The series is on the line on the north side.
The team of monarchs from Kansas City will take on the team of small bears from Chicago this afternoon at Wrigley Field. The series is on the line today as the teams split the first two matchups.
Seth Lugo will start for the Royals. On the surface, Lugo has been just as effective this season as he was in his Cy Young runner-up 2024 campaign, posting a 2.94 ERA in 18 starts. However, his FIP and xERA are around a full run higher than last year as he has surrendered far more hard contact and seen his home run rate double. He has allowed two homers in each of his last two starts, which came against weak lineups in Pittsburgh and Miami. He’ll have his work cut out for him against a powerful Cubs offense. Lugo last faced Chicago four days shy of a year ago, allowing six runs in 6.1 innings.
The Cubs will counter with Colin Rea. Rea’s 3.80 ERA in 97 innings this season is the best mark of his career, but his peripherals are roughly in line with his career rates. He doesn’t miss many bats and has been prone to home runs — this is particularly true at Wrigley Field, where he has surrendered 11 homers in 57.1 innings this season. He throws a four-seamer about 45% of the time and will also mix in a splitter, slider, curveball, sweeper, sinker, and cutter. Rea last faced Kansas City last May as a member of the Brewers, allowing four runs in 4.2 innings.
For the first time this season, Bobby Witt Jr. is not in the starting lineup. Maikel Garcia slides over to shortstop while Tyler Tolbert will make his first start of the season at third base. Jonathan India will also begin this game on the bench, with Adam Frazier taking his usual place in the leadoff spot as the second baseman.
First pitch: 1:20 pm CDT
Royals lineup
Finale at the Friendly Confines.