The Houston Astros head to Kauffman Stadium on Sunday to take on the Kansas City Royals in the finale of a three-game set. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. CDT (11:40 p.m. IST). Spencer Arrighetti toes the rubber for Houston against Stephen Kolek for the Royals.
This one carries weight for both clubs. The Astros have already taken the first two games and sit at 33-39, still hanging around in the AL West race. The Royals dropped to 28-43 and own last place in the AL Central after another tough loss on Saturday night.
Date, Time & Venue
Sunday, June 14, 2026 1:10 p.m. CDT at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri. Girl Scout Day promotion on the schedule.
Injury Updates & Team News
The biggest blow landed on the Royals on Saturday. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino suffered a right hand hamate injury and left the game. Hamate fractures often require surgery and sideline players for 4-8 weeks. Michael Massey steps into the first-base role.
Royals ace Cole Ragans continues to deal with elbow issues and remains sidelined.
For the Astros, catcher Yainer Diaz is on the 10-day IL and Walker Janek is on the 7-day IL. Hunter Brown (60-day) and Lance McCullers Jr. (15-day) are also unavailable. The rotation has leaned on Arrighetti to carry a heavy load.
Probable Pitchers & Key Matchups
Spencer Arrighetti (RHP, Astros) — 7-1, 2.21 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 53 K in 57 IP. The right-hander has been one of the most reliable arms in the league this season. He throws strikes, generates weak contact, and keeps Houston in games.
Stephen Kolek (RHP, Royals) — 3-1, 3.14 ERA, 1.07 WHIP. Kolek gives Kansas City a chance. He has shown better command lately and will need to be sharp against a Houston lineup that has found its rhythm.
Key Battles to Watch
- Arrighetti vs. Bobby Witt Jr. — Witt’s speed and contact skills test any pitcher.
- Kolek vs. Yordan Alvarez — Alvarez’s power can end games in one swing.
- Astros middle infield (Peña/Altuve) vs. Kolek’s off-speed stuff.
Probable Lineups (Subject to Change)
Houston Astros
- Jeremy Peña (R) SS
- Yordan Alvarez (L) DH
- Christian Walker (R) 1B
- Isaac Paredes (R) 3B
- Jose Altuve (R) 2B
- Cam Smith (R) RF
- Jake Meyers (R) CF
- Brice Matthews (R) LF
- Christian Vázquez (R) C
Kansas City Royals
- Bobby Witt Jr. (R) SS
- Maikel Garcia (R) 3B/2B
- Salvador Perez (R) C
- Jac Caglianone (R) OF
- Michael Massey (R) 1B
- Other outfield/infield mix (Garcia, Isbel, etc.)
Pitch Report, Park & Weather
Kauffman Stadium tends to play slightly pitcher-friendly with its deep outfield gaps, though wind can push balls out to right-center.
Forecast for first pitch: Partly sunny, high near 81°F (27°C), 40% chance of showers, winds 10-14 mph. Conditions should be playable. A brief shower could delay things but nothing extreme is expected.
Head-to-Head & Recent Form
The Astros have dominated this series so far. They won Friday and rallied late on Saturday (delayed by weather) to take an 8-7 decision. Houston has won six of the last eight meetings overall. The Royals have struggled to string together quality starts and timely hitting.
MLB Standings Snapshot (as of June 14, 2026)
AL Central
- Royals: 28-43 (last place, 10+ games back)
AL West
- Astros: 33-39 (around 4th place, still within striking distance of wild-card talk if they keep winning)
The Astros are playing with house money after injuries. The Royals are simply trying to stop the bleeding.
Live Streaming & Telecast
- TV: Space City Home Network (Astros regional), Royals.TV / local Kansas City broadcast
- Streaming: MLB.TV (blackout rules apply in local markets), team apps, Fubo or other live TV streamers
- Radio: Astros on 790 AM / 94.5 FM HD, Royals on 96.5 The Fan
Fantasy Baseball Tips
Strong Plays
- Yordan Alvarez — Always a must-start when healthy. Power upside is massive.
- Spencer Arrighetti — Excellent streaming option or DFS pivot with his current form.
- Bobby Witt Jr. — Even in a down team spot, he finds ways to contribute (hits, steals, runs).
Value/Contrarian
- Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker for RBI upside against Kolek.
- Salvador Perez — Power bat who can punish mistakes even when the lineup is struggling.
Avoid or Caution
- Royals bats overall until they show life without Pasquantino.
- Astros catchers if Diaz remains out (Vázquez is serviceable but not a big fantasy bat).
Match Prediction
The Astros enter as clear favorites (roughly -120 on the moneyline). Arrighetti’s dominance this season combined with series momentum gives Houston the edge. Kolek can keep it respectable, but the Astros’ experience and power should prevail in a close one.
Predicted Final Score: Astros 5, Royals 3
Houston grinds out another win and heads home with a series sweep. Kansas City will need to find answers quickly with Pasquantino likely headed for surgery and the offense already thin.
Records & Milestones
- Arrighetti chasing his 8th win of the season.
- Witt Jr. continues to carry the Royals’ offense with multi-hit potential every night.
- Alvarez remains one of the most dangerous middle-of-the-order threats in baseball when locked in.
The atmosphere at Kauffman on a Sunday afternoon mixes Royals faithful still showing up in blue with a traveling Astros contingent that has seen their team battle through a brutal injury stretch. The breeze off the prairie and the smell of grilled food in the parking lots set the scene. Both clubs know what’s at stake — momentum into the middle of June.
