Yankees Pitchers Struggle to Keep Balls in Yard Against Royals

New York looks to bounce back after allowing 13 homers in previous 4 games

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:22am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals, with sharp, overlapping shapes and planes representing the dynamic action on the field.A cubist interpretation of the Yankees' pitching struggles against the Royals' power-hitting lineup.Kansas City Today

The New York Yankees are facing pitching struggles as they prepare to host the Kansas City Royals in a three-game series. The Yankees allowed 13 home runs in their previous four games, including a series against the Angels where they gave up 32 runs and 5 homers to Mike Trout. Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged that the team didn't keep the ball in the ballpark, which had been a strength earlier in the season. The Royals, meanwhile, have struggled with their bullpen, posting a 5.98 ERA that is the second-worst in the majors.

Why it matters

The Yankees' pitching struggles are concerning as they try to maintain their position atop the AL East. Keeping the ball in the yard will be crucial against a Royals lineup that has shown the ability to rally late in games. The series could provide an opportunity for the Yankees' pitchers to regain their form and limit the damage from the Royals' hitters.

The details

In their last series against the Angels, the Yankees allowed 13 home runs, including 5 to Mike Trout. Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged that the team struggled to keep the ball in the ballpark, which had been a strength earlier in the season. The Yankees have lost 7 of their last 9 games, and in their most recent loss, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Ben Rice all homered, but the team had just two at-bats with runners in scoring position. The Royals, meanwhile, have struggled with their bullpen, posting a 5.98 ERA that is the second-worst in the majors. They were able to overcome a 5-run deficit in their last game, scoring 6 runs in the 7th inning, but ultimately fell 10-9 to the Tigers.

  • The Yankees allowed 13 homers in their previous 4 games.
  • The average game-time temperature was 82 degrees in the Yankees' series against the Angels.
  • The Royals' 15 homers are the third fewest in the American League.

The players

Aaron Boone

Manager of the New York Yankees.

Aaron Judge

Outfielder for the New York Yankees who has hit 5 home runs in his past 5 games.

Giancarlo Stanton

Outfielder for the New York Yankees.

Ben Rice

Outfielder for the New York Yankees.

Matt Quatraro

Manager of the Kansas City Royals.

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What they’re saying

“The story of the series was we didn't keep the ball in the ballpark and that's something we've done really well up until this series and they kept coming at us.”

— Aaron Boone, Manager, New York Yankees

“There were a lot of positives today. Obviously the big inning, we chipped away earlier than that. There were great at-bats throughout that seventh inning and even positives before that.”

— Matt Quatraro, Manager, Kansas City Royals

What’s next

The Yankees will look to their starting pitchers, Cam Schlittler and Michael Wacha, to help them regain control of the strike zone and limit the Royals' power at the plate.

The takeaway

The Yankees' pitching struggles in their last series highlight the importance of keeping the ball in the ballpark, especially against a Royals lineup that has shown the ability to rally late in games. The series could provide an opportunity for the Yankees' pitchers to regain their form and help the team maintain its position atop the AL East.