The Kansas City Royals are facing a growing problem that’s hard to ignore: they simply can’t win away from Kauffman Stadium. After a tough loss to the Chicago White Sox last night, the Royals have now dropped six of their first seven road series this season—their only bright spot being a sweep in Seattle. With a dismal 6-14 record on the road, they currently hold the second-worst away record in all of baseball.

This isn't just one area of the team struggling; it’s a complete collapse on both sides of the ball when they leave Kansas City. The hitting and pitching have both taken noticeable dips, and the numbers paint a clear picture of a team that thrives at home but fades on the road.

Part of the story might be the changes made to Kauffman Stadium itself. The Royals moved the fences in to create a more neutral environment for hitters, and it’s worked—runs are up 35 percent at the K, where the team averaged just 3.71 runs per game last year. At home, the Royals look like an offensive juggernaut. They boast the seventh-best home offense in baseball with a wRC+ of 115, and their hitters are slashing .265/.349/.436. They rank fifth in on-base percentage and second in hard-hit rate. Players like Maikel Garcia (.351 at home) and Michael Massey (.333 with three home runs in 14 games at the K) are thriving, with seven Royals hitters batting .298 or better in their own ballpark.

But the road tells a completely different story. Away from Kansas City, Royals hitters are batting just .213/.284/.341—only the Philadelphia Phillies have been worse. Their hard-hit rate plummets from 37.1 percent at home to just 29.9 percent on the road, the fifth-worst mark in baseball. Garcia drops to .207 away from the K, and Isaac Collins went hitless in his first 28 at-bats on the road. It’s a stark contrast that raises questions about how the team adjusts to unfamiliar surroundings.

The pitching staff hasn’t fared much better. The Royals’ 5.05 road ERA is the fifth-worst in baseball, and they have the third-worst home run rate allowed on the road compared to the tenth-best at home. Cole Ragans has been particularly affected, posting a 7.97 ERA on the road—the second-worst among qualified pitchers. Even the bullpen has struggled, with a 5.57 ERA away from Kauffman, though that number is skewed by Carlos Estévez’s six-run meltdown in Atlanta.

Interestingly, this is a new issue for the Royals. Last season, they finished 39-42 on the road and actually scored more runs away from home. Could the Kauffman Stadium renovations be the culprit? While the changes have boosted offense at home, they may have inadvertently made the team less prepared for the challenges of playing on the road. For a team that’s already fighting to stay competitive, solving this road riddle is crucial—and fast.