<\/p>\n
The Kansas City Royals have seen firsthand how potent Tampa Bay\u2019s Junior Caminero has been at the plate.<\/p>\n
After homering in his fifth straight contest Tuesday to open a three-game set in Kansas City, Caminero will look to stay hot and help the Rays to a seventh consecutive victory Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
Caminero\u2019s three-run homer Tuesday highlighted a six-run third inning during Tampa Bay\u2019s 10-4 win over the Royals. Over the past seven games, he is 13-for-27 and has eight of his 23 home runs this season.<\/p>\n
Caminero, a first-time All-Star in 2025 when hit 45 home runs, joins Ronald Acuna Jr. (2018), Brian McCann (2006) and Jack Clark (1978) as players age 22 or younger to homer in five straight contests since 1900.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best I\u2019ve ever felt at the plate,\u201d Caminero, 22, told Rays.TV. \u201cDon\u2019t put too much pressure on (myself). \u2026 Just put the ball in play.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caminero is batting .381 (8-for-21) with five home runs and 12 RBIs as the Rays have gone 3-2 against the Royals this season. He hit a two-run homer, then a solo shot, off Wednesday\u2019s scheduled Kansas City starter Seth Lugo (3-5, 4.18 ERA) during his three-home-run performance in Tampa Bay\u2019s 13-2 win just six days ago.<\/p>\n
The Rays tagged Lugo, a veteran right-hander, for seven runs \u2014 six coming via three homers \u2014 over five innings, as he allowed seven total hits and two walks in that contest.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a pretty rough day,\u201d Lugo said. \u201cI hung two breaking balls over the middle. I think everyone in their lineup is going to hit those.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though the Royals have lost five of the last six games overall, and three straight vs. Tampa Bay, they got the best of Wednesday\u2019s scheduled Rays starter, Shane McClanahan (6-5, 3.30 ERA) during a 12-5 win on June 23. The left-hander allowed six runs, but only two earned, plus six hits, including three homers, in six innings.<\/p>\n
After missing the previous two seasons due to injuries, McClanahan posted a 2.45 ERA in his first 11 starts of 2026, then went 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA while the Rays lost all four of his June outings.<\/p>\n
The club announced last week that McClanahan\u2019s turn in the rotation would be pushed back, notably to provide some extra rest considering his recent health issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a competitor, oh gosh, I want the ball,\u201d McClanahan told the Rays\u2019 official website. \u201cBut at the same time, I think it\u2019s important to take a step back and understand that this is the long game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kansas City\u2019s Jac Caglianone, a Tampa native, hit a solo homer and two-run shot off McClanahan last week. However, Caglianone is 1-for-19 with nine strikeouts in five games since.<\/p>\n
Teammate Carter Jensen went 0-for-2 with a walk vs. McClanahan last week but homered Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 20 games, during which he\u2019s batting .346 with five home runs and 18 RBIs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt definitely means a lot to me,\u201d Jensen told the Royals\u2019 official website. \u201cBut I think just trying to get some wins across is the most important thing for me, honestly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n