Kansas City's manager still believes in what his clubhouse is made of after a 15-1 blowout of Philadelphia.
The Kansas City Royals hammered the Philadelphia Phillies 15-1 on Monday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium, and for a team that has been struggling all summer, the lopsided score felt like a much-needed exhale.
But for manager Matt Quatraro, the postgame conversation was not about one game.
He wanted to talk about how his players have handled a season that has gone sideways, and why the record does not tell the full story of who is in that clubhouse.
Quatraro Backs His Clubhouse
"Yeah, it's been a tough slog here for a while, wins and loss-wise, but it doesn't change their attitude, the character, the preparation," Quatraro said.
That attitude has been put through the ringer all season long. Kansas City sits at 37-54, dead last in the AL Central and 11 games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox.
The team reached the postseason in 2024 and came close again in 2025, but this year has been a completely different story.
Injuries to the rotation, a lineup that has struggled to score runs, and a bullpen that has been inconsistent have all played a part in the slide.
Baseball Reference gives them just a 2.4 percent chance to reach the postseason, which tells the whole story of where things stand.
Quatraro acknowledged all of that, but said none of it has changed the way his players show up every day.
"It's a big league game out there every single day against good competition, and the guys understand that," Quatraro said.
Why Kansas City Should Sell at the Deadline
With the trade deadline approaching, Kansas City will almost certainly be looking to move veterans who could help contending teams.
Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and Salvador Perez are all names that could draw interest, and the Royals would be smart to get whatever they can in return while those players still hold value.
The one untouchable piece is shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who continues to perform at a superstar level regardless of the team's record.
Witt is hitting .292 with a .831 OPS and a team-leading 4.3 WAR, and he was just named the American League's starting shortstop for the All-Star Game.
Jac Caglianone has also been a bright spot in right field with 14 home runs and a .782 OPS, giving the front office another young player to build around.
"It has not gone our way, or the way we would have liked, but that doesn't change who they are and what they're made of and how they go out there and compete," Quatraro said.
Looking Ahead
The rest of this season is about figuring out who belongs and who stays as the organization retools for the future.
Isaac Collins has talked about stripping things down and competing every day no matter what the standings say, and Quatraro's comments on Monday fit into that same mindset.
The 15-1 win over the Phillies will not save the Royals' season, but it showed that this team has not given up and that the guys in the room are still grinding even when the wins are not coming.
