It's been a disappointing 2026 season to say the least for the Kansas City Royals as they firmly stand in last place of the American League with a record of 35-52 (.402). For a team that made the playoffs just two years ago and won 82 games last season, the Boys in Blue are on pace for just 65 wins. It would mark the worst season since Matt Quatraro took over as team manager in 2023.
While the vibes around the team remain confident, they can turn the season around; it's getting harder and harder to believe that it will be so. The pitching started strong and stood in the top-third of the league, and has since been decimated by injuries and has fallen to comfortably in the bottom-third. They rank 26th in runs allowed per game (5.08), 28th in batting average allowed (.261), and 27th in WHIP (1.44).
Somehow, over the course of the season, the Royals' batters have outpaced the pitchers, despite how poorly the majority of hitters have performed. They rank 21st in runs per game (4.20), 14th in batting average (.244), and 21st in slugging percentage (.392). As expected, however, the defense has been solid as it ranks 3rd in double-plays (76) and 7th in fielding percentage (.988). It's hardly the overall performance expected from a team that went into this season with high hopes for success in the playoffs.
Kansas City's 2026 season may be lost but they have proven young talent for the future
Any chances of Kansas City making the playoffs are slim, as they'd basically have to flip their current record on its head for the rest of the season, which doesn't feel like a feasible opportunity. What's worse is that the young talent that has been emerging over the past month would have fueled the Royals to a playoff push had the rest of the lineup come through.
Catcher Carter Jensen is in the middle of a 20-game hitting streak, marking the longest streak in both franchise rookie history and so far this season. The second-year man has been somewhat of a revelation this year, ranking fourth on the team in at-bats at 271, and is tied for second on the team with 12 home runs. Jac Caglianone has also finally emerged as a future star with a .261 batting average and a team-leading 14 homers.
These two guys are certainly cornerstone pieces for the future, but even their success hasn't been able to bring the Royals up from the depths. While this season may be lost to failure, it's at least nice to know that Kansas City has some young guys who can really produce at the highest level in baseball.
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