The Kansas City Royals are on a roll. Winners of five straight and ten of their last thirteen, the boys in blue are looking to erase their early-season struggles and climb to the top of the AL Central. Today marks the third game of their series against the Cleveland Guardians—a series that, at worst, will end in a split for Kansas City. A win today would not only put the Royals above Cleveland in the standings but also set the stage for a potential sweep over the weekend, which could catapult them past the now Skubaless Tigers.

Today's lineup features some intriguing tweaks. Vinnie Pasquantino slides into the fifth spot, while Lane Thomas takes the third slot. Notably, both Caglianone and Jensen are getting the day off, though they could be called upon for pinch-hitting duties later in the game.

The big question on every fan's mind: which Cole Ragans will show up today? His last outing against Cleveland ended early when José Ramirez lined a ball off his hand, sending Ragans on an odd trajectory in 2026. In the two starts that followed, he struggled with walks and couldn't find his typical strikeout rhythm—both on the road. Then, back at Kauffman Stadium, he dominated the Angels with 11 strikeouts, only to look uncomfortable again in his last road start. Will it be the dominant ace or the one battling command issues?

Opposing Ragans is Joey Cantillo, who gave the Royals fits in early April. While Cantillo has battled walks all season, he's been mostly effective. But here's the good news: Kansas City's offense has been red-hot over the last two weeks, a far cry from the lineup that faced him before. If they can get to the big lefty this time, the Royals could be in for a very happy afternoon.