The Kansas City Royals are back at Kauffman Stadium this afternoon for the decisive Game 4 of their four-game series against the Cleveland Guardians, with first pitch set for 1:10 p.m. After storming to a five-game winning streak by taking the first two games of the series, the Royals stumbled in last night's 3-1 loss. Now, they're hungry to reclaim momentum and secure the series victory on their home turf.
The biggest concern coming out of yesterday's game was the early exit of ace Cole Ragans, who left with triceps and elbow soreness. The good news? Manager Matt Quatraro sounded optimistic afterward, saying he doesn't believe it's serious and that the team is hopeful Ragans will make his next start. "Cole felt it in the third, and we wanted to be cautious," Quatraro explained. However, reporter Anne Rogers noted this morning that Ragans underwent testing and is currently awaiting results—so Royals fans are holding their breath alongside the team.
On the mound today, the Royals turn to veteran right-hander Seth Lugo, who has been a steady force this season. In his last outing against the Mariners, Lugo tossed six innings, allowing two earned runs with six strikeouts and two walks in a game the Royals eventually won 3-2 in extra innings. For the second time this season, he eclipsed the 100-pitch mark. Overall, Lugo boasts an impressive 2.64 FIP over 43.2 innings, with 37 strikeouts against 13 walks. The only slight concern? He's allowing more hits per nine innings than at any point during his tenure with the Royals—something to watch against a Guardians lineup that has struggled to score all series but could still steal a split.
Opposing Lugo is Cleveland's right-hander Slade Cecconi—and yes, that first name is as cool as it sounds. Cecconi pitched well for the Guardians last season, but 2026 has been a different story. In seven starts, he carries a 6.56 ERA and a 5.83 FIP. Over his last five outings, he's surrendered seven home runs, including multiple homers in three separate starts against the Braves, Astros, and Athletics. In four of those starts, he's allowed at least four earned runs—a trend the Royals' bats will look to exploit.
With Lugo on the bump and the series on the line, today feels like a prime opportunity for Kansas City to put together a complete game. The Royals have shown resilience all week, and a win today would not only seal the series but also keep the good vibes rolling. Let's see if the bats can wake up early and give Lugo the support he deserves.