Nicolaus Mears: Everything you need to know

Mears (2-1) earned the win in Tuesday's 4-1 extra-inning win over the Athletics. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out two over a perfect inning. Mears worked a scoreless ninth inning and ultimately picked up his second win of the season, aided by a Bobby Witt three-run homer in the 10th inning. The right-handed reliever has put together a strong start to 2026, logging four straight scoreless appearances and recording scoreless outings in 10 of 12 appearances. Overall, he owns a 2.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 11 innings and continues to make a strong case for high-leverage opportunities out of the Royals' bullpen.

Mears allowed no hits and a walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning in Tuesday's 2-1 loss against Cleveland. Mears delivered a clean eighth inning Tuesday, with a Chase DeLauter walk serving as the only blemish in a scoreless frame that kept the game tied heading into the ninth before a Cleveland walk-off. Coming off a 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 56.2 regular-season innings last year with Milwaukee, Mears is off to a strong start this campaign with Kansas City, as he's yet to allow a run through five innings while already picking up a win and a hold.

Mears allowed three runs on three hits over one inning in Monday's Cactus League loss to the Guardians. Mears was done in by the long ball, surrendering back-to-back homers to Steven Kwan and Brayan Rocchio with two outs in the fifth inning. After being acquired by the Royals from the Brewers in December, the reliever has made four Cactus League appearances, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks across four innings, with Monday's outing accounting for much of that damage. Coming off a 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 56.2 regular-season innings last year with Milwaukee, Mears figures to slot in as a middle-relief option in the Kansas City bullpen for 2026.