The Royals’ final home series of 2026 opened with another rough night on the mound and a reminder of how much work sits ahead this offseason.
Kansas City turned to Randy Dobnak for one last look on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium, but the start unraveled fast. Dobnak was out after just 1 1/3 innings, charged with six runs, four earned, and four batters retired in a 9-1 loss. He also had two errors, including a bad pickoff attempt in the second inning.
Chicago wasted no time taking control. The White Sox opened with four hits against Dobnak, with Miguel Vargas delivering an RBI single for the early lead.
Andrew Benintendi and Tristan Peters each drove in runs as well, and all three finished with two RBIs. After Dobnak left, Kansas City’s bullpen gave up three more runs, including Kyle Teel’s fifth homer of the year.
The White Sox’ win came with extra significance at The K: Chicago clinched a postseason berth and will head back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. The White Sox are still alive in the AL Central race, sitting at 82-77 and with a shot to host a postseason game next week.
Kansas City didn’t do enough at the plate to change the script. White Sox right-hander David Sandlin, facing his former organization, held the Royals to one run over six innings and struck out seven. The lone Kansas City run came in the fourth inning on Salvador Perez’s solo homer, his 20th of the season.
That blast pushed Perez to a notable milestone. He now has 10 seasons with at least 20 home runs, joining Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Freddie Freeman, Manny Machado and Paul Goldschmidt among active major leaguers to do it.
The Royals finished with seven hits, but they went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded six. The loss dropped them to 68-91, and they’ve now lost nine of their last 11 games. Against Chicago this season, Kansas City dropped nine of 13 meetings.
The Royals close out their 2026 season starting Friday night, when left-hander Noah Cameron (9-8, 3.92 ERA) takes the ball against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Central Time.
In Other News...
Royals Fans Are About To Witness A Denny Matthews Milestone
Denny Matthews is about to reach a number that says as much about staying power as it does about baseball. The longtime Royals broadcaster will call his 8,000th game, a staggering marker for a voice that has been with the franchise since its beginning in 1969 and has spent more than five decades chronicling the clubs highs and lows.
For Kansas City fans, Matthews has been there for every era that mattered, from division winners to pennant runs to World Series championships. He already has the Ford C. Frick Award and a place in multiple halls of fame, but this next milestone adds another layer to a broadcast career that has become part of the Royals identity. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Close Season With Bobby Witt Jr. Facing One Big Finish
As the Royals head into their final series against the Guardians, the focus turns to a few late-season markers that still matter around the clubhouse. Michael Wacha is closing in on a workload milestone, Noah Cameron has put together a stronger second half, and the rotation picture for the weekend gives Kansas City one last chance to take stock before the offseason begins.
Bobby Witt Jr. is the name that stands out most, even with the power not showing up as often lately. He still has a shot to finish at 20 home runs, a tidy benchmark for a player who has carried so much of the lineup all year, and it gives this last set of games a little extra weight for a team that is already looking ahead while still trying to squeeze one more meaningful finish out of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Face An Awkward First Base Decision Involving Vinnie And Sal
Vinnie Pasquantino has given the Royals a real middle-of-the-order presence against right-handed pitching, but the split has been hard to ignore. Against left-handers, his production drops off sharply, while Salvador Perez has the kind of track record that plays better in those matchups and could help stabilize first base if the club chose to get creative with the alignment.
A straight platoon might be the cleanest way to squeeze more offense out of the position, but the Royals are not operating in a vacuum. Pasquantinos role matters, Perez is still one of the faces of the team, and there is plenty of room for discomfort in asking either player to give way often enough to make it work. For now, first base looks like one of those spots where the logic is obvious, even if the path to actually doing it is not. [Read more 🡒]