The two-run shot in the eighth inning against Texas on Tuesday night merely padded the lead for Kansas City, which went on to a 5-2 victory. It was the fifth straight win for the Royals, who closed to within 2 1/2 games of an AL wild-card berth and are within nine games of the first-place Tigers in the AL Central.

Bobby Witt Jr. has hit his 100th career home run, making him the youngest player in Kansas City Royals history to reach that milestone.

The Kansas City Royals scratched veteran Salvador Perez, who was supposed to catch for starter Michael Wacha and bat fifth in the lineup, from the starting lineup of their series opener against the Texas Rangers on Monday night because of an illness.

The Texas Rangers scored two runs while the Kansas City Royals scored five runs.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Mark Canha returned from an injury-rehabilitation assignment on Monday and was then designated for assignment, the club announced before its series-opening home game against the Texas Rangers. Canha, 36, was recovering from a left-elbow injury. He had been on the injury list since June 8, missing 32 major-league games.

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) throws to first base after forcing out Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) in the fourth inning at Progressive Field on April 12, 2025.

When he hit his 20th home run of the season earlier this week, Kansas City Royals legend Salvador Perez continued to move up an impressive list in baseball history, as noted by Bob Nightengale of USA Today: He just set a franchise record with his ninth season hitting at least 20 homers,

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kris Bubic gripped a baseball in his left hand and brought his hands together, coming set in the eighth inning Wednesday as he let out a heavy exhale. He bent at the waist.

Jaylon Thompson covers the Royals for The Kansas City Star. He previously covered the 2021 World Series and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

When the Rangers arrived in Kansas City on Sunday night, they knew how big of a week it was -- four games at Kauffman Stadium and then another three at home against the Guardians, two of the three tea