The Royals have a long and frustrating history with the Cleveland Guardians. As a kid, I remember when Cleveland's baseball team was a punchline—you might recall their comedic portrayal in the movie Major League. But they quickly transformed into a powerhouse in the 1990s, and they've been consistent winners ever since, even if a championship has eluded them for over 70 years. Since the Royals and Guardians landed in the same division in 1994, Cleveland has been a tough nut to crack. In fact, Kansas City has won the season series against them only six times (2000, 2002, 2003, 2012, 2015, and 2024) in full seasons.
This week, the Royals (15-19) host the Guardians (18-17) at Kauffman Stadium. It's a battle of two teams with similar offensive numbers—Cleveland averages 4.17 runs per game (22nd in MLB) while Kansas City is right behind at 4.12 (24th). But the Guardians have a clear edge on the mound, allowing just 4.26 runs per game (12th) compared to the Royals' 4.62 (18th).
What makes this Guardians squad especially dangerous is their infusion of young talent. Rookie Chase DeLauter burst onto the scene this spring and leads all American League rookies with a 162 wRC+. After cooling off a bit, he's caught fire again, hitting .556 (15-for-27) with three doubles and a home run over his last eight games. Then there's Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, who was called up last week after tearing it up in the minors with a .287/.422/.511 slash line, two homers, and eight steals in just 24 games.
Of course, you can't talk about Cleveland without mentioning José Ramírez. He's off to a slow start this season but still leads the league with 13 steals. And he's historically owned Royals pitcher Daniel Lynch IV, going 6-for-13 (.462) with five walks. Meanwhile, Kyle Manzardo has been a Royal killer, posting a .321/.433/.607 line with three home runs in 19 career games against Kansas City. Steven Kwan, though, has struggled against lefties this year, hitting just .195/.261/.220.
On the mound, Tanner Bibee has been sharp lately, allowing only three runs over 17 innings in his last three starts. But here's an interesting matchup: Bobby Witt Jr. has feasted on Bibee, hitting .364/.481/.636 with two homers in 27 plate appearances. On the flip side, Salvador Perez is 0-for-19 against him. Bibee's four-seamer has been hittable this year (.394 opponent average), but his curveball has been nearly untouchable (.053).
Gavin Williams is also set to take the mound for Cleveland, adding another layer of challenge for the Royals' lineup. As always, the question remains: Can Kansas City finally crack the code and find a way to beat these guys consistently? Only time—and a few innings of baseball—will tell.