The Kansas City Royals are staring at an important stretch of their season. On Tuesday, the Royals began a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
From there, KC faces a tough stretch against the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers to finish June. Those upcoming three opponents would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.
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Is there urgency?
The playoff teams are far from settled. There are 89 games remaining and the trade deadline is still active. In the same vein, the Royals can’t let losses keep piling up and push them further down the American League carousel.
A line must be drawn in the sand: Are the Royals contenders or is the 2025 campaign a lost cause?
On Tuesday, the Royals took a step towards a potential rebound. Behind All-Star ace Seth Lugo, the Royals earned a 6-1 victory over the Rangers.
It was a complete team effort. In the first inning, the Royals scored three runs against Rangers starter Jack Leiter. Bobby Witt Jr., who returned to his hometown, doubled in his first at-bat. Next, Maikel Garcia drove Witt home with an RBI single.
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Two batters later, Salvador Perez hit his seventh home run. The blast traveled 369 feet over the right-field wall.
“We just look at it like we have to win each and every inning,” Witt said. “We win one inning at a time and we look up after nine innings and like where we’re at. Just keep trying to build good innings, put together good at-bats and play good defense.”
Perez finished 3-for-4 with two homers and four RBIs. It was the 18th multi-homer game of his career — and set a Royals record.
“When you pass a Hall of Famer, now your name is going to be next to his,” Perez said of passing George Brett for multi-homer games. “It’s super exciting for me.”
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) celebrates his two-run home run with third baseman Maikel Garcia (11) against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field on June 17, 2025.
Lugo handled the rest. He allowed one run across six innings. He scattered three hits and added nine strikeouts as the Royals snapped a six-game losing streak.
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“I thought I pitched well,” Lugo said. “I thought I located well, moved the ball around and changed speeds. Feel like I executed the majority of my pitches. So that’s a good night.”
He saved his best work for the sixth inning. The Rangers got two runners aboard with a hit-by-pitch and walk. However, Lugo wasn’t deterred as he struck out Adolis Garcia and Alejandro Osuna to end the threat.
Lugo earned his fourth victory. He mixed in his two fastballs and curveball primarily to keep the Rangers off balance. Lugo registered 45 swings and 14 whiffs, per Baseball Savant.
“Today (the curveball) was sharper than it has been,” Lugo said.
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The Royals (35-38) started the road trip on a high note. Tuesday’s victory marked their first win at Globe Life Field since April 12, 2023.
Bobby Witt Jr. highlights KC win
There is a different feeling being back at home. Bobby Witt Jr. got to enjoy the jolt of energy that comes with playing in front of family and friends.
While his regular season career numbers at Globe Life Field haven’t been great, Witt knows his way around the outfield dimensions. He finished second in the 2024 T-Mobile Home Run Derby and added another homer to his tally Tuesday.
“It was great to check off another ballpark,” Witt said.
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring a run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field on June 17, 2025.
Witt belted his ninth home run off Leiter. It was a line drive that traveled 396 feet and measured at a 22-degree launch angle.
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The Royals, who entered with 46 total home runs, got a major boost from Witt and Perez in the middle of the order. The duo carried the offense last season and will need to do the same in order to get the club back on track.
Witt has nine career hits at Globe Life Field. The fifth-inning homer was his first at the venue in the regular season.
“It’s special and it’s a dream come true,” Witt said. “I grew up going to the other stadium here across the street. But just playing here and hearing the Rangers’ voice, hearing everything, it’s just special playing here.”
What’s next: Left-hander Kris Bubic draws Wednesday’s start against fellow left-hander Patrick Corbin at Globe Life Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. Central.