The Royals-Yankees series should set off alarm bells. Here’s what we learned
The Kansas City Royals know where they want to be. However, the road to the 2025 postseason has been anything but smooth.
Last October, the Royals battled the New York Yankees through four games in the American League Division Series (ALDS). It was a hard-fought battle between the eventual AL champs and an emerging Royals squad.
Things are different now.
There is a sizable gap between the Yankees and the Royals. New York continues to lead the majors in multiple offensive categories. Aaron Judge, the 2024 AL MVP, is chasing history with a near .400 batting average.
Judge announced his presence with two homers at Kauffman Stadium. He blasted a 469 foot home run that landed atop the scoreboard in left field. And the Yankees outscored the Royals 17-5 in the series.
New York has won eight consecutive matchups against the Royals after Thursday’s 1-0 victory.
“That series sucked plan and simple,” Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said. “(Seth) Lugo was unbelievable tonight and we gave him nothing. So we just simply have to be better.”
The Royals aren’t the same team as last year. The club is scuffling offensively and dealing with significant injuries, most recently to All-Star Cole Ragans and second baseman Michael Massey. The starting rotation carried KC earlier this season. Now, the club has regressed to the mean.
KC owns a 34-35 record. The Royals have lost 11 of their last 14 home games and welcome the Athletics this weekend.
“We just need to do a better job,” Pasquantino said. “I think the one thing, you know, is you never want to give a team that just beat you too much credit. But if you just watch their at-bats and how they make the pitchers grind it out, we’ve just got to do a better job of that.”
The Yankees (42-25) left Kauffman Stadium with a sweep. The mid-week series showed the difference between the ALDS combatants and how far the Royals have fallen in short order.
The Royals are 10 1/2 games back in the AL Central and two games back of third place.
“We need to score more runs,” Pasquantino said. “If you don’t score, it’s really hard to win. And when pitchers are putting up ones and twos, that should be enough for us to win games.”
Here are other takeaways from Thursday’s game.
Rain delay halts play
A quick downpour hit Kauffman Stadium in the sixth inning. And it came at an inopportune time for the Royals.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro was set to make a pitching change. He walked out to retrieve the baseball from right-hander Seth Lugo after 73 pitches.
Lugo had recorded two outs in the sixth. However, he allowed a single to Trent Grisham and walked Paul Goldschmidt. Yankees left-handed hitter Cody Bellinger loomed in the on-deck circle.
Quatraro decided to turn to southpaw pitcher Angel Zerpa. The Royals reliever was officially announced by the PA announcer. At the same time, the Royals grounds crew raced to the field to put on the tarp.
“Bellinger was coming up and we liked Zerpa in that situation more,” Quatraro said. “That’s all that went into it.”
Lugo’s night was over. He allowed two hits, three walks and struck out two batters across 5 ⅔ innings.
“A little surprised,” Lugo said of his exit at 73 pitches. “I thought I was still locating well. I know I walked Goldschmidt there, but I thought I was still executing. And I know it’s important to get a win and try to salvage the series. Zerpa is pretty good and left on left, I might have done the same.”
Zerpa had to endure the short delay after getting warmed up in the bullpen. He avoided trouble by getting Bellinger to lineout to center field. Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel made a diving catch to strand two baserunners.
Royals rely on strong defense
There were several defensive highlights in the series.
On Wednesday, Maikel Garcia and Jac Caglianone each made key infield stops. Garcia turned a dazzling 5-4-3 double play at the hot corner. Caglianone, who spent time at first base, made a diving stop in Tuesday’s game.
Isbel added to the highlight reel. He ranged into left-center field to haul in the baseball as it tailed away from him.
“He’s been doing it his whole entire career,” Royals utilityman Nick Loftin said. “He had a really nice jump on the ball.”
The Royals needed it. The offense struggled to score runs throughout the series. Wednesday’s game remained scoreless until the Yankees added the go-ahead run in the eighth.
Goldschmidt hit a line drive off Vinnie Pasquantino’s glove. He reached first base safely as Pablo Reyes came around third base to score.
The Royals missed key opportunities. They stranded two runners in the second inning and left Loftin standing on third base after a one-out triple in the fifth.
Next for the KC Royals
The Royals continue their six-game homestand on Friday night. It will be a special occasion as Alex Gordon will be inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame.
KC will send right-hander Michael Wacha (3-5, 3.01 ERA) to the mound against A’s veteran hurler Luis Severino (1-6, 4.77 ERA) at Kauffman Stadium.
First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. Central.
This story was originally published June 12, 2025 at 9:47 PM.
