The Royals were down fast and never really found their footing in a 9-2 loss that turned a homestand game into a slog early.
Daniel Lynch IV took the ball for his fifth start as a Royal and ran into trouble almost immediately. He worked five innings and was tagged for five runs, the first time he’s gone that deep in a start. There was at least a little late stabilizing - he finished by recording 10 straight outs - but the overall line was rough: 7 hits, 1 walk, and no strikeouts.
Kansas City then handed the sixth to Nolan Hoffman, and the game got away even more quickly. Hoffman was greeted with three more runs before settling in for a second scoreless inning.
Easton McGee also logged a scoreless frame, but he gave up a run in the ninth to close out the night. Both pitchers are in the mix for roles in next year’s bullpen, and nights like this aren’t helping their case.
The offense showed a pulse in the first inning against Jameson Taillon. Carter Jensen struck out looking, but Bobby Witt Jr. jumped on a pitch for a home run at 106.7 MPH.
Jac Caglianone followed with a lineout to second at 110 MPH, and Salvador Perez lined out to third at 104.5. For a moment, it looked like the Royals were seeing Taillon well.
That didn’t last. Kansas City didn’t get another runner to second base until the bottom of the eighth, when Carter Jensen doubled off Michael Lorenzen, an old friend. Taillon’s night ended after two innings because of an injury following a 1-2-3 second on nine pitches.
Vinnie added a solo homer with two outs in the ninth, a welcome swing after a bit of a slide over his last six games following a hot start off the IL.
It was a rough all-around night for Royals baseball. Seth Lugo, who enters with a 5.03 ERA and 4.56 SIERA, will get the ball tomorrow for Kansas City.
Max Scherzer, carrying a 6.16 ERA and 5.03 SIERA, goes for the Blue Jays, though his last outing against the Mariners was described as absolutely fantastic. First pitch is set for 6:10 PM Central.
In Other News...
Royals Win Took A Weird Turn Because Of Craig Kimbrel
A routine night at Kauffman Stadium took an unsettling turn when Craig Kimbrel started feeling nauseous in the middle of his appearance and eventually vomited on the mound. The Royals later confirmed the issue was nausea, and the bizarre scene quickly became a talking point as the Marlins broadcast showed footage of the incident.
Kimbrel stayed in long enough to throw one pitch after vomiting, and that pitch hit a batter before manager Matt Quatraro pulled him from the game. For a bullpen that has leaned on veteran arms to get through tight moments, it was an awkward and unexpected detour in a game the Royals were trying to finish without drama. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Fans Just Got A Hopeful Stephen Kolek Family Update
Stephen Kolek has spent the start of this stretch juggling the kind of life events that dwarf anything happening on a mound. The Royals right-hander had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow while his wife, Jessica, was giving birth to their daughter, Faye, who arrived seven weeks early, and the family has since been living through the long, nerve-racking routine of the neonatal intensive care unit.
After nearly 10 weeks in the NICU and two surgeries, Faye is finally home with her parents, a welcome milestone for a family that has already been through plenty. Kansas City is giving Kolek additional time away from the club so he can stay with them during this period, a small but meaningful allowance as he focuses on the more important recovery timeline unfolding off the field. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Fans Are Suddenly Wrestling With A Bobby Witt Jr. Reality
The Royals have plenty of young talent to keep their long-term outlook interesting, but a recent fan survey showed just how quickly the conversation around the roster can shift. Jacs breakout performance emerged as the clear favorite for excitement heading into the 2027 season, while Cameron, Carter Jensen and Bobby Witt Jr. drew less buzz than you might have expected for a player who had been viewed as the centerpiece of the future.
For Witt, the discussion is less about whether he still matters and more about what kind of star hes becoming. His power numbers have trended down, and his recent performance has not lined up with the MVP-level expectations that once followed him around, even if his youth still leaves room for a rebound. For a fan base that had been counting on him to anchor the next great Royals team, the broader question now is whether his ceiling has simply shifted or whether a bigger surge is still coming. [Read more 🡒]