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Cubs vs. Royals: Who Wins This Crucial Series?
The Kansas City Royals’ 2026 Season: How a Promising Year Turned Into a Disaster
TL;DR The Royals entered 2026 hoping to compete for the playoffs after two straight winning seasons. Instead, injuries destroyed their pitching, the offense sputtered, and the team is now finishing the year with a patched-together roster. Bobby Witt Jr. is the only superstar keeping things slightly interesting.
The Plan: "This Is Our Year"
After back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2015–2016, the Royals weren’t just hoping to be decent in 2026—they genuinely believed they could contend for a playoff spot.
Think of it like a kid who finally made the varsity team after two years of practice. They didn’t just want to sit on the bench. They wanted to start.
Where It All Went Wrong (Right From Game 1)
The season didn’t slowly fall apart. It tripped at the starting line.
The Offense Couldn’t Hit Water If It Fell Out of a Boat
Two of their most important hitters—Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez—had terrible starts.
- Pasquantino: Expected to be a middle-of-the-order masher. Wasn’t.
- Perez: The longtime heart of the team, aging but still supposed to produce. Didn’t.
When your two big bats go cold, the whole lineup freezes. The Royals dug an early hole and never climbed out.
The Pitching Staff: From Strength to Shambles
IMPORTANT POINT
The Royals thought pitching depth was their superpower. It became their Achilles’ heel.
The Injury List That Keeps Growing
By summer, the rotation and bullpen were held together by hope and ice packs. Seven key pitchers went down with significant injuries:
| Pitcher | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Kris Bubic | Starter | Out |
| Cole Ragans | Starter | Out |
| Carlos Estévez | Reliever/Closer | Out |
| Ryan Bergert | Reliever | Out |
| Stephen Kolek | Reliever | Out |
| Luinder Avila | Starter | Out |
| Nick Mears | Reliever | Out |
That’s not a bad week. That’s a mass casualty event.
The Trade Deadline Dilemma: Sell or Hold?
Fans screamed: "Trade Michael Wacha! Trade Seth Lugo! Get prospects for 2027!"
Both were having good seasons. Both were on expiring contracts.
Classic "sell high" candidates.
But the front office said no. Their reasoning:
- Keeping Wacha and Lugo gives us a head start on 2027.
- We still think we can compete next year.
- Trading them signals giving up—and we’re not there yet.
Critics called it stubbornness. The front office called it vision.
Time will tell who’s right.
Scraping the Barrel: The "Duct Tape" Rotation
With seven pitchers gone, the Royals had to turn over every rock to find arms.
The Surprising Finds
| Player | Background | 2026 Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Randy Dobnak | Former Twins starter, was out of MLB | 1.16 ERA in 4 starts |
| Steven Cruz | Hard-throwing reliever | Emerging as future closer |
| Daniel Lynch IV | Former starter, moved to pen | Useful reliever |
| John Schreiber | Veteran journeyman | Solid bullpen piece |
The Rest? "Has-Beens and Never-Weres"
IMPORTANT POINT
Outside those four, the bullpen has been one of the worst in franchise history.
The staff is literally held together by duct tape and prayer.
The One Bright Light: Bobby Witt Jr.
If you watch one Royals game this year, watch Bobby Witt Jr.
He’s Having a Historic Season… on a Last-Place Team
- Returned this week from a back injury
- Picked up right where he left off
- Leads the American League in:
- Steals (speed )
- Outs Above Average (defensive metric = he’s a wizard at shortstop )
- Offensive numbers slightly down from 2025, but still elite
Fun Fact: It’s rare for a player on a 100-loss team to be this good. Witt is basically carrying a backpack full of bricks and still winning the race.
The Offense: Good Pieces, Broken Puzzle
The Royals bet on two young hitters to carry the lineup:
- Jac Caglianone (1st round pick, two-way star in college)
- Carter Jensen (catcher of the future)
Both have been solid.
The offense still stinks.
Why?
- The lineup is thin — after Witt, Caglianone, Jensen, and a few others, it drops off a cliff.
- They’ve filled spots with "Quad-A" players — guys too good for Triple-A, not good enough for MLB.
- Michael Massey (Chicago native, Brother Rice HS grad ) has turned a corner at second base — nice pop, good defense. But one guy can’t fix a lineup.
Playing Out the String: The Ugly Stuff
"Playing out the string" = going through the motions because the season is over.
The Royals are doing all the little things wrong:
- Poor baserunning — getting thrown out, missing signs
- Can’t hit with runners in scoring position (RISP) — the clutch gene is missing
- Blowing leads — the bullpen gives up late runs constantly
It’s not just losing. It’s sloppy losing.
What This Means for the Cubs Series
The Chicago Cubs are coming to town (or the Royals are going there — either way).
The Verdict:
The Cubs should take this series. They should aim for a sweep.
Why?
- Cubs have playoff hopes. Royals have pride and Bobby Witt Jr.
- Royals’ pitching is a MASH unit.
- Royals’ offense can’t string hits together.
- Royals make mental mistakes that good teams feast on.
Unless Witt goes 5-for-5 with 3 steals and a walk-off homer every game… Cubs in 3.
Summary: The 2026 Royals in a Nutshell
| Area | Status |
|---|---|
| Preseason Expectations | Contend for playoffs |
| Reality | Last place, 100+ loss pace |
| Biggest Disappointment | Pitching injuries (7 key arms lost) |
| Biggest Controversy | Didn’t trade Wacha/Lugo at deadline |
| Best Player | Bobby Witt Jr. (MVP-caliber on a bad team) |
| Best Story | Randy Dobnak’s resurrection (1.16 ERA!) |
| Offense | Thin, RISP struggles, too many Quad-A guys |
| Defense | Elite at SS (Witt), otherwise average |
| 2027 Outlook | Depends on health + what they do with Wacha/Lugo |
FAQ: Your Burning Questions, Answered Simply
1. What does "Quad-A player" mean?
A player who dominates Triple-A (AAA) but can’t hack it in the majors. They’re stuck in between — too good for the minors, not good enough for The Show.
2. What is "Outs Above Average" (OAA)?
A Statcast defensive metric. It measures how many extra outs a fielder makes compared to an average player at that position. Witt leads the AL — meaning he’s the best defensive shortstop in the league by the numbers.
3. Why didn’t they trade Wacha and Lugo?
The front office believes:
- They can re-sign them this winter.
- Keeping them helps win in 2027.
- Trading them would’ve been a white flag on the future.
Critics say: You lost 100 games. The future is now.
4. Who is Randy Dobnak and why should I care?
A former Twins starter who fell out of baseball. Signed as a minor league free agent. Called up in desperation. 1.16 ERA in 4 starts. He’s the feel-good story of the year — like finding a $20 bill in old jeans.
5. Is Bobby Witt Jr. going to get traded?
Almost certainly not. He’s signed long-term, he’s the face of the franchise, and the Royals are building around him. Trading him would be like the Cubs trading Ernie Banks. Not happening.
Final Thought:
2026 was supposed to be the payoff year.
Instead, it became a case study in how fast things break.
But hey — Witt is still 24, Dobnak is a miracle, and 2027 is a blank page.
Royals fans: keep the faith. The duct tape comes off eventually.
