2024-10-08 17:50:04
The American League Division Series shifts venues to Kauffman Stadium for Wednesday’s Game 3. And after a week-plus spent handling their postseason business while living out of suitcases, the Royals can’t wait to enjoy some home cooking.
“We’re looking forward to getting back to the K, seeing the fans there,” said left-hander Cole Ragans. “It’s going to be fun to have playoff baseball back in Kansas City. A split [in New York] is huge. It’s basically like a brand-new series when we get to the K.”
The best-of-five ALDS is now reduced to a best-of-three, thanks to Kansas City’s 4-2 victory in Monday’s Game 2. While that sent the Royals on a happy flight home, the Yankees aren’t about to roll over after notching an AL-best 94 wins during the regular season.
“That’s what we’ve been showing all year long,” said Juan Soto. “I think we can do that in any moment. I think as a team, we’ve been doing that stuff since Day 1. I have confidence in my guys coming up behind me and in front of me, our starting rotation, our bullpen, everybody. We know what we’ve got.”
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 3 of the ALDS will be played on Wednesday at 7:08 p.m. ET/6:08 p.m. CT. It can be seen on TBS, truTV and Max.
All games are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV (authentication to a participating Pay TV provider is required). Live games are also available in select countries outside the U.S. For full details, click here.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Yankees: Clarke Schmidt will make his first career postseason start (fourth appearance) after pitching to a 5-5 record and 2.85 ERA in 16 starts this season. Schmidt’s campaign was interrupted by a right lat strain, but he returned in early September and pitched to a 3.65 ERA over his final five starts. Schmidt did not face the Royals this season.
Royals: Seth Lugo takes the ball in Game 3 and will look to build on his first postseason start in the Wild Card Series, when he allowed one run in 4 1/3 innings against the Orioles. Lugo brings a 3.00 regular-season ERA into the postseason as Kansas City’s No. 2 starter, and he posted a 3.36 ERA at Kauffman Stadium this year in his first season as a Royal. With the Royals playing their first home postseason game this year and first since 2015, they like their chances with the veteran Lugo on the mound, especially after he allowed just four runs in 14 innings this year across two starts against the Yankees.
What are the starting lineups?
Yankees: With Kansas City starting the right-handed Lugo, look for the Yanks to field a similar lineup to the one they used against Michael Wacha in Game 1.
Royals: The Yankees are going back to a righty starter in Schmidt, so look for the Royals to revert back to the lineup they’ve stuck with for the majority of games this October. Hunter Renfroe and Tommy Pham have both faced Schmidt only a few times in their careers, and Renfroe has the better results, but Pham’s at-bats so far this series might give him the edge.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Yankees: The Bombers ‘pen should be fully stocked once again thanks to Tuesday’s off-day. In Game 2, Clay Holmes and Tommy Kahnle saw the heaviest workloads, though they each threw only 19 pitches. The Yanks’ bullpen combined to toss 5 1/3 scoreless innings.
Royals: The Royals keep going back to the same relievers, but they should still be available in Game 3 thanks to Tuesday’s off-day. Kris Bubic threw just 22 pitches across two scoreless innings Monday, and he hadn’t thrown since last Wednesday. So he should be fine to go again, as will closer Lucas Erceg, who threw 14 pitches on Monday in the ninth inning.
Any injuries of note?
Yankees: The Yanks made it through Game 2 without incident. Anthony Rizzo (two fractured fingers on right hand) and left-hander Nestor Cortes (left elbow flexor strain) aren’t likely to be back until a potential AL Championship Series at the earliest. Infielder DJ LeMahieu (right hip impingement) is also trying to be a playoff option.
Royals: No new injuries occurred for the Royals in Game 2, so they should be good to go for Game 3. Their injured relievers, Will Smith and Chris Stratton, were left off the postseason roster but are continuing their rehab programs with the team to stay ready in case they’re needed.
Who is hot and who is not?
Yankees: Torres has been getting on base through the first two ALDS games, working two walks in each contest. Wells has hit safely in his first two postseason games. Judge went 1-for-3 with a walk but is just 9-for-63 (.143) with three homers and 24 strikeouts in his past 16 postseason games.
Royals: The offense is finally heating up after a cold streak at the end of the regular season and into October, but the Royals need their stars to get going: Witt and Pasquantino have yet to record a hit in the ALDS. Perez mashed a home run in Game 2, so he could be getting on a roll again. In Witt and Pasquantino’s absence, Kansas City’s role players are stepping up. Garcia recorded a four-hit night on Monday. Garrett Hampson might be earning the nickname Mr. October soon with three RBIs in two games so far. The Royals will need everybody to step up if they’re going to out-hit the Yankees.
Anything else fans might want to know?
• The Royals haven’t played a game at Kauffman Stadium since Sept. 22, when they concluded an 0-6 homestand against the Tigers and Giants. A lot has happened since that point, and now they’ll return home for their first postseason game at The K since 2015.
• Kansas City and New York played seven games this season, with the Yankees winning five. The Yanks won three of four at Kansas City from June 10-13, denied a sweep by Garcia’s two-run walk-off double off Holmes. The Yanks took two of three in the Bronx from Sept. 9-11, including Chisholm’s walk-off 11th-inning single in the series finale.
• Overall, the Yankees were 24-7 against the AL Central this season, a group that includes the three remaining AL playoff teams (Royals, Tigers, Guardians).
