KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals just keep on winning. Hot since the All-Star break, the Royals on Monday evening defeated the Texas Rangers 4-3 to open a series at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City’s winning streak is now at four games and the team is 6-1 on its current homestand.

The Twins came out swinging against Royals ace Seth Lugo. They were aggressive in the strike zone and made Lugo work from pitch one. Twins outfielder Matt Wallner tied the score with a solo home run as Minnesota responded with three runs in the first inning.

Perez has still been a solid offensive presence for the Royals even as he enters the latter stages of his career. He was selected to back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2023–24 (marking his eighth and ninth career selections) and also added a fifth Silver Slugger Award last year.

Royals right fielder Mike Yastrzemski matched a Major League Baseball record that was done by a Hall of Famer.

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.

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.

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.

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,

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.

The Kansas City Royals are good for baseball, and not just because they’re a small market team vying for a postseason spot or because Bobby Witt Jr. is one of the game’s brightest young stars.

The return of Cole Ragans from the injured list could change the entire dynamic of the American League playoff race. Ragans, the Kansas City Royals' opening day