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Cubs vs. Royals Preview: Hidden Storylines You Can’t Miss
The Kansas City Royals’ 2026 Season: A Rollercoaster That Went Off the Rails
Quick Summary for Busy Readers
The Royals entered 2026 hoping to compete after two winning seasons. Instead, injuries destroyed their pitching staff, the offense sputtered, and they’re now finishing the year as one of the worst teams in baseball. Superstar Bobby Witt Jr. is the lone bright spot.
How We Got Here: The Preseason Plan
After back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in ten years, Kansas City had real hope. The front office believed pitching depth would be a strength. They kept their best starters — Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo — instead of trading them at the deadline, betting those arms would help them win in 2027.
The plan made sense on paper. Then reality hit.
What Went Wrong: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
1. The Offense Never Got Going
- Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez — two key bats — struggled badly out of the gate.
- The team fell into an early hole and never climbed out.
2. The Pitching Staff Collapsed
Come summer, the injury bug didn’t just bite — it devoured the rotation and bullpen:
| Pitcher | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Kris Bubic | Starter | Significant injury |
| Cole Ragans | Starter | Significant injury |
| Carlos Estévez | Reliever | Significant injury |
| Ryan Bergert | Reliever | Significant injury |
| Stephen Kolek | Reliever | Significant injury |
| Luinder Ávila | Reliever | Significant injury |
| Nick Mears | Reliever | Significant injury |
Important Point
Losing seven pitchers to major injuries in one season is nearly unprecedented. The "depth" the Royals counted on vanished overnight.
3. The Deadline Decision That Divided Fans
- Fans wanted: Trade Wacha and Lugo while their value was high → get prospects for 2027+
- Front office did: Kept both pitchers → argued they’re needed to compete next year
- Result: No reinforcements arrived. The team played out the string with a depleted staff.
4. Scraping the Barrel for Arms
With the rotation and bullpen in shambles, Kansas City tried everything:
- Randy Dobnak (ex-Twins starter): 1.16 ERA in 4 starts — a genuine surprise!
- Steven Cruz (hard-thrower): Looks like the closer of the future
- Daniel Lynch IV & John Schreiber: Useful relievers
- Everyone else? "Has-beens and never-weres" held together by "duct tape"
Stat Alert
This may be one of the worst bullpens in franchise history.
The One Shining Light: Bobby Witt Jr.
Despite a back injury that sidelined him briefly, Witt returned and picked up right where he left off:
- One of the best seasons ever by a player on a last-place team
- Offensive numbers slightly down from 2025, but still elite
- Leads the American League in:
- Steals (speed on the basepaths)
- Outs Above Average (defensive greatness at shortstop)
ELI5: What is "Outs Above Average"?
It’s a stat that measures how many extra outs a fielder makes compared to an average player. Leading the league means Witt is arguably the best defensive shortstop in baseball right now.
The Young Hitters: Good News, Bad Context
The Royals pinned hopes on two top prospects:
- Jac Caglianone → Solid season
- Carter Jensen → Solid season
But the offense still stinks. Why?
- The lineup is paper-thin after the top few guys
- Rest of the roster filled with "Quad-A players" (guys too good for Triple-A, not good enough for the majors)
One pleasant surprise:
Michael Massey (Chicago native, Brother Rice High School grad) has turned a corner at the plate, adding pop at second base.
Playing Out the String: The Ugly Truth
This team isn’t just losing — they’re beating themselves:
| Problem | Description |
|---|---|
| Baserunning blunders | Poor decisions, running into outs |
| RISP struggles | Can’t hit with Runners In Scoring Position |
| Blown leads | Bullpen meltdowns turn wins into losses |
Bottom Line
The Royals are playing out the string — finishing a lost season with nothing left to play for but pride.
What This Means for the Cubs Series
The Chicago Cubs are visiting Kansas City. Given the Royals’ current state:
- Cubs should take the series
- A sweep is a very real possibility
- Kansas City has no reliable pitching, a fragile offense, and a habit of self-sabotage
Summary: The 2026 Royals in a Nutshell
| Category | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Preseason Expectations | Contend for playoffs |
| Reality | Last place, historic bullpen futility |
| Biggest Culprit | Catastrophic pitching injuries (7+ key arms) |
| Front Office Move | Stood pat at deadline — controversial |
| Lone Superstar | Bobby Witt Jr. (MVP-caliber on a 100-loss team) |
| Future Hope | Young hitters developing, Cruz emerging, Dobnak surprise |
| 2027 Outlook | Depends entirely on health + offseason moves |
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
Why didn’t the Royals trade Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo?
The front office believes keeping them gives Kansas City a rotation foundation for 2027. They’d rather compete next year than stockpile prospects for a farther-off rebuild.
What is a "Quad-A" player?
A player who dominates Triple-A (AAA) but can’t sustain success in the majors. They’re "stuck between levels" — too good for the minors, not quite good enough for The Show.
Is Bobby Witt Jr. wasted on this team?
Statistically, yes — he’s putting up historic numbers on a losing team. But his prime aligns with the Royals’ next competitive window (2027+), so the front office views him as a cornerstone, not a trade chip.
Can the bullpen be fixed for 2027?
Yes — but it requires an offseason overhaul. The "duct tape" approach failed. Expect Kansas City to spend heavily on relievers and hope injured arms (Bubic, Ragans, Estévez) return healthy.
Should Royals fans be optimistic or worried?
Both.
Optimism: Witt is elite, young hitters are hitting, Cruz/Dobnak emerged.
Worry: Pitching infrastructure collapsed, deadline inaction risky, 2027 hinges on health + spending.
Final Thought
2026 was a perfect storm of bad luck and questionable choices. The Royals’ window isn’t closed — but the margin for error just got razor-thin. If the pitching comes back healthy and the front office spends wisely, 2027 could still be special. If not? This "contention window" might shut before it fully opens.
