Game thread XXXIII – Royals at Mariners
The Royals won the opening salvo. Can they press their advantage?
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 26: Starting pitcher Seth Lugo #67 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the 1st inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images Having gone 2-2 in their first four games on the road, the Royals have a prime opportunity to take at least one of the next two and end their road trip 3-3. That record would be all anyone could have expected when the Royals headed west.
However, if they win today, they’ll have guaranteed that record and given themselves a shot to actually gain some ground by completing a sweep of the Mariners tomorrow. Still, that all starts tonight. Seth Lugo will take the mound tonight.
Last time out, he had easily his worst start of the season; he allowed 6 runs in the first 2 innings. But he buckled down and got through 4. 1 more innings and only allowed a lone additional run.
That gave the Royals a chance to chip away at the Angels’ lead and eventually walk it off in the tenth. Today, he will probably need to pitch a bit better early on. Lugo did face the Mariners last year and he put together one of his better performances of the season, striking out 7 and allowing 1 run on 8 baserunners over 6 innings to earn a victory and give the Royals a 4-game split in Seattle.