As the Kansas City Royals embark on their last stretch of the regular season, they’ll face two West Coast teams: the Los Angeles Angels and the Oakland Athletics. With a current standing of .500 at 78-78, the Royals remain technically eligible for playoff contention, although that possibility is hanging by a thread. A single loss or a victory from competitors, the Houston Astros or Cleveland Guardians, will end their postseason hopes.
Tonight marks the Royals’ initial encounter with a team bearing a losing record since they faced the Minnesota Twins on September 7. Earlier this season, the Angels outperformed the Royals at Kauffman Stadium, winning two out of three games. A sweep in this series would earn Kansas City the series win against Los Angeles for only the second time since 2017.
Taking the mound for Kansas City is Cole Ragans, a southpaw who previously had a challenging time against the Angels, culminating in an 8.74 ERA over 11.1 innings pitched last season. This start is pivotal as it is Ragans’ first away game since sustaining multiple injuries, which sidelined him for over 100 games. His last outing against the Seattle Mariners offered a promising glimpse of his capabilities. The hope is that Ragans will deliver a robust performance and possibly a complete game in this crucial matchup and in his upcoming start against the Athletics.
As excitement builds for this consequential series, Royals fans are invited to rally for their team in what promises to be an intense close to the season.