Royals' Ragans Aims to Clinch Series vs Guardians

Lefty pitcher looks to lead Kansas City to victory in Wednesday matinee matchup.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:24pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans will take the mound on Wednesday afternoon, hoping to lead his team to a series win over the Cleveland Guardians. Ragans, a left-hander, will face off against Guardians lefty Joey Cantillo in the series finale.

Why it matters

The Royals are looking to build momentum after a slow start to the season, and a series win over a division rival like the Guardians could provide a much-needed boost. Ragans has been one of Kansas City's most consistent starters so far this year.

The details

Ragans has posted a 3.12 ERA through his first four starts of the season, striking out 23 batters in 26 innings of work. The Guardians will counter with Cantillo, who has a 4.05 ERA in his first three outings. The Royals took the first game of the series on Tuesday, setting the stage for Ragans to potentially clinch the series victory.

  • The series finale is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, 2026 at 1:10 PM local time.

The players

Cole Ragans

A left-handed pitcher for the Kansas City Royals who has been one of the team's most reliable starters so far this season.

Joey Cantillo

A left-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians who will start Wednesday's game against the Royals.

Kansas City Royals

A Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri that is looking to build momentum with a series win over the Guardians.

Cleveland Guardians

A Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio that is facing off against the Royals in this series.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The winner of Wednesday's game will take the series between the Royals and Guardians.

The takeaway

This series finale between the Royals and Guardians represents an important opportunity for Kansas City to gain ground in the division standings and build confidence heading into the next stretch of the season.