Kansas City Royals Make Lineup Change Amid Losing Skid

As June approaches, it is no secret that the Kansas City Royals have fallen much shorter than their expectations two months into the season. Competing in a weak American League Central, the team still finds themselves well under .500, suddenly at a period where margin for error gets much slimmer.

The sentiment echoed incredibly louder when they were swept by the New York Yankees at home earlier this week. Not only does getting swept feel like a blow, but it does so at an especially greater rate when the Royals get outscored by a whopping 26-4 total over the three games.

Change is needed now for Kansas City, who own a record of 22-34. Royals manager Matt Quatraro seemingly thinks the same, as he is hoping for something more with a significant batting order shuffle that may ruffle the way things look going forward.

Ahead of Friday’s game against the Texas Rangers, the Royals announced a lineup that differentiates from what they’d trot out normally. Facing left-hander Mackenzie Gore, it’s no surprise to see Lane Thomas’ bat in the order — but it is to see it in the leadoff spot.

Maikel Garcia, the Royals’ primary leadoff guy, was slotted to hit third in the order. Typically, spot in the order that has been reserved for Vinnie Pasquantino, but his bat has struggled tremendously this season. So has the bat of longtime veteran Salvador Perez, who has also seen adjacent offensive results.

In hindsight, the consistent 3-4 punch of Pasquantino and Perez has proved to be detrimental to the Royals’ order — but Quatraro resisted change. In moving Garcia to the three-hole, keeping Perez at cleanup and moving Pasquantino down to sixth hole, the moves indicate the Royals are desperate for that offensive spark to be reignited. 

The Royals are in a position to contend. Their starting pitcher may not be frontline, but consists of efficient arms in Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha that have put the team in position for contention. They have found enough to put themselves in the postseason behind Bobby Witt Jr., reaching the division series in the 2024 postseason.

The same foundation of that season remains with the 2026 squad, holding the potential for a contending team, but none has clicked the same since, falling a few games short of a postseason spot in 2025. 

For the Royals to see themselves contend this season, the time is now to make that adjustment and hope for visible change. If they were to play above .500 until the All-Star break, there may be a chance to hover into something more. But that time is now, and the Royals are hoping that the change can spark something immediately.