Gamethread LIX - Tigers at Royals

Can the Royals take down the Tigers’ ace again?

As May comes to an end and the summer begins to really heat up, the Royals have got to be the most frustrating baseball team in MLB right now. They’re still over .500, still right in the thick of a playoff hunt, they flatly refuse to get swept by other teams, they have a top-three pitching staff, and for weeks they’ve had baserunners all over the place, but they can’t score any runs.

And because they can’t score any runs, they can’t find any sustained success after their incredible hot streak at the beginning of the month.

Skubal was the starter the only time the Royals beat the Tigers in the two teams’ first five matchups. He didn’t pitch poorly, giving up only two runs in five innings, but was forced from the game early by a high pitch count. Perhaps more importantly, that was the beginning of the Royals’ last hot streak. Could he possibly kick off another?

Skubal also struggled against the Royals last year, at least for him. He went 2-2, pitching two games where he allowed only one run, but also had another game where he gave up four runs and one where he gave up six.

Michael Wacha will be pitching for the Royals, same as he did when the Royals defeated Skubal earlier this year. Wacha pitched 5.1 innings of two-run ball in that game, taking a no-decision. In that game, he also struck out five and walked none. In typical 2025 Wacha fashion, he looked unhittable until his opponent began their third time through the order. In that game, manager Matt Quatraro was quick with the hook in the sixth inning, though, and the damage was limited. We’ll have to hope he has the same foresight and determination this afternoon.

Lineups

As expected, Q has loaded his lineup with right-handers, going so far as to even have Dairon Blanco start in center. That’s how dire the offensive issues are for this team right now. I’ve been asking for Maikel Garcia to begin batting cleanup, but not because I wanted Salvador Perez batting third. I can only imagine how difficult a conversation it would be to tell Salvy you want to move him down in the order, and maybe swapping Maikel and Salvy doesn’t seem worth the squeeze. Heaven knows the Royals don’t have a hitter worth bumping Sal down to sixth for, at least not yet.

I just want to watch my team win more games!