Seth Lugo is looking to regain his pitching form for the Kansas City Royals as they prepare to host the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. The Royals aim to extend their winning streak to five games, while the Rangers are grappling with a nine-loss slide in their last eleven contests. Lugo’s performance is crucial in this showdown, which could impact both teams‘ pursuit of a wild-card spot in the American League.
Recent Pitching Woes and Past Success Against Texas
After signing a two-year extension worth around $46 million in late July, Lugo had maintained a 2.95 ERA. Since then, however, his form has declined sharply; in four starts he is 1-1 with an 8.84 ERA. Over his past two games alone, he has surrendered 13 earned runs and 26 hits, including six home runs, lasting only eight innings total. His last start featured a grand slam against Washington, contributing to an 8-7 loss at home.
Lugo acknowledged the difficulties outright: “Pretty bad,” he said. “Just need to execute better.”
Despite current struggles, Lugo has shown he can perform well against the Rangers. On June 17, he pitched six innings, allowing just one run and striking out nine during Kansas City’s 6-1 victory at Texas. Overall, in two appearances against the Rangers, Lugo holds a 1-0 record and a 1.29 ERA, highlighting the potential for a rebound.
Royals’ Offense Fueled by Power Hitters During Strong Homestand
Kansas City kicked off the four-game series with a 4-3 win on Monday, improving their record to 4-0 against Texas this season. The Royals have thrived at home, currently 6-1 on a 10-game homestand and boasting 40 home runs over their last 26 games. Key offensive contributors include Mike Yastrzemski, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Maikel Garcia, each of whom launched home runs in the opener.
Garcia emphasized the team’s mindset in these crucial contests:
“When you’re playing against those teams that are fighting for a spot in the playoffs, it doesn’t matter, because you want to go out and beat them,”
he told FanDuel Sports Network.
Yastrzemski, who was acquired from San Francisco before the trade deadline, has been particularly effective against the Rangers’ Merrill Kelly. He is 10-for-46 against Kelly, with four home runs among those hits.
Rangers’ Merrill Kelly Faces Challenges, Looks to Regain Winning Form
Merrill Kelly, who joined Texas from Arizona, has struggled to find his footing with the Rangers. In three starts, he has yet to register a win and carries a 4.50 ERA. His most recent quality start came against his former team, the Diamondbacks, where he allowed two runs over six innings but was denied a victory after a late ninth-inning rally by Arizona.
Kelly has surrendered three home runs in his last two outings, while Rangers pitching overall has given up 21 homers over their last eight games, including at least one in each contest during that span. His return to face the Royals marks his debut appearance against Kansas City as a Texas player, underscoring the importance of turning around his season.
Teams Confront Urgency Amid Playoff Push
Texas manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged his team’s current struggles but stressed the importance of persistence:
“We’re in a rut. We’ll come out (Tuesday) and keep grinding. We know how important these games are.”
Corey Seager has recently improved his hitting, tallying three hits on Monday and five over the last two games, after a slump. However, he has only managed one hit in six at-bats against Lugo. On the Kansas City side, star catcher Salvador Perez is expected to return to the lineup after missing Monday’s game due to illness.
Impact of the Game on Playoff Aspirations
As the Royals aim to solidify their position with a fifth consecutive win, Lugo’s ability to bounce back will be instrumental. Meanwhile, the Rangers, struggling to halt their slide, lean on Kelly to deliver stronger pitching performances. This matchup not only carries immediate implications for the series but also plays a vital role in the teams’ efforts to secure a playoff berth in the highly competitive American League.