Bubic deals in 2nd career home opener start -- but his 1st with fans

Royals lefty throws six innings of one-run ball in home opener win over Twins

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:50pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting Kris Bubic's pitching motion, with sharp, overlapping planes in Royals blue, white, and gold colors, capturing the energy and movement of the veteran lefty's performance.Kris Bubic's strong start in the Royals' home opener showcases the team's promising pitching depth to begin the 2026 season.Kansas City Today

Kris Bubic, a left-handed pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, made his second career home opener start on Monday, this time in front of a packed crowd of 39,320 fans at Kauffman Stadium. Bubic threw six innings of one-run ball, allowing just two hits with three walks and four strikeouts, to lead the Royals to a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. It was another quality start from a Royals rotation member to begin the 2026 season, following strong outings from Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo over the weekend.

Why it matters

Bubic's performance in the home opener is an encouraging sign for the Royals, who are hoping to build on a promising 2025 season and contend in the AL Central in 2026. The 24-year-old lefty is a key part of the team's rotation and his return to health after missing the end of last season with a rotator cuff injury is crucial for the Royals' playoff aspirations.

The details

Bubic, who made his MLB debut in the Royals' 2020 home opener during the pandemic-shortened season, was making his second career home opener start on Monday. He navigated the windy conditions at Kauffman Stadium well, with the only blemish being a solo home run by Twins outfielder Matt Wallner in the second inning. Bubic worked around three walks and did not allow a runner to reach second base until the sixth inning. After Bubic's six strong innings, the Royals' bullpen took over, with Daniel Lynch IV and Nick Mears each tossing a scoreless frame before John Schreiber recorded the save in the ninth.

  • Kris Bubic made his MLB debut on July 31, 2020, which was also the Royals' home opener that pandemic-shortened season.
  • Bubic's last start before Monday was on July 26, 2025, after which he was diagnosed with a left rotator cuff strain and missed the rest of the 2025 season.
  • Monday's home opener against the Twins was Bubic's first start in front of fans at Kauffman Stadium since his MLB debut.

The players

Kris Bubic

A 24-year-old left-handed pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, making his second career home opener start.

Matt Wallner

A Minnesota Twins outfielder who hit a solo home run off Bubic in the second inning.

Michael Wacha

A Royals starting pitcher who had a strong outing against the Braves over the weekend.

Seth Lugo

Another Royals starting pitcher who held the Braves scoreless in his season debut.

Noah Cameron

The Royals' starting pitcher for the team's fourth game of the season on Wednesday.

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What they’re saying

“Six years ago, Kris Bubic made his Major League debut on July 31, 2020, which also happened to be the Royals' home opener in that pandemic-shortened season.”

— Anne Rogers, Reporter

What’s next

The Royals will look to continue their strong start to the season when they send Noah Cameron to the mound on Wednesday to round out the first turn through their rotation.

The takeaway

Kris Bubic's dominant performance in the Royals' home opener, just over a year removed from a rotator cuff injury, is a promising sign for the team's starting rotation and their hopes of contending in the AL Central in 2026.