Royals' pitching dominates again in win over White Sox

Jesse Newell, The Kansas City Star on May 7, 2025

Published in Baseball

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals’ pitching continues to carry the team.

And Wednesday, because of that, Kansas City kept up its string as the hottest team in baseball with a 2-1 home victory against the Chicago White Sox.

On this night, it was right-handed Michael Wacha’s turn to pitch a gem. The veteran was dominant in his seven innings at Kauffman Stadium, allowing just three hits with one walk while striking out five.

Lucas Erceg followed with a scoreless inning, then Carlos Estevez held on during a bumpy ninth to close the near-shutout.

Make no mistake: Kansas City’s pitching has been the primary driver of a winning streak that’s taken place over the last two-plus weeks.

And though the Royals came an eyelash away from their sixth shutout in 12 games — Estevez allowing a ninth-inning run spoiled that — the home dugout will remain plenty happy with this result.

Kansas City has now won five straight and also 14 of its previous 16. The Royals also improved their record to 22-16, with those 22 wins tying for the most in the American League as of Wednesday’s final pitch.

Wacha became the latest in a string of Kansas City starters looking to outdo each other with standout efforts. His seven scoreless innings needed just 84 pitches, as he dropped his season ERA to 2.98.

The Royals produced their only offense in the fifth, as shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. — following a trip earlier in the day to read to Kansas City elementary school kids — blasted a two-run shot to left, good for his fifth homer of the season.

Hunter Harvey progress slowed

Royals reliever Hunter Harvey, who was placed on the injured list April 11 with a shoulder injury, played catch Tuesday but was a “little bit sore” afterward, manager Matt Quatraro reported.

“Nothing alarming, but it was the first time ramping it up, throwing a live BP (bullpen),” Quatraro said. “So we’re going to slow him down a little bit and just let him respond, let him tell us body-wise when he can get back on the mound.”

Quatraro said the team would “play it day by day” to determine when Harvey would return to the mound and continue his rehab.

Harvey, 30, was off to a great start before his ailment, throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings this year with seven strikeouts and no walks.

What’s next

The Royals finish their four-game home series with the White Sox on Thursday at 2:10 p.m. ET during School Day at The K. Left-handed pitcher Kris Bubic will start for Kansas City against right-hander Davis Martin.

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