Kansas City Royals defeat Cleveland Guardians in season finale

The Kansas City Royals defeated the Cleveland Guardians 3-2 in their regular-season finale. Vinnie Pasquantino led the Royals with two solo home runs, one in the fifth inning and another in the eighth to break a tie. The victory allowed the Royals to avoid a sweep, though they finished the season in last place in the AL Central with a 69-93 record.

The Guardians, who had clinched the AL Central title the previous day, fielded a makeshift lineup missing several regulars. Despite the loss, Cleveland secured a bye into the AL Division Series as the second seed. Daniel Schneeman and Jo Adell both hit home runs for the Guardians.

The Royals' 2026 campaign was marked by disappointment due to injuries and a slow start. While the team struggled, rookie catcher Carter Jensen had a record-breaking season, setting a new franchise rookie home run record with 25 and an MLB record for most leadoff home runs by a catcher with six.