The Royals were shut out 4-0 by the Rays on June 26, 2025, getting swept in Tampa. Shane Baz dominated as the Royals' offensive collapse continued. Read more.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's hard to find the words, Royals fans. Another game, another shutout. The Kansas City Royals were swept out of Tampa Bay on Thursday, falling 4-0 to the Rays in a game that felt like a painful rerun. For the second consecutive day, the offense was completely neutralized, capping a miserable series where the team scored just a single run over three games and now faces a daunting series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Royals have gone 14-27 since starting the season 24-16, the third-worst mark in MLB during that span.
Thursday's 4-0 loss felt particularly deflating. Rays starter Shane Baz was simply masterful, carving up the Royals' lineup for a career-best eight innings. He scattered just three hits and struck out nine, making a struggling offense look completely lost. The game remained scoreless until the sixth inning when Tampa Bay broke it open with back-to-back home runs from Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero off Royals starter Michael Lorenzen. Lorenzen took the loss, but it's hard to win when your team can't score. A couple of ninth-inning singles from Jonathan India and Vinnie Pasquantino provided a flicker of life, but it was quickly extinguished by a game-ending double play, a fitting end to a frustrating series.
This isn't just a bad series; it's a trend that has completely derailed the season. Remember that exhilarating 24-16 start? It feels like a lifetime ago. Over their last 41 games, the Royals have posted a dismal 14-27 record. The team has plummeted to 38-42, now sitting third in the AL Central and watching their postseason hopes fade with each silent inning. The lack of timely hitting has become the team's unfortunate identity, and the front office has to be searching for answers.
There's no time to dwell on the sweep, as the formidable Los Angeles Dodgers roll into town for a weekend series starting Friday. The unenviable task of playing stopper falls to rookie left-hander Noah Cameron. In a season of disappointments, Cameron has been a bright spot, posting an impressive 2-3 record with a sparkling 2.08 ERA. He'll face off against the Dodgers' Dustin May (4-5, 4.46 ERA). It's a massive test for the young pitcher, who will need some semblance of run support to have a chance. With no recent trades or roster moves, the current lineup will be tasked with finding a way to wake up the bats.
The Royals are at a crossroads. A brutal sweep has exposed a deeply flawed offense, and now one of the league's premier teams is coming to Kauffman Stadium. All eyes will be on rookie Noah Cameron to see if he can deliver a much-needed ace-like performance, but the real question is whether this lineup can finally break its silence. This weekend series against the Dodgers feels like more than just a few games; it feels like a test of this team's resolve.
