The Kansas City Royals are counting on right-hander Seth Lugo to end a recent slump as they strive for a vital postseason push. After struggling in his last few outings, Lugo faces the Washington Nationals on Wednesday with the goal of helping the Royals complete a three-game sweep at home.
Lugo, who recently signed a two-year, $46 million contract extension with the Royals, has recorded a 1-1 record with a 7.53 ERA over three starts since the deal was finalized. None of those starts reached six innings, and his latest appearance on Friday against Minnesota saw him give up seven runs and nine hits in just four innings in a 9-4 loss.
Recent Challenges and First-hand Reflections from Lugo
Reflecting on the tough outing, Lugo stated,
“I think you just flush that one,”
Lugo said.
I feel like even executed pitches were getting hit, mistakes we’re getting hit. It’s not ideal.
The Royals currently hold a .500 record and are striving to catch up with three teams ahead of them for a wild-card spot in the American League during the final weeks of the season.
Royals’ Strong Home Performance and Confidence Building
The Royals have created momentum at home, winning 10 of their last 14 games there and boasting a four-game winning streak in Kansas City. They have outscored Washington 15-9 in the first two games of their series, which kicks off a critical 10-game homestand for the team.
Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro highlighted the offensive boost, saying,
“For the offense, it’s great. They build the confidence,”
Quatraro said.
There is a lot to like.
Lugo’s History Against the Nationals and Previous Matchups
Seth Lugo has faced the Nationals 39 times before this series but holds a challenging 1-4 record with a 6.59 ERA in six starts against Washington. His most recent outing against the Nationals came last year with the San Diego Padres, where he allowed three runs over five innings, resulting in a loss.
Nationals Struggling to Maintain Competitive Edge
The Washington Nationals have lost 10 of their last 13 games and have had control issues, surrendering two home runs and issuing six walks in each of their first two matchups against Kansas City. Infielder Paul DeJong, who formerly played for the Royals and has recorded three hits in the series despite going 0-for-7 against Lugo, emphasized the team’s need for cohesion, stating,
“It’s baseball and we got to do a better job of executing as group,”
DeJong said.
There is no magic formula, it’s just kinda feeding off each other.
Upcoming Pitching Duel and Player Matchups
Washington’s scheduled starter Jake Irvin (8-7, 4.90 ERA) looks to avoid his third consecutive loss after surrendering nine runs (eight earned) and 16 hits over his last two starts in August. In his most recent game on Friday, Irvin gave up four runs, three earned, in 5 1/3 innings during a 5-0 defeat at San Francisco.
This appearance will mark Irvin’s first against the Royals, though he has faced some Kansas City players while pitching for other teams. Jonathan India, who hit a two-run homer during the Royals’ 8-5 win on Tuesday, is 1-for-9 against Irvin. Conversely, Irvin has yet to face Vinnie Pasquantino, who launched a three-run homer and tallied five RBIs in Tuesday’s game—the third time this season he has reached five or more RBIs in a single contest.
Key Players Making an Impact in the Series
Washington All-Star James Wood has been a standout for the Nationals, collecting two hits and an RBI on Tuesday and compiling eight hits with seven RBIs over his last four games. Over the stretch from last season through the current campaign, Kansas City holds a dominant 26-13 record while winning five straight against Washington, underscoring their recent success in this matchup.
Significance of the Series for Both Teams
The Royals are working to maintain momentum as they pursue a postseason berth, relying heavily on Lugo to stabilize their pitching rotation. Meanwhile, the Nationals aim to recover from a prolonged slump and improve execution to stay competitive. The upcoming games will be crucial to shaping both teams’ playoff prospects as the American League wild-card race tightens in the closing weeks of the regular season.