Royals Review
\"A dim view of humanity\" -Lee Judge
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A 2026 World Series preview for Royals fans
The 2026 World Series pits the Milwaukee Brewers against the Tampa Bay Rays, both seeking their first championship. The article highlights why Royals fans should tune in: both clubs are small‑market underdogs with payrolls below Kansas City’s, showcasing smart development and coaching; the Brewers feature two Kansas City‑born pitchers—Jacob Misiorowski, who boasts a 1.80 ERA and a Cy Young candidacy, and reliever Aaron Ashby—while the Rays have former Royals Aaron Brooks and brief stints by Craig Kimbrel. Both teams favor small‑ball tactics, ranking high in batting average and on‑base percentage, offering a compelling contrast to the Royals’ power style.
2026 Royals season in review: Nate Pearson
Former Blue Jays top prospect Nate Pearson has turned heads with the Kansas City Royals in 2026. After being traded from Houston on July 22, he posted an impressive 0.43 ERA, 20 strikeouts and three saves in his first 20 appearances, suggesting he could anchor the Royals’ bullpen next season. However, a sharp decline after September 13 – a 21.60 ERA over his final six outings – raised concerns. With arbitration eligibility still ahead and a potential raise beyond his $1.35 million 2025 salary, the Royals must decide whether to retain the injury‑marred but high‑upside right‑hander.
Royals Must Move First, AFL Update, What Makes World Series Pair Different
Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco argue the Royals must be the first to act this offseason, warning that a looming MLB lockout will compress the market for free agents and trades. They note that an Orioles owner’s profit reveal challenges payroll excuses, while the Rays and Brewers exemplify building contenders through aggressive deals. The hosts review their recent trade simulations using the Baseball Trade Values model and cast their Athlete1 award ballots, highlighting breakout candidates like Pete Crow‑Armstrong, Mason Miller and Kevin McGonigle. The episode closes with a look at top Arizona Fall League prospects—Angeibel Gomez, Zion Rose and Justin Lamkin—who could accelerate Kansas City’s rebuild.
What can the Royals learn from the playoffs?
The Royals Review piece argues the Kansas City Royals should adopt two playoff lessons from the 2024-26 postseason. First, despite trends toward bullpen‑by‑the‑hour tactics, the article stresses that teams like the Rays and Brewers succeed because they still start four competent pitchers—overreliance on relievers cost the Guardians and White Sox. Second, aggressive roster building via trades is crucial; the Rays and Brewers lead the league in trade‑acquired players, and even NLCS MVP Jake Bauers was a trade asset. The author urges the Royals to invest in quality starters and pursue more trade‑driven acquisitions to become a contender.
Kansas City Royals news: The World Series begins tonight!
The Royals kick off the World Series tonight, but the blog shifts to off‑season plans. GM J.J. Picollo says the bullpen is the top priority, followed by adding starting‑pitcher depth to back 2026 All‑Stars Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo and Noah Cameron. Candidates for the rotation include Daniel Lynch IV, Randy Dobnak, Tony Gonsolin and others, while the club hopes injured pitchers Cole Ragans, Luinder Avila, Stephen Kolek, Ryan Bergert and Ben Kudrna return in 2027. Former star Mike Sweeney mourns Hall of Famer Todd Benzinger’s death, and Royals announce Legends Global as the owner’s representative for a new downtown ballpark. The piece also critiques recent bullpen and starter performances, warning that relying on Dobnak or Lynch could cost the team 100 wins.
2026 Royals season in review: Carter Jensen
Amid a disappointing 2026 campaign, rookie catcher Carter Jensen emerges as Kansas City’s bright spot. The 23‑year‑old started 97 games behind the plate, added 42 DH appearances and set a Royals rookie record with 27 homers, also leading the team in RBIs and doubles. He earned both American League Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month honors in September, finishing with a .239/.323/.467 slash line (OPS .790) and 64 extra‑base hits. While his defense lagged—league‑leading nine passed balls and 170 strikeouts—Jensen’s power and youthful energy give the Royals a new core piece alongside Bobby Witt Jr., Jac Caglianone, Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino.
Kansas City Royals News: What’s next for Jac Caglianone?
Kansas City’s 23‑year‑old Jac Caglianone rebounds from a rough 2025 debut to lead the Royals in 2026 with a .289 average, .494 slugging and .834 OPS, adding 23 homers, 75 RBIs and 72 runs. As the club eyes 2027, his versatility at right field and first base could give manager JJ Picollo valuable lineup flexibility. While the Royals’ core returns, Caglianone’s defensive role is the next big question as Kansas City looks to bolster its roster.
Playing Picollo Part 2: Painful trades
In "Playing Picollo Part 2: Painful trades" the Royals’ front office outlines two bold off‑season deals aimed at shoring up the rotation while keeping payroll low. On March 13, 2026 the team trades Blake Mitchell, David Shields and Jack Slightom to the Angels for 27‑year‑old Reid Detmers, whose 2025 breakout yielded a 3.36 ERA, 4.9 fWAR and a 20% K‑BB% rate, making him the projected Opening‑Day starter. A second deal sends Ramon Ramirez, Lucas Braun and Dash Albus to Seattle for former All‑Star George Kirby, securing two years of a proven starter after a stalled pursuit of Logan Gilbert. The author reflects on the prospect cost—MLB Pipeline lists the Royals’ #4, #5 and #12 prospects given up—but praises the immediate upgrade to the pitching staff.
The Roger Nelson Comeback
Roger Nelson’s roller‑coaster career peaks with a historic 1972 season for the Kansas City Royals. After a modest start with the White Sox and a brief stint in Baltimore, Nelson becomes the No. 1 pick in the 1968 expansion draft. He posts a 3.31 ERA in 1969, but arm troubles limit him in 1970‑71. In 1972 he resurges, posting a 1.44 ERA in spring, then throws a complete‑game shutout on July 4 and finishes the summer with ten complete games, six shutouts (including three in July) and a career‑best one‑hitter on Aug. 23. He sets four single‑season pitching records that still stand, including the unbreakable six shutouts mark, cementing his 1972 run as one of the finest in Royals history.
Kansas City Royals: How about those Saguaros?
Kevin O’Brien reviews Royals prospects in the Arizona Fall League, noting left‑hander Justin Lamkin’s rebound on Oct. 15 with just one run over four innings after a rough debut, but flagging his sub‑par 88 TJ Stuff+ rating. Brian Shrum argues the team must tender second baseman Michael Massey, projecting a $3.2‑$3.5 M deal after his strong 2026 comeback (.272 BA, .428 SLG). Veteran reliever Steven Okert draws praise for his high‑percentile breaking‑pitch value, while Charlie Rondeau suggests a reunion with right‑hander Luke Weaver despite recent struggles. Finally, Scott White says Bobby Witt Jr. remains elite but his fantasy upside is waning after missing the 25‑HR mark for a second year.
This Week in the Minors: Northwest Arkansas season in review
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals endured a rough 57-79 season, but several players shone. Outfielder Luke Pelzer posted a .337/.404/.506 line in Quad Cities and maintained a .337/.414/.405 slash after promotion, adding 28 stolen bases and a .993 fielding percentage. Spencer Nivens hit .280/.365/.446 with 9 homers and 17 steals over 104 games, earning a likely move to Omaha. Sam Kulasingam contributed .249/.370/.396, 12 homers and 30 steals while handling multiple positions. On the mound, Justin Lamkin dazzled with a 2.04 ERA, .168 opponent BA and 0.93 WHIP in 39.2 innings, while Drew Beam (9‑0, 6.49 ERA) and Hunter Owen (5.94 ERA, 108 Ks) showed flashes but need consistency. The preview hints at promotions and role changes for next season.
The Royals Trade Game: Jeremy Plays GM, Jacob Plays Hardball
In a lively trade simulation, Royals analysts Jeremy Greco and Jacob Milham pit each other as opposing GMs, debating whether to acquire pitcher Reid Detmers and other targets like Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Nick Lodolo, Ryan Feltner, and outfielder Dylan Crews. They weigh the cost to Kansas City’s farm system, sparring over prospects such as Sean Gamble, David Shields, Blake Mitchell and Kendry Chourio, while referencing the Brewers‑Rays model of building via trades. The episode also reviews the Royals’ Gold Glove finalists, critiques defensive metrics like SDI, and predicts Bobby Witt Jr.’s award chances. Fans are invited to weigh in on the hypothetical deals.
2026 Royals season in review: Jonathan India
Jonathan India's 2026 Royals season ends after just 17 games and a left labrum surgery. Acquired in the 2025 offseason for Brady Singer, India posted a -0.2 fWAR and 81 wRC+ before landing on the injured list on April 20. He revealed a five‑year history of left shoulder subluxations, which likely limited his power and defensive versatility. With his free‑agent status looming, the Royals and fans question the trade’s wisdom and wonder if a repaired shoulder could revive the rookie spark he showed in 2023.
Kansas City Royals News: JJ Picollo has work to do
Royals Review outlines general manager J.J. Picollo’s missteps in the 2025‑26 offseason, highlighting his failure to add rotation depth and reliance on injury‑prone arms. Critics like Brian Burrows urge Kansas City to spend on proven free agents or established trade targets rather than bargain‑hunt, and warn that ownership’s spending limits will shape the plan. Pitcher Nate Pearson’s early 2026 surge (0.43 ERA, 2.62 FIP in 21 innings) offered a bullpen spark, but his performance regressed later in the season. The piece concludes that the outfield and pitching staff demand urgent upgrades this winter.
Guardians vs. Rays Monday ALCS game discussion
The Guardians face the Rays in Game 6 of the ALCS on Oct. 12 at Tropicana Field, with the series tied 3‑3. Cleveland opens with reliever Shawn Armstrong (2‑1, 4.58 ERA) while Tampa Bay counters with July acquisition Freddy Peralta (10‑11, 4.42 ERA). A win for the Rays clinches their third franchise pennant; a Guardians victory forces a decisive Game 7. Yandy Diaz boldly predicts a Tampa Bay triumph. The matchup streams on TBS at 7 p.m. CT.
Royals batters were homebodies in 2026
The Royals altered Kauffman Stadium’s dimensions for 2026 to create a fairer, hitter‑friendly park and to standardize swings at home and on the road. The changes produced a true “hitter’s park” – the team posted a home wRC+ of 110, the fifth‑best in MLB, and a 40‑39 home record, while their road wRC+ dropped to 86 with a 28‑53 record. Home hitters averaged .266/.334/.439, struck out far less, and hit 16 more homers than away. Overall, Kansas City finished with a modest 98 wRC+, but the 24‑point home‑road wRC+ gap was the league’s widest, suggesting the park tweak didn’t equalize performance.
Kansas City Royals news: Carter Jensen beats the drum
Carter Jensen’s two‑RBI single lifted the Royals over the Padres on July 17, sparking a teammate celebration captured in a July‑17 photo. Meanwhile, Royals president Brooks Sherman says the ballpark district’s master plan is in its early stages, with no demolition decisions yet for Crown Center tenants like the Sea Life Aquarium. Pitcher Randy Dobnak boasts a 3.7% barrel rate and 51.2% ground‑ball percentage, but his 91% contact rate and 4.22 FIP raise sustainability concerns. Outfielder Tyler Tolbert credits routine over stats for his recent surge, while former outfielder MJ Melendez opts for free agency. The article also teases broader baseball news, from Ohtani’s 2027 pitching plans to MLB’s upcoming super‑team debates.
ALCS Game 5 discussion 10/18
It’s a pivotal game 5 in Cleveland. Here are the Rays starters. Here are the Guardians starters. Who are you rooting for to take on the Brewers?
ALCS Game Four discussion 10/17
Let’s try this again. Two nights ago the NLCS ended, but we’ve still got plenty of action left on the AL side. In a series that features a pair of top-half teams in terms of Starting Pitcher fWAR and despite an extra day of rest with the rainout, Game Four will feature one team using […]
Kansas City Royals news: The Savannah Bananas will return to the K
Vahe Gregorian writes that it is okay to be cautious and excited about a downtown ballpark. Power & Light, in fact, never has generated the revenue to meet debt obligations. As the Kansas City Business Journal put it in April, annual “bond gaps have required about $10.5 million a year from the city’s general fund […]
ALCS Game Four discussion
Last night the NLCS ended, but we’ve still got plenty of action left on the AL side. In a series that features a pair of top-half teams in terms of Starting Pitcher fWAR, Game Four will feature one team using a starting pitcher who barely struck out one every two innings during the regular season […]
These playoffs might have single-handedly prevented a salary cap
The Milwaukee Brewers are the 2026 National League champions. That’s objectively a neat and fun thing for sports fans. The Brewers only went to the playoffs twice in their first 39 years of existence, and while they have been a playoff staple since 2018, they’ve never made it to the Fall Classic. They’ve never won […]
Why the Royals’ New Stadium Might Fail the (Batter’s) Eye, Ear Test
The Royals unveiled their new downtown ballpark renderings, and the first thing people noticed was a fountain in the batter’s eye. That is roughly where the skepticism started. Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco go through the covered roof, the limestone look, and the Crown Vision concept, then get to the question that matters more than […]
2026 Royals season in review: Seth Lugo
Last season, the Royals faced a crossroads with Seth Lugo. As they approached the trade deadline, there was healthy debate over whether the Royals should trade Lugo and try to acquire younger talent, or whether they should keep him to finish the year and bring him back for 2026. Just a few days before the […]
Kansas City Royals news: Downtown ballpark designs
Pete Grathoff covers the new stadium renderings for the Star. “You said you wanted Crown Vision. Crown Vision will be here, but in a bigger and better way,” Sherman said at Thursday’s news conference. “And you said you wanted fountains. Fountains will be a signature feature of this ballpark, and there will be more fountains.” […]
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