Reds hand Royals their sixth walk-off loss of the year, 4-3

Tonight, the Kansas City Royals lost to the Cincinnati Reds, 4-3. The Royals blew a 3-0 lead and were walked off for the sixth time on the season. It is June 2. Kansas City is now on pace for 16 walkoff losses on the season, which is a lot. The last time they even had double-digit walkoffs was 2011.

I think if you were to watch one game that would act as the median game for the 2026 Royals, this would be it. Starting pitcher Noah Cameron was fantastic over seven strong innings, striking out eight against zero walks and one hit. That one hit was a solo home run by Spencer Steer, but let’s be honest: you’ll take that result every time.

But the three Royals relievers—Matt Strahm, Lucas Erceg, and John Schreiber—all gave up a run. Schreiber’s was of the ghost variety in the bottom of the 10th, at least, and he got a strikeout before then. But jeez, Erceg has been so bad recently. It’s his league leading sixth blown save of the year.

Meanwhile, the offense went 2-11 with runners in scoring position and didn’t have a single extra base hit. Michael Massey’s seeing-eye grounder was the only real highlight of the game.

The Royals had one on with one out in the ninth inning after a Bobby Witt Jr. walk, one of eight on the night. But they weren’t able to push across the insurance run. In the 10th inning, the Royals had two on with one out after a Nick Loftin walk. But the combination of Salvador Perez, Jac Caglianone, Kyle Isbel, and Carter Jensen didn’t get a hit in either of those two innings.

I’m trying not to crash out here; this game doesn’t change anything about the 2026 Royals, who are awful. It will likely not change the approach of Matt Quatraro or JJ Picollo, who are committed to whatever this is, and it’s likely not going to change how much losing owner John Sherman can withstand. I was on KCUR’s Up to Date this morning, and I mentioned this when Steve Kraske asked me why the Yankees were so much better than the Royals, but it’s worth rephrasing here: there is a high organizational tolerance for losing here in Kansas City. This is not to say that anybody of the team isn’t bothered by losing, which they are. But the consequences for losing in Kansas City just aren’t there like they are in St. Louis or New York or Boston.

But I am crashing out a bit. This season has been torture. Royals fans deserve better. I don’t think they’ll get it.