James McArthur's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Kansas City Royals relief pitchers Hunter Harvey (back), James McArthur (elbow) and Chris Stratton (forearm) are all expected to be healthy entering spring training next February after ending 2024 on the injured list. Stratton holds a $4.5 million player option for next season. Harvey began the year with the Nationals and had a rough 6.35 ERA and 2.12 WHIP with one save in only 5 2/3 innings for the Royals before being shut down in late September. McArthur began the year as KC's primary closer but eventually lost the job and was diagnosed with a Grade 1 UCL sprain in his right elbow in mid-September. He had a career-high 18 saves but also an ERA just under 5.00. Stratton, who has a right flexor strain, also underwhelmed in 2024 with a 5.55 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and four saves in 58 1/3 innings in his first year with the Royals.

The Kansas City Royals placed right-handed reliever James McArthur (elbow) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a right-elbow sprain and recalled right-hander Steven Cruz from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. According to MLB's Anne Rogers, McArthur has a Grade 1 UCL sprain and will be shut down for the next five to seven days, but manager Matt Quatraro said the team is hopeful it's "not a season-ending injury." Right-hander Michael Lorenzen (hamstring) and left-hander William Smith (back) are both scheduled for live batting practice sessions on Saturday, provided they face no setbacks the next few days. The 27-year-old McArthur opened the year as the team's closer but was eventually demoted and had been working in middle relief. McArthur will miss the rest of the regular season, but the Royals hope he can return to help their bullpen if they make the postseason.

Kansas City Royals right-hander James McArthur (hand) left Monday's contest early with a trainer against the visiting Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium after his right hand was hit while covering first base on a Zach McKinstry single. McArthur stayed in the game for one more batter before he was replaced by Angel Zerpa in the seventh inning. The 27-year-old threw two-thirds of an inning, walking one and striking out one without allowing a run. McArthur began the year as the Royals' closer and has a career-high 18 saves in his second year in the league, but he's ended up in a middle-relief role and has a bloated 4.98 ERA (4.17 FIP) and 1.45 WHIP in his 56 relief innings in 2024. It's unclear how severe McArthur's hand injury is, but it didn't look that bad. For now, he'll be considered day-to-day until we know more.UPDATE: McArthur was diagnosed with right-elbow tightness.

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher James McArthur was called upon to hold a one-run lead versus the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday. The right-hander tossed a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 14th save of the season. McArthur has been a little shaky this season with a 4.41 ERA across 31 appearances. He's not an elite closer, but McArthur is the best option the Royals have at closer right now. Fantasy managers should expect McArthur to continue getting save chances going forward.

Kansas City Royals closer James McArthur earned his 13th save of the season in Monday's 4-1 win over the Marlins. McArthur came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by three and turned in a 1-2-3 performance with a strikeout. The 27-year-old has earned the closer's role for a surprisingly solid Royals team, although his overall numbers haven't been great. He has blown four saves this season and has a 4.70 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP, and a 20.3% strikeout rate in 30 2/3 innings of work. His relative role security does provide fantasy value in deeper roto leagues, but his high ratio stats and low strikeout rate limit his overall fantasy upside.