one run on two hits and one walk in the ninth inning as the Royals fell 8-7 to the Nationals. He struck out one.
The Kansas City closer entered a tie game in the top of the ninth and couldn't hold the visitors at bay, serving up a one-out double to Luis Garcia and an RBI single to Daylen Lile. Estevez has 30 saves on the season, one shy of the career high he set with the Angels in 2023, but he's struggled to find consistency since the beginning of July -- over his last 17.2 innings he's posted a 4.58 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB while blowing three of his 11 save chances.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Collects 30th save
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Estevez earned the save in Monday's 7-4 win against the Nationals, allowing one walk and no hits over a scoreless inning.
The 32-year-old reached the 30-save mark for the second time in his nine-year career, working around a two-out walk. Estevez has now converted five consecutive save opportunities since his last blown save July 18, pitching to a 3.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 7:4 K:BB in nine innings over that span. Across 51.1 total frames, the Royals closer sports a 2.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 42:19 K:BB while going 30-for-36 in save opportunities.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Fans two for 29th save
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Estevez collected the save in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Twins, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.
Estevez was able to protect the Royals' two-run lead in the ninth and finished by striking out Austin Martin. It was Estevez's first save since July 29 against Atlanta, and his 29 saves on the year (in 35 chances) are second most in the majors behind Robert Suarez (32). Estevez has a 2.54 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 42:17 K:BB across 39.2 innings this season.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Picks up 28th save
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Estevez earned the save Tuesday against Atlanta, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning to secure a 9-6 win.
Estevez was called upon to protect a three-run lead and handled the task with ease, working around a two-out single by Ozzie Albies to record his 28th save of the season. The right-hander sits tied for second in MLB in saves alongside Josh Hader. Estevez now holds a 2.56 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 37:16 K:BB across 45.2 innings in 2025.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Earns one-out save
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Estevez recorded one out and earned a save against the Marlins on Sunday.
The Royals were up 7-0 in the ninth inning before Andrew Hoffmann coughed up four runs, creating a save opportunity for Estevez. Estevez gave up an infield single before finishing off the victory to earn his 26th save of the year. He blew three straight save chances before converting Sunday, and he's now 26-for-32 in save opportunities this season. Estevez owns a 2.74 ERA with a 35:15 K:BB across 42.2 frames.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Blows another save
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Estevez (4-3) took the loss and blew a save, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits with no walks or strikeouts, during Friday's 8-7 loss to the Marlins.
Handed a two-run lead in the 10th inning, Estevez could not hold it and allowed three runs in an extra-inning, walkoff defeat. A two-run home run that concluded a monster day from Kyle Stowers was the death blow and sealed the third straight blown save from the Royals closer. The 32-year-old has gone seven straight appearances allowing at least one baserunner, dating back to July 2.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Blows save, earns win
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Estevez (4-2) allowed two runs on two hits over one inning Sunday, earning the win against the Mets but also being charged with a blown save.
Estevez blew a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning but earned his fourth win of the season after Nick Loftin's walk-off single. Estevez had converted eight straight save chances before the weekend series against the Mets, where he was charged with a blown save in each of his two appearances. Despite that, he owns an impressive 2.36 ERA and a 35:15 K:BB across 42 innings while securing 25 saves in 30 chances.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Earns third win
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Estevez (3-2) earned a win against Pittsburgh on Tuesday. He allowed a hit in a scoreless inning and did not record a strikeout.
Estevez worked around a one-out double by Ke'Bryan Hayes to keep the score 3-3 before the Royals walked it off in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was Estevez's first win since May 25, and he has thrown two shutout frames since allowing a run against Seattle on July 3. He dropped his ERA to 2.67 with a 32:14 K:BB across 39 frames.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Collects 21st save
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Estevez earned the save in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Rangers after recording no strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning.
For the second night in a row, Estevez was brought in for the ninth to protect a three-run lead, and he needed only 11 pitches (seven strikes) to retire the side. He has converted 16 of his last 17 save opportunities, and his 21 saves is tied with Robert Suarez for most in the majors. Estevez sports a 1.93 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB across 32.2 innings this season.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Bounces back in nightcap
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Estevez pitched a perfect inning and struck out one to earn the save in a 7-5 win over the Cardinals in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader.
Estevez pitched in the day game as well, blowing a save and taking a loss in the 10th inning, but he threw just 10 pitches in that contest. That left him fresh enough to protect a two-run lead in the nightcap, and he was able to get the job done this time to earn his 18th save in 21 chances this season. He has a 1.95 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 26:12 K:BB across 27.2 innings while going relatively unchallenged as the Royals' closer.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Collects 12th save
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Estevez secured the save in Monday's 7-5 victory over Houston, allowing one hit and no walks over a scoreless inning with one strikeout.
After conceding a leadoff single to Jose Altuve in the ninth, Estevez cleanly retired the next three batters to bag his 94th career save. The 32-year-old has converted his last seven save opportunities, cementing him as the Kansas City closer. Overall, Estevez has pitched to a 2.37 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 17:9 K:BB across 19 innings.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Secures 10th save
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Estevez collected the save in Monday's 3-0 win against the White Sox, allowing one hit and no walks over a scoreless inning with no strikeouts.
The Kansas City closer required only eight pitches, seven of which were strikes, to retire the side and lock down the Royals' 20th win. Since his last blown save April 22 against Colorado, Estevez has made five consecutive scoreless appearances over which he's bagged five saves. Through 16 innings, he has pitched to a 2.25 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 13:9 K:BB while not allowing a home run.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Charged with blown save
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Estevez was charged with a blown save after allowing three runs on one hit and three walks Tuesday against the Rockies. He did not record a strikeout.
Estevez was brought in for the ninth inning to protect a two-run lead. He got two outs on just four pitches but then proceeded to load the bases with three straight walks, and Jacob Stallings made him pay with a bases-clearing double. The Royals were able to get a run back in the ninth to send the game to extras and save Estevez from a loss, but Estevez has now issued a walk in three straight appearances and has an unsightly 1:5 K:BB in four innings over that span. For the season, he owns a 3.27 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 10:9 K:BB in 11 innings.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Fans side for save
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Estevez allowed a hit in a scoreless inning during Sunday's win over Cleveland. He struck out three and earned a save.
Estevez coughed up a single to Steven Kwan to open the ninth inning but punched out the next three batters he faced to close out the 4-2 win. It was Estevez's fifth save in six chances. He dropped his ERA to 1.29 with a 9:4 K:BB through seven innings this season. Estevez has collected five of Kansas City's six saves so far.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Picks up fourth save
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Estevez earned the save in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Twins, allowing a hit while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
Estevez found himself in trouble, allowing a one-out single before hitting Harrison Bader with a pitch to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base. However, the right-hander struck out Matt Wallner before inducing a groundout from Willi Castro to seal the Royals' one-run victory. While it hasn't always come easily, Estevez has converted four of Kansas City's five save chances this year while allowing one earned run on three hits and four walks in his first six innings.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Shaky in third save
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Estevez picked up the save in Monday's 4-2 win against the Twins, allowing one run on a hit and a walk. He struck out one.
For the second consecutive day, Estevez was called upon for a save chance; however, unlike Sunday, this outing was not clean. After inducing a flyout to open the ninth, the right-hander allowed three of the next four batters to reach, including Harrison Bader knocking an RBI single. Estevez then generated a groundball to wrap up his 23-pitch outing. The 32-year-old remains the preferred closer in Kansas City but does not have much room for error with Lucas Erceg lurking.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Collects second save
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Estevez secured the save in Sunday's 4-1 win against the Orioles, pitching a clean inning with a strikeout.
After blowing a save in his last outing Wednesday against Milwaukee, Estevez righted the ship with this performance, retiring the side succinctly on nine pitches. The offseason addition continues to be the main saves source in Kansas City over Lucas Erceg, as Estevez has entered the ninth in all three save chances for the Royals.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Blows save in 10th inning
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Estevez was charged with the blown save Wednesday against the Brewers after he allowed an unearned run on a hit and two walks during the 10th inning. He struck out one.
The right-hander was called upon for the bottom of the 10th inning with a 2-1 lead, but he quickly blew the save as leadoff man Jackson Chourio brought home the designated runner with a double. A balk and two intentional walks then loaded the bases with no outs, but Estevez successfully navigated the tightrope and retired the next three batters to force an 11th inning. The 32-year-old has recorded the Royals' lone save through seven games and has yet to allow an earned run in three appearances this year. Estevez is currently the lead man for saves in Kansas City, though setup man Lucas Erceg should also see some opportunities.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Makes spring debut
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Estevez (back) made his first appearance of spring training Friday, giving up one unearned run and two hits over an inning. "I feel great," Estevez told MLB.com. "Everything is going well with my body, and I'm in a good spot. For me, it usually takes me three, maybe four outings to say, 'OK, this is it, this is the point I want to be at.'"
Estevez has been slowed in camp by lower-back tightness, but the Royals say they are confident he'll be ready for Opening Day. He'll make six appearances between major-league and minor-league games barring any setbacks before spring training ends, according to MLB.com. Estevez is expected to be the primary closer for the Royals, with Lucas Erceg also getting some save chances.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Slated for Cactus League debut
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Estevez (back) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Angels, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Estevez has been slowed in camp by lower-back tightness but has been throwing off a mound without issue for several days and is nearly ready to test himself in a game setting. The 32-year-old is expected to have enough time to get ready for Opening Day and projects to begin the season as the Royals' closer.
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