First Pitch: 7:10 PM CT
Venue: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Capacity: 37,903
Surface: Kentucky Bluegrass
Broadcast: YES Network, Bally Sports Kansas City, MLB.TV
WEATHER REPORT — KAUFFMAN STADIUM (KANSAS CITY, MO)
- Temperature: 79°F at first pitch
- Wind: 8–12 mph in from left field (slight suppression of RH power)
- Humidity: 62%
- Chance of Rain: <10%
- Ballpark Impact: Slightly pitcher‑friendly, especially for fly‑ball hitters; wind blowing in reduces HR carry.
INJURY REPORT
New York Yankees
- Aaron Judge — ACTIVE (rest day Tuesday, fully expected to play)
- Giancarlo Stanton — ACTIVE (hamstring managed)
- Anthony Rizzo — IL (back)
- Carlos Rodón — IL (forearm)
- Jonathan Loáisiga — IL (elbow)
Kansas City Royals
- Bobby Witt Jr. — ACTIVE (minor thumb bruise)
- Vinnie Pasquantino — QUESTIONABLE (shoulder soreness)
- MJ Melendez — IL (oblique)
- Brady Singer — IL (elbow)
- Scott Barlow — IL (lat)
TEAM RECORDS & RECENT FORM
New York Yankees (33–22)
- Last 10 games: 6–4
- Road record: 15–12
- Run differential: +41
- Strength: Elite rotation, top‑tier power, strong bullpen
- Weakness: Middle‑order streakiness
The Yankees have won 4 of their last 5 and are trending upward behind dominant starting pitching.
Kansas City Royals (22–33)
- Last 10 games: 3–7
- Home record: 12–15
- Run differential: –37
- Strength: Speed, defense, top‑end talent (Witt Jr.)
- Weakness: Starting pitching depth, bullpen inconsistency
Kansas City has dropped 6 of its last 8 and is struggling to keep games close.
STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP
Gerrit Cole — RHP, Yankees
- 2026 ERA: 2.91
- WHIP: 1.07
- K/BB: 4.9
- Last 3 starts: 20.1 IP, 5 ER, 26 K
- Pitch mix: 97 mph 4‑seam, slider, knuckle‑curve, change
Cole has been in peak form, dominating hitters with elite command and swing‑and‑miss stuff. His fastball has been particularly sharp, generating a 31% whiff rate.
Concern: Royals are a good fastball‑hitting team, especially Witt Jr. and Garcia.
Alec Cameron — RHP, Royals
- 2026 ERA: 4.68
- WHIP: 1.34
- K/BB: 2.6
- Last 3 starts: 15.0 IP, 9 ER, 12 K
- Pitch mix: 94 mph sinker, slider, change
Cameron has shown flashes but struggles with command and hard contact. His sinker tends to flatten when elevated.
Concern: Yankees crush sinkers and have multiple RH power bats who feast on mistakes.
KEY PLAYER MATCHUPS
1. Aaron Judge (NYY) vs. Alec Cameron
- Judge vs sinkers: .330 AVG, .680 SLG
- Cameron’s sinker is his weakest pitch
- Judge has 4 HR in his last 7 games
Edge: Yankees
2. Bobby Witt Jr. (KC) vs. Gerrit Cole
- Witt vs 95+ mph fastballs: .305 AVG
- Cole’s fastball is elite, but Witt handles velocity well
- Witt has 3 HR in his last 10 games
Edge: Even
3. Juan Soto (NYY) vs. KC Bullpen
- Soto has a .420 OBP in May
- Royals bullpen ERA last 10 games: 5.41
Edge: Yankees
4. Salvador Perez (KC) vs. Cole’s Slider
- Perez struggles vs high‑spin sliders
- Cole’s slider is generating a 41% whiff rate
Edge: Yankees
SERIES HISTORY
- 2026 season series: Yankees lead 2–0
- Last 20 meetings: Yankees 15, Royals 5
- At Kauffman Stadium since 2023: Yankees 10–4
- Average runs per game: 9.0
New York has dominated this matchup for years.
BETTING TRENDS
New York Yankees
- 7–3 last 10 games
- 6–1 last 7 vs teams under .500
- Under is 5–2 in last 7 Cole starts
Kansas City Royals
- 3–7 last 10 games
- 2–6 last 8 home games
- Over is 4–1 in last 5 games
Head‑to‑Head
- Yankees are 8–2 in last 10 meetings
- Road team is 5–2 in last 7
- Over is 6–3 in last 9 matchups
Game Odds
New York Yankees – 177
Kansas City Royals 9
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, May 26, 2026
