Chicago CubsvsKansas City Royals
CHC 3/KC 6
Things to say
The Royals beat the Cubs 6-3 at Kauffman Stadium.
01
opener
Royals took it 6-3 at home. Kansas City jumped on them early and never really gave it back. Chicago's a way better team on paper, so that one stings for the Cubs.
02
key player
The heart of the KC order carried it — the middle of that lineup left the yard and drove in most of the six. Cubs pitching just couldn't get into their stuff.
03
hot take
Cubs are 68-50 and dropping this one to a 49-69 club? That's a lineup coasting. You don't lose to Kansas City in August if you're serious about October.
04
deep cut
The real tell was the bullpen. Cubs went to the pen too early and it unraveled fast — once the starter came out, the game flipped.
05
exit
Getaway day for the Cubs, so we'll see if they wake up before the next series. Long season, right?
The recap
The Royals took care of business at home, knocking off the Cubs 6-3 in a game Chicago probably expected to have in the bag. Kansas City's a last-place club, but they got the bats going against a Cubs staff that couldn't slam the door, and the bullpen held the line late to keep the lead safe.
That's a rough one for a Cubs team sitting comfortably over .500 — you don't want to drop games like this to a team 20 under. Getaway-day baseball, and the underdog left the yard with the win.