Major League Baseball’s regular season is well underway; after months of waiting, fans can now watch their favorite teams’ games count in the standings. The Kansas City Royals have got off to a sluggish start, sitting 5-7 in an American League Central Division that appears to be up for grabs.
Just like spring training, but now with statistics that count, let’s take a look at who is off to a hot start and who is still looking to find their stride.
Who’s Hot? 🔥
Wacha has looked brilliant to open the 2026 campaign. In two starts, Wacha is 1-0 with an ERA of 0.69 and a WHIP of 0.77. The veteran right-hander has struck out 10 batters across 13 innings, turning in two quality starts, first against the Atlanta Braves, then against division rival the Cleveland Guardians.
In Wacha’s last start on Monday against the Guardians, the 34-year-old went seven innings, allowing only one run on three hits, striking out three and walking three. Wacha’s lone blemish of the night was a third-inning, solo home run allowed to Steven Kwan.
The Royals’ rotation has a chance to be one of the best in the A.L., and Wacha has done his part in getting the group off to a strong start. Going into Cleveland for a divisional matchup is always a difficult task, but Wacha did his job to take the first of 13 meetings between the two clubs.
The Royals’ offense really needs Jensen’s bat to be a force in 2026. After hitting three home runs across 60 at-bats last season, Jensen has already matched that total through his first 26 at-bats during the 2026 campaign. Through 11 games this season, Jensen is batting .226 with three home runs and six RBIs.
The left-handed batting catcher blasted home runs in back-to-back games to open the series against the Guardians, breaking a tie with his home runs on both occasions. Jensen’s underlying numbers back up his strong start, finding himself in the 96th percentile with an average exit velocity of 94.6 and 86th percentile for hard-hit %.
Jensen’s three home runs are currently good for the team lead on the Royals through the club’s first 12 games.
After struggling through much of spring training, Mears has opened the regular season with five shutout appearances. In five innings, Mears has picked up one hold and struck out five batters, looking like the pitcher they hoped they were acquiring in an offseason trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.
In the five appearances, Mears has allowed two hits and two walks, giving himself a WHIP of 0.80 in the season’s early weeks, while also holding opposing batters to an average of .133. As a few of the other Royals relievers struggle to find their footing in April, Mears has given the bullpen a boost through the opening two and a half weeks.
Who’s Not? 🧊
Schreiber had a difficult spring training, and it appears those struggles have carried over into the early portion of the regular season. In five games, Schreiber has gone 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA and a 2.31 WHIP.
The right-hander has allowed five hits and five walks in his 4 ⅓ innings, struggling with command, one of the strengths in Schreiber’s game from a season ago. Last year, Schreiber appeared in a team-high 74 games, pitching to a record of 3-3 with a 3.80 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and walking only 19 batters in his 64 innings.
It’s still very early, and relievers only need a few outings to get back on track, but Schreiber’s FIP of 8.43 is a concerning development for the 32-year-old Schreiber, who has a career FIP of 3.63 and is being counted on for high-leverage innings out of the bullpen.
Thomas, who was signed by the Royals during the offseason to a one-year, $5.25 million contract, has struggled to find his footing in the early portion of the 2026 campaign with his new club.
Through nine games, Thomas is batting .105 with a .292 OBP, recording only two hits and one RBI across 17 at-bats. The Royals’ offense could really use Thomas to become a consistent power threat in their lineup as the club hunts for a better offense than the one showcased in 2025.
With a divisional matchup with the Chicago White Sox slated to begin on Thursday, Thomas has the opportunity to face Anthony Kay, Davis Martin, and Erick Fedde in the first three games, all pitchers who have career ERAs over 4.00, which could help get the 30-year-old back on track.
Perez has struggled out of the gate, turning in a slash line of .156/.224/.333 through 12 games played. The 35-year-old catcher has recorded seven hits across 45 at-bats, blasting two home runs and two RBIs.
The most recent series in Cleveland was a struggle for the Royals captain. The nine-time All-Star failed to record a hit over 11 at-bats. The one bright spot so far in 2026 has been Perez’s limited strikeouts, as the catcher finds himself in the top six percent of MLB with an 11.1 strikeout percentage.
Perez has been such a consistent force in the Royals’ lineup for his whole career, and the Royals are banking on him putting together another strong year as they look to return to playoff baseball.