Game thread XXXII – Royals at Mariners
This is not going to be easy
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 25: Starting pitcher Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the 1st inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angelsat Kauffman Stadium on April 25, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Royals obviously had a very rough month of April, finishing 12-19. They’re still only 3.
5 games back of their division leader, though, so if April showers bring May Flowers and the Royals’ talent that many expected would carry them to a competitive season started blossoming, now would be a great time for that to start. Believe it or not, it was a road trip to Seattle at the start of July last year that got them going on their significantly improved second half. They lost the first game on April 30, but won two of the next three in Seattle to split the series before going 15-9 in July.
Now, this isn’t July, but it is a road trip to Seattle. So let’s do some positive thinking. Cole Ragans gets the start in this one for the Royals, and he had one of his most impressive starts ever his last time out, striking out 11 and walking none in a win over the Angels.
Now the Angels are a worse team than the Mariners, and they have a worse run differential, but they’ve scored more runs than their Pacific Northwest rivals. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he could somewhat duplicate his efforts. Though, like most of his teammates, he’s been significantly worse on the road than at home this year.