The Kansas City Royals are running out of time. If postseason baseball is to be played at Kauffman Stadium for the second straight year, they need to step on the gas pedal.
Every game holds the utmost importance.
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“We’re getting down (to the wire),” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said before Monday evening’s homestand-opening game against the Washington Nationals. “I think we have 44 games left going into tonight. So, you are running out of season.”
The Royals need wins and the 10-game homestand at hand is certainly favorable. KC has three games each against the Nationals and Chicago White Sox this week. Then, they welcome the Texas Rangers to town for four games.
There is opportunity ahead. And on Monday, the Royals pulled out a 7-4 comeback victory over the Nationals at Kauffman Stadium.
Royals team captain Salvador Perez led the way in the sixth inning. He belted a two-run homer off Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli and KC scored four runs in the frame. It was Perez’s 21st home run and the 294th of his illustrious career.
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“Pretty good sixth inning for us to tie the game,” Perez said.
Four batters later, the Royals would take control of the game for good. Kyle Isbel, who came in hitting .333 since the All-Star break, continued his hot streak with a two-run homer of his own.
Isbel has now produced 21 hits, 12 runs and 10 RBIs since the break.
“Isbel’s homer was to take the lead and win the game,” Perez said.
The Nationals couldn’t return serve in the late innings. The Royals’ bullpen shut the door and kept KC close in the American League wild-card race. The Royals (59-60) remain four games behind the New York Yankees (63-56) for the third and final wild-card spot.
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“Every game is critical, obviously,” Isbel said. “We’re at that time of the year and we are hoping to get hot and win a lot of games. And it’s a big homestand coming up and we’ve just gotta keep rolling.”
Bailey Falter makes 2nd start
Falter didn’t have the best introduction to the Royals last week against the Boston Red Sox. He surrendered seven earned runs in four innings at Fenway Park.
He hoped things would be different his next time out. And, sure enough, Falter fared better against the Nationals. In four innings, he allowed two earned runs and three walks and struck out five.
The Nationals stacked five left-handed hitters and a switch-hitter in their lineup. It was a shrewd strategy as lefties were hitting .272 against Falter. But it was actually the switch-hitting Josh Bell — batting right-handed — who did the most damage.
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“Just got to be better, honestly,” Falter said. “Back-to-back rough ones, but glad the boys came in and picked me up, for sure. So it’d be nice to go out there and, you know, pick them up once.”
Royals starting pitcher Bailey Falter works against the Washington Nationals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025.
Bell hit his two-run homer over the left-field wall in the first inning. Falter attempted to sneak an 85 mph slider by him, but Bell was ready for it.
The home run gave the Nationals an early lead and forced the Royals to dig out of a sudden hole.
“I mean, every time I walk a guy, nine times out of 10, they score,” Falter said. “So that’s the most frustrating thing for me. And then, just one bad pitch to Bell — trying to get a cutter in there — and he sees me pretty well. Can’t leave a ball middle to him, a guy like that.”
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Falter recovered to throw three scoreless innings before the Royals turned to their bullpen. He ended his outing by stranding two baserunners in the fourth inning.
Falter earned a no-decision Monday. He threw 43 of his 76 pitches for strikes and registered 34 swings and 11 whiffs.
Bobby Witt Jr. shakes off back stiffness
It didn’t take long for Bobby Witt Jr. to make his mark on Monday.
After sitting out the Royals’ series finale against the Twins on Sunday in Minneapolis, Witt was back in his customary spot in the lineup. And he showed no lingering signs of discomfort while on the field.
“Saturday didn’t feel great overall and so waking up Sunday wasn’t good either,” Witt said. “And so then I was just trying to figure out, ‘Is it gonna get worse,’ or if I can play through it and those type of things.”
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Witt got his answer early in the game. He singled in his first at-bat off Cavalli and later made a stellar defensive play to rob Nationals infielder Luis Garcia of a base hit. Witt raced toward the outfield grass and made a jump-throw. The baseball just beat Garcia to first base.
Both plays eased any concerns about the Royals superstar. Before Monday’s game, Witt completed some pre-game testing and felt better moving around during warmups.
“I was trying to make any awkward play that would maybe mess with something that doesn’t feel right,” Witt said. “And so it all felt fine. I was able to kind of go out there and just kind of play the way I play.”
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He finished 2-for-5 with a pair of singles Monday.
What’s next: The Royals continue their three-game series against the Nationals on Tuesday. Right-handed starter Michael Wacha (6-9, 3.35 ERA) will oppose left-hander Mitchell Parker (7-12, 5.43 ERA) at Kauffman Stadium.