<\/p>\n
Six games out of the final American League wild-card spot with six games to go, the Kansas City Royals are still mathematically alive in the playoff race but in need of a minor miracle.<\/p>\n
Make that a major miracle.<\/p>\n
Kansas City (78-78) concludes its regular season with a six-game road trip starting Tuesday night in Anaheim against the AL West\u2019s last-place team, the Los Angeles Angels (70-86). The Royals finish the season with a three-game set against the fourth-place Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.<\/p>\n
Kansas City needs to sweep all six games to have a playoff prayer. But even if the Royals accomplish that feat, one win by either the Houston Astros or the Cleveland Guardians eliminates the Royals from the postseason chase.<\/p>\n
With a look toward the 2026 campaign, left-hander Cole Ragans (2-3, 5.16 ERA) will start Tuesday\u2019s opener for Kansas City and be opposed by left-hander Sam Aldegheri (0-0, 10.38 ERA).<\/p>\n
Ragans, who went 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA and 223 strikeouts in 186 1\/3 innings to help the Royals reach the American League Division Series in 2024, will be making his second start since going on the injured list on June 11 with a left rotator cuff strain that sidelined him for nearly three months.<\/p>\n
Ragans, who also missed time in May with a left groin strain, allowed two runs on one hit and two walks in 3 2\/3 innings in his return from the injured list Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners. He struck out four, including Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez on 11 pitches in the first inning. He hit 97.9 mph with his final fastball against Rodriguez.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, the adrenaline was pumping,\u201d Ragans said. \u201cI felt good and just tried to attack.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ragans left after throwing 62 pitches, 42 for strikes. He allowed a 416-foot two-run homer to Eugenio Suarez in the second inning. He also plans to make one more start against the Athletics to build momentum heading into 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just trying to execute,\u201d Ragans said. \u201cThat\u2019s my whole goal. Just go out there and get ahead of guys. Good things happen when you get ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aldegheri, who is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA in five career appearances (three starts), will face Kansas City for the first time. He made two relief appearances for the Angels earlier this season, the last coming on July 8 when he was torched for five runs on four walks and five hits \u2014 including a solo homer by Corey Seager \u2014 in two innings of mop-up action in a 13-1 loss to the Texas Rangers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the Texas game, I knew something was wrong,\u201d Aldegheri told the Orange County Register. \u201cI just went down (to the minors) and was like, \u2018OK, now we\u2019ve gotta switch the page and change something, because that\u2019s not who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aldegher said he focused on being more aggressive in the strike zone and was rewarded with positive results. He compiled a 2.52 ERA over nine starts with the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas of the Southern League and one start with Triple-A Salt Lake.<\/p>\n
The Angels, three games behind the Athletics in the AL West basement battle, come home after a 1-9 road trip that concluded with a 3-1 loss Sunday at Colorado. Los Angeles dropped two of three to the 43-113 Rockies and will finish with a losing record for the 10th straight season while missing the playoffs for the 11th straight year.<\/p>\n
\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n