Game #31: Athletics vs. Royals Game Thread

This afternoon, the Athletics will take on the Kansas City Royals in the rubber match of their three-game series. After letting the series-opener slip through their fingers in an extra-inning defeat, the A’s rebounded last night, defeating the Royals 5-2 to force this series-deciding finale. Luis Severino shone on the mound, pitching seven innings of one-run ball and right fielder Lawrence Butler’s three-run home run to the right field berm was the key offensive blow.

With a winning April already secured, a victory today would give the team a third-straight series win and a strong finish to its first full month of the season.

Left-hander Jeffrey Springs gets the start for the A’s today. The 33-year-old enters his seventh start with a 3.2 record and a 3.79 ERA. In his last start at the Texas Rangers, Springs pitched well until his sixth and final inning, when he gave up Rangers’ third baseman Josh Jung’s go-ahead, game-winning home run. In his previous start, at home against the Chicago White Sox, Springs gave up seven runs in five innings. Having suffered back-to-back losses, the veteran lefty aims to right the ship today and return to the form he displayed in his first few outings of 2026.

Springs will be opposed by Royals’ left-hander Noah Cameron. The 26-year-old impressed in his rookie season last year, going 9-7 with a 2.99 ERA in 24 starts. Cameron is 2-1 with a 5.13 ERA through his first five starts of his sophomore campaign. He is coming off a strong outing against the Los Angeles Angels, in which he allowed three runs over 6 1/3 innings. The A’s faced Cameron twice last season, faring better against him at home than in Kansas City.

Cameron will face this A’s lineup this afternoon:

Designated hitter Brent Rooker, who has not recorded a hit since coming off the injured list, is out of today’s lineup as is left fielder Tyler Soderstrom, who is still recovering from whiplash sustained when attempting to make a diving catch in Friday’s contest. The team’s hottest-hitter, left fielder Carlos Cortes remains in the lineup, even with a left-hander pitching for the Royals. Both catchers are starting, with Shea Langeliers serving as the designated hitter to give his legs a rest following two-straight days behind the plate. Last but not least, hopefully yesterday’s home run will get Butler going offensively as the team needs more production out of the inconsistent outfielder.

Springs will face this batting order for the Royals today:

The Royals are trotting out several regulars, including the duo atop the lineup in Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. However lefty sluggers Jac Caglianone and Vinnie Pasquantino are on the bench, with Pasquantino sidelined due to back tightness suffered Tuesday night.

It is time to win another series. Let’s go Athletics!