Cole Ragans DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Kansas City Royals expect left-hander Cole Ragans (groin) to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Saturday. If Ragans looks good this weekend and doesn't have any setbacks with his groin injury, he might only need the one rehab outing before rejoining KC's starting rotation in early June. The 27-year-old southpaw is the Royals' ace when healthy and should be stashed in all fantasy leagues until he returns. The former first-rounder (30th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2016 didn't get off to the best start in his first nine starts in 2025, with an ERA of 4.53, but he did strike out 72 batters while walking just 13 with a 1.20 WHIP in 45 2/3 innings pitched. Ragans could be on a limited pitch count in his first start back in the big leagues, but normally he's a must-start in fantasy.

Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (groin) threw a two-up bullpen session on Wednesday, and if he comes out of that well, he's likely to start a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend, according to MLB.com's Anne Rogers. Ragans is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list this Sunday, but that obviously isn't going to happen. However, the 27-year-old southpaw could have a pretty short rehab assignment, depending on how his first start goes this weekend. When healthy, Ragans serves as the Royals' ace after he was a first-time All-Star in 2024 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with a career-high 223 strikeouts in 186 1/3 innings over 32 starts. Injuries have been a nuisance so far this year and have likely played a big part in his elevated 4.53 ERA, but Ragans does have 72 K's and only 13 walks in his 45 2/3 frames.

Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (groin) threw a "competitive" bullpen session on Sunday, according to manager Matt Quatraro, and felt good afterward. Ragans has been playing catch and is expected to return from the injured list when he's eligible on June 1. The 27-year-old southpaw is currently on the 15-day injured list after he left his last start on May 16 with tightness in his left groin. He was eventually diagnosed with a mild left-groin strain. Ragans won't require a minor-league rehab assignment, which is good and bad for fantasy managers. He'll return when eligible this weekend, but Ragans will be much more risky in his first start back, whenever that may be. Although he has a 4.53 ERA in his nine starts in 2025, he has struck out 72 batters and walked only 13 in his 45 2/3 innings pitched. If he returns to start on June 1, he'd be facing the division-rival Detroit Tigers at home.