The Kansas City Royals are playing a quality brand of baseball at the moment following their difficult start to the 2026 season. They have won seven of their past 10 games overall and are currently only one game behind the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central standings.
Bobby Witt Jr. is making a significant impact once again, but there is one player who is quietly helping the Royals amid their recent success. Isaac Collins is swinging the bat well so far in 2026.
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Collins, 28, is hitting .250/.363/.375 across 34 games played. The Royals outfielder has hit three home runs as well. He is not having an All-Star season, but Collins is playing well.
He is tied for sixth on the Royals in home runs. His on-base percentage is second, trailing only Witt. He has even stolen two bases as well.
Kansas City quietly acquired Collins during the offseason from the Milwaukee Brewers. It was a trade that was not discussed by many, yet the deal is working out well for Kansas City.
In 2025 with Milwaukee, Collins hit .263/.368/.411 in 130 games played. It was not as if he came out of nowhere. Collins has found success at the MLB level in the past. The Royals clearly believed in him and they took a chance with the trade.
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Kansas City is suddenly a legitimate contender following a slow start to 2026. The Royals expected to compete heading into the season, but there was uncertainty following their lackluster start.
The Royals are now playing up to their expectations. The offense is beginning to find a rhythm while the pitching is getting back on track. Sure, the ball club still has work to do, but the team is trending in the right direction.
Kansas City currently holds a 2-0 series lead over the Detroit Tigers in their three-game series. The Royals can clinch a series sweep with a victory on Sunday night.
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Noah Cameron (2-2, 5.40 ERA) will start on Sunday. He has not pitched his best but he is a left-hander who can help the Royals win games. Meanwhile, the Tigers are going with Brenan Hanifee, who has not made a start this year.
The Royals will host the Tigers once again on Sunday night at 7:20 PM EST in Kansas City in what should be a competitive game.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source sports.yahoo.com ’
