The Yankees and Royals are set to meet, offering fans a chance to witness a clash between two of the American League’s biggest stars. Aaron Judge, a back-to-back MVP Award winner, will face Bobby Witt Jr., who finished as runner-up in 2024 and fourth in 2025.
Yankees and Royals Renew Rivalry
The two clubs are scheduled to meet this week in Kansas City. Their series opener on Monday will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN, with the first pitch scheduled for 3:40 p.m. ET.
The Royals-Yankees rivalry was renewed in 2024. They met in the American League Division Series, marking their first postseason matchup since 1980. Their stars went toe-to-toe in the AL MVP race, where Judge’s 58-homer season edged out Witt’s batting title.
Teams Aim to Turn the Tide After Recent Struggles
The paths of the two teams have diverged since then. The Yankees had a less successful playoff run in 2025 after reaching the World Series in ’24. The Royals, meanwhile, won just 82 games and finished well clear of a Wild Card spot.
The Yankees are once again in contention for a playoff spot, while the Royals have some work to do to get back in the picture. Since May 6, both teams have experienced a downswing, with New York going 6-11 and the Royals 5-12.
Both teams are trying to turn things around this month. They are coming off wins on Sunday. The Yankees won thanks to Judge’s walk-off two-run home run against the Rays, which accounted for his first RBIs since May 10. The Royals had a breakout eight-run effort against the Mariners’ stingy pitching staff.
Pitching Matchups for Monday’s Game
Will Warren, a 26-year-old right-hander, will be on the mound for the Yankees on Monday. Warren has been a pleasant surprise, with 62 strikeouts against 13 walks in 52 1/3 innings, despite a six-run outing against the Rangers earlier this month that inflated his ERA.
The Royals will turn to veteran Michael Wacha. He has been a source of stability for the rotation in the absence of Cole Ragans (left elbow impingement) and Kris Bubic (left elbow soreness). Wacha has a 2.70 ERA this season. He also has a 3.12 ERA in 13 career appearances against the Yankees (11 starts).
The Yankees and Royals will aim to continue their momentum as they face off in Kansas City.