Royals' Seth Lugo Shines with Revamped Fastball in Win Over Braves

Lugo's offseason focus on improving his fastball command paid off as he led the Royals to their first win of 2026.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 8:04pm

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Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo tossed 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball against the Atlanta Braves, limiting them to five hits. Lugo's offseason focus on improving his fastball command was a key factor, as he used the pitch effectively to set up his off-speed offerings. The Royals' offense also came through in clutch moments, with Bobby Witt Jr. and rookie catcher Carter Jensen driving in runs to secure the 4-1 victory.

Why it matters

The win was an important early-season boost for the Royals, who were outscored 12-2 in their first two games against the Braves. Lugo's strong outing and the offense's timely hitting could be a sign that the Royals are poised to improve on their 2025 campaign, when they finished third in the AL Central.

The details

Lugo had a 23% fastball usage his first time through the Braves' lineup, and the pitch registered a 57% strike rate while generating four swings and four called strikes. The Braves were unable to capitalize, with Lugo limiting them to five hits. The lone trouble came in the fifth inning, when the Braves had runners on first and third with two outs, but Lugo retired Jorge Mateo to end the frame. The Royals' offense provided Lugo with substantial run support, with Bobby Witt Jr. driving home Nick Loftin in the third inning and rookie catcher Carter Jensen belting a solo homer off Braves starter Grant Holmes in the fourth. Jensen added a sacrifice fly in the eighth as Witt scored from third.

  • On Sunday, Lugo put his reworked approach to good use.
  • The Royals return to Kansas City ahead of their home opener against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium on April 3 at 3:10 p.m. Central.

The players

Seth Lugo

A starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals who focused on improving his fastball command this offseason, which paid off in his strong outing against the Braves.

Bobby Witt Jr.

A Royals infielder who drove home a run in the third inning to give the team an early lead.

Carter Jensen

A rookie catcher for the Royals who hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and added a sacrifice fly in the eighth to extend the team's lead.

Grant Holmes

The starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, who was tagged for a home run by Jensen.

Drake Baldwin

The Braves' catcher who hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to spoil the Royals' shutout bid.

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What they’re saying

“This offseason, Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo focused on improving his fastball. The goal was to command it early in counts and challenge hitters. If successful, Lugo felt it would keep teams from sitting on his off-speed pitches.”

— Seth Lugo, Royals Starter

What’s next

The Royals return to Kansas City ahead of their home opener against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Left-hander Kris Bubic will draw the start. First pitch is set for 3:10 p.m. Central.

The takeaway

Lugo's strong outing and the Royals' timely hitting could be a sign that the team is poised to improve on their 2025 campaign, providing an early-season boost as they look to climb the AL Central standings.