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Dobnak (1-0) earned the win Wednesday against the Twins, allowing no runs on four hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out four.
It was a season-best showing by Dobnak, who worked his longest outing of the year and set a season high in punchouts. The 31-year-old right-hander has been a serviceable stopgap solution for Kansas City's banged-up rotation, turning in three scoreless appearances so far while giving up no more than two runs in any of his five outings. While his 1.19 WHIP and 14:10 K:BB over 26 innings suggest some regression to his 1.09 ERA is coming, Dobnak should maintain streaming appeal in fantasy leagues in a rematch next week with a Minnesota team that will once again be without All-Star Byron Buxton (hip).
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Royals' Randy Dobnak: Making second start
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Dobnak is slated to start Thursday's game against the Tigers in Detroit.
Dobnak will be making his second straight appearance as a starter, but he's effectively receiving a third turn through the rotation after covering 5.2 frames as a bulk reliever in his season debut. Overall, the 31-year-old righty owns a 1.93 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 7:8 K:BB in 14 innings across three appearances for Kansas City since being called up from Triple-A Omaha on July 1. He should have a decent amount of leash in the rotation after Stephen Kolek (forearm) recently joined Kris Bubic (elbow/shoulder) and Cole Ragans (elbow) on the 60-day injured list.
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Royals' Randy Dobnak: Fires five scoreless innings
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Dobnak did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Tigers, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out three over five scoreless innings.
Dobnak delivered another effective outing, throwing 50 of 76 pitches for strikes while limiting Detroit to just six hard-hit balls. He generated 10 whiffs on 34 swings despite finishing with only three strikeouts. The veteran right-hander has allowed one run over his last 15 innings and owns a 1.42 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 10:9 K:BB across four appearances since being recalled July 1. With Stephen Kolek (forearm) having been transferred to the 60-day injured list, Dobnak appears to have a clear path to remaining a part of the rotation.
Royals' Randy Dobnak: Goes 4.1 frames in first start
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Dobnak did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Padres, allowing a run on four hits and four walks across 4.1 innings. He struck out three.
Despite throwing 96 pitches (60 strikes) across 4.1 innings, Dobnak managed to hold San Diego to a lone run on a Fernando Tatis homer in the third. Overall, the right-hander has been solid since he was recalled from Triple-A earlier this month, allowing just three runs across 14 innings in three appearances with the Royals. If Kansas City elects to give him another start, Dobnak would line up to face the Tigers on the road his next time out.
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Royals' Randy Dobnak: Starting Saturday
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Dobnak will start Saturday's game against the Padres in Kansas City, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
After firing 5.2 shutout innings as a bulk reliever during his final outing of the first half July 8 against the Mets, Dobnak will now be rewarded with his first start with the big club. The 31-year-old righty will get a favorable draw Saturday, as he'll be facing a Padres lineup that's posted an MLB-worst .673 OPS and has also scored the fewest runs (385) this season.
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Royals' Randy Dobnak: Blanks Mets in no-decision
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Dobnak took a no-decision Wednesday against the Mets, allowing no runs on three hits and three walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out two.
Working in bulk relief, Dobnak kept the New York bats in check with a scoreless outing Wednesday. The 31-year-old right-hander has given up just two runs on nine hits and four walks in 9.2 major-league innings so far this year, and he was able to build up to 95 pitches Wednesday in his second appearance of 2026. Stephen Kolek (personal) figures to be activated from the bereavement list by the time the All-Star break is finished, so Dobnak is a likely candidate to revert back to Triple-A Omaha.
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Royals' Randy Dobnak: Moves up to big leagues
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Dobnak from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
Dobnak previously saw big-league action with the Twins over parts of five seasons from 2019 through 2025, but he'll be making his Royals debut once he gets into a game. The 31-year-old righty opened the season in the rotation at Triple-A Tacoma in the Mariners organization before being traded in mid-June to the Royals, who immediately added him to their 40-man roster. Over 80.2 innings at the Triple-A level this season, Dobnak has produced a 4.35 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 49:25 K:BB. The right-hander looks set to initially work out of the bullpen for Kansas City, though he could be a candidate to start Thursday versus the Rays if Stephen Kolek (personal) isn't activated from the bereavement list in advance of that game.
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Royals' Randy Dobnak: Traded to Kansas City
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The Mariners traded Dobnak to Kansas City on Wednesday, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Dobnak spent his 2026 season with Seattle's Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma before being dealt to the Royals. With Tacoma, the 31-year-old posted a 4.24 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 39:24 K:BB across 70 innings. Dobnak will join Kansas City's 40-man roster and report to Triple-A Omaha.
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Mariners' Randy Dobnak: Gets NRI pact from Seattle
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The Mariners signed Dobnak to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Dobnak became a free agent last week after the Tigers declined his option for 2026, and he's now headed to the Pacific Northwest. The 30-year-old spent nearly all of 2025 at the Triple-A level, holding a 5.84 ERA over 18 starts and eight relief appearances. Dobnak will likely begin the 2026 season in the rotation at Triple-A Tacoma.
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Randy Dobnak: Option declined
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The Tigers declined Dobnak's $6 million option for 2026, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
He'll be given a $1 million buyout instead. Dobnak's inclusion in the deadline trade that also sent Chris Paddack from the Twins to the Tigers was a way for Minnesota to offload additional salary. The 30-year-old is now a free agent after spending nearly all of 2025 at the Triple-A level, where he posted a 5.84 ERA over 18 starts and eight relief appearances.
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Tigers' Randy Dobnak: Will remain at Triple-A
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Dobnak, who was acquired in a trade from Minnesota on Monday, is set to report to Triple-A Toledo, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Dobnak has spent most of this season with Triple-A St. Paul outside of one long-relief appearance for the Twins back on March 30. The veteran righty could eventually be a swingman for the Tigers while injuries begin to mount for the big-league pitching staff, but for now, Dobnak will stick as organizational depth in the minors.
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Tigers' Randy Dobnak: Included in Paddack trade
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The Tigers acquired Dobnak and right-hander Chris Paddack from the Twins on Monday in exchange for catcher Enrique Jimenez, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Dobnak made one extended relief appearance for the Twins earlier this season but has spent nearly all of 2025 at Triple-A St. Paul, where he's posted a 7.12 ERA and 42:35 K:BB over 60.2 frames. He's making $3 million this season, so his inclusion in the deal is likely just a means for the Twins to unload a little more salary.
The Twins outrighted Dobnak to Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.
Dobnak is no longer on the 40-man roster, but he'll remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. It's uncertain whether the Twins intend to use him in the rotation or in long relief with St. Paul.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Loses spot on 40-man roster
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The Twins designated Dobnak for assignment Monday, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Dobnak tossed a bullpen-saving 5.1 innings of one-run ball in relief of an ineffective Bailey Ober in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals. His reward is an exit from the 26-man active roster and 40-man roster in favor of a fresh arm in Darren McCaughan, who was called up from Triple-A St. Paul.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Selected to active roster
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The Twins selected Dobnak's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.
Dobnak pitched six shutout innings while striking out seven batters this spring before being moved to minor-league camp March 9, but injuries to Brock Stewart (hamstring) and Michael Tonkin (shoulder) will lead to Dobnak opening the season with Minnesota. The 30-year-old righty owns a 4.99 ERA in his big-league career and has made just five appearances since 2021, so he'll almost certainly be limited to low-leverage situations.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Nabs final bullpen spot
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Dobnak has been awarded the final spot in the Twins' bullpen, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Dobnak was sent to minor-league camp earlier this month, but with Brock Stewart (hamstring) and Michael Tonkin (shoulder) slated for injured-list stints, the Twins were in need of bullpen reinforcements. The 30-year-old Dobnak will need to be added to the 40-man and 26-man rosters before Opening Day.
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Twins' Randy Dobnak: Cut from big-league camp
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The Twins reassigned Dobnak to minor-league camp Sunday, Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Dobnak had been attending camp as a non-roster invitee after the Twins had removed him from their 40-man roster following the 2024 season. The 30-year-old right-hander spent most of the past season at Triple-A St. Paul but made five relief appearances for Minnesota in the second half of the campaign, logging a 5.59 ERA and 1.66 WHIP over 9.2 innings. He's poised to once again serve as pitching depth at the Triple-A level in 2025 before likely heading into free agency next offseason, when Minnesota is expected to decline his $6 million team option for 2026.
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