Cubs Arrive in Kansas City Looking to Pad Wild Card Lead Against Reeling Royals
The Chicago Cubs open a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium against a Kansas City Royals team that has collapsed after two straight winning seasons.
The Chicago Cubs land in Kansas City this weekend carrying a six-game lead for the top National League Wild Card spot, according to Royals Review, and they face a Kansas City Royals team that has come apart at the seams.
The Royals made the playoffs in 2024 and stayed in contention last year, but 2026 has gone the other way. Kansas City entered the weekend with a losing record of 48-68, according to Royals Review, putting the team 20 games under .500, as Bleed Cubbie Blue reported. The Royals rank 27th in the majors in both runs scored and runs allowed per game, Royals Review reported.
A Season Gone Sideways for Kansas City
According to Royals Review, the Royals' offense struggled out of the gate because of poor performances from Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez, and the team never dug out of the early hole. Once summer hit, the pitching staff fell apart. Bleed Cubbie Blue reported that Kansas City lost Kris Bubic, Cole Ragans, Carlos Estevez, Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, Luinder Avila and Nick Mears to significant injuries. Rather than sell off veterans like Michael Wacha at the trade deadline, the Royals held onto him and Seth Lugo, betting they could help the team compete again in 2027, Bleed Cubbie Blue reported.
The results have been mixed. Former Twins pitcher Randy Dobnak has posted a 1.16 ERA in his first four starts for Kansas City, and reliever Steven Cruz looks like he could become the team's closer, according to Bleed Cubbie Blue. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. returned this week from a back injury and leads the American League in stolen bases and in outs above average on defense, Bleed Cubbie Blue reported. Young hitters Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen have developed well, but the lineup overall remains thin, according to Bleed Cubbie Blue.
Chicago Chasing October
The Cubs, at 67-49, have been up and down. Royals Review reported the team won 19 of its first 31 games, cooled to .500 by mid-June, then rallied to win 13 of 20 since the All-Star break. Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is closing in on a 30-homer, 30-steal season, which would make him only the second Cub to do it after Sammy Sosa, according to Royals Review. Infielder Nico Hoerner is hitting .388 with three home runs over his last 20 games, Royals Review reported.
The pitching matchups favor Chicago on paper. Kevin Gausman faces Daniel Lynch IV on Friday, Clay Holmes faces Lugo on Saturday, and Matthew Boyd faces Dobnak on Sunday, according to Bleed Cubbie Blue. Holmes, acquired from the Mets at the trade deadline, has been out since May with a fibula injury and is expected to return for the series, Royals Review reported.
The Cubs are 22-18 against the Royals since interleague play began in 1997, and 9-8 in games played at Kansas City, Bleed Cubbie Blue reported. Chicago has a scheduled off day Monday before opening a series in Washington against the Nationals on Tuesday.