Noah Cameron gave the Royals exactly the kind of start bettors were expecting Monday night at Kauffman Stadium - and then the game turned into a nightmare for anyone holding an under ticket.
With the total sitting at 9 runs at one site and 7 1/2 at another, the setup looked friendly for under backers. Cameron came in fresh off being named American League Pitcher of the Month for August, and he had a 1.84 ERA over his previous eight starts. He also continued calling his own pitches, and he was sharp again against Arizona.
The Diamondbacks mustered only three hits over Cameron’s six scoreless innings. Nate Pearson and Steven Cruz then combined to keep Arizona off the board for the next three frames, and with the Royals unable to score, the game moved into extra innings locked in a 0-0 tie.
Then came the collapse for the under.
Arizona broke it open with five runs in the top of the 10th, and Kansas City nearly clawed all the way back, scoring four of its own. The Royals still came up short, falling 5-4 in a finish that left some bettors stunned.
“Is this the worst Under 9 beat of all time??” asked X user John Bollman.
One response: “ Yep. Hit me too.”
Coby’s Gambling Corner wrote: “Is this (the) BAD BEAT of the year for UNDERS in The Diamondbacks vs Royals game. 0-0 thru 9. 9 runs in the 10th. Wow.”
“Imagine having had under 7.5 runs in D-Backs-Royals. (I didn’t have any $ riding on it.)
Unreal bad beat. Epic bad beat,” Matt Zemek wrote on X.
And br_betting shared this: “0-0 after 9 Game ends 5-4 after 10. One of the most disgusting beats of all time for u8.5 bettors 😭”
Some also called for Major League Baseball to scrap the ghost runner at second base in extra innings. It might have softened this one, but seven runs still would have scored either way.
In Other News...
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For a club still sorting through the edges of its roster, the move leaves one more question hanging around the dirt work on the infield. Drury last played for the Angels in 2024, and his experience made him a logical depth option, but the Royals now have to decide how they want to fill that remaining spot as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
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Even so, any elbow problem attached to Caglianone naturally brings the conversation back to durability. The Royals have invested in his talent and see a long-term role for him in their plans, but injuries have a way of forcing a pause around a young player whose development is still being shaped by the grind of a full season. For Kansas City, the immediate concern is manageable, but the broader one is harder to shake. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Survived A Wild Road Finish Fans Will Be Talking About
Corbin Burnes is set to make his return to the major leagues tonight against the Royals, and it gives Kansas City another big-name arm to navigate as the stretch run keeps tightening. It will be Burnes first appearance since June 2025, a notable spot for any lineup to draw, especially with the Royals trying to keep their footing against pitchers who can change a game with one outing.
Around the league, the pitching headlines have been just as loud. Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo authored a complete-game shutout with 12 strikeouts to help Philadelphia split its series with the Braves, while Aaron Judge was activated from the 60-day injured list and is expected to play for the Yankees against the Rockies after working back from a rib injury. For the Royals, it is another reminder that every night can bring a different kind of challenge, from elite arms returning to the mound to star hitters rejoining the mix. [Read more 🡒]