The Kansas City Royals are chasing a road sweep in the Pacific Northwest today—and yes, you read that right, a road sweep. After snatching another clutch extra-inning victory over the Seattle Mariners last night, the Royals have won their third series of the season and their first away from home. There’s a familiar spark in the air, one that echoes the 2024 season, as this team begins to resemble the contender many projected them to be back in spring training.
Kris Bubic takes the mound this afternoon, looking to build on a mixed start in Sacramento. In that outing, he went five innings, allowing four hits and one run while walking four and striking out six on 96 pitches. That game was the Royals’ lone win in Sacramento, but Bubic has the chance to flip the script today.
The Royals have already secured a .500 road trip with back-to-back victories—both coming in 10 innings. It would be a welcome change of pace to wrap this one up in the regulation nine, but given the team’s recent resilience, fans shouldn’t be surprised if another thriller unfolds.
The lineup behind Bubic remains consistent with the first two games of the series. Carter Jensen is behind the plate again, while Salvador Pérez slots in as the designated hitter. Manager Matt Quatraro is sticking with what’s working, and that steady approach has paid off so far.
On the flip side, it’s been a tough stretch for the Mariners. They entered this series at .500 but have dropped two heartbreakers in a row. To make matters worse, catcher Cal Raleigh has been sidelined with soreness for the last two games, and closer Andrés Muñoz blew a save last night. Seattle will send right-hander Luis Castillo to the hill today, but the 33-year-old has struggled out of the gate. Over 28.1 innings this season, Castillo carries a 6.35 ERA, and his last start in Minnesota was particularly rough: seven hits, seven runs, and two homers in just five innings.
The Mariners’ lineup looks different than what we’ve seen the first two nights, but the Royals will be focused on their own game. Sitting at 14-19, Kansas City has won six of their last eight and finds itself just two games out of the final Wild Card spot and 3.5 games behind the division-leading Guardians, who they face in a four-game set starting tomorrow.
Can the Royals complete the sweep and cap off a winning road trip out west? All signs point to another exciting afternoon at the ballpark. Whether you’re watching from the stands or gearing up at home, this is the kind of momentum every fan loves to see.