# Kansas City Royals 2026 season struggles and evaluations > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/kansas-city-royals-2026-season-struggles > Updated: 2026-10-18T01:29:21.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 3. Following a 69-93 finish in the 2026 season, the Kansas City Royals are conducting roster and performance evaluations. The organization is assessing the impact of changes to the dimensions at Kauffman Stadium, which created a notable offensive disparity: the team recorded a 110 wRC+ at home but struggled on the road with an 86 wRC+. Pitching concerns persist as veteran Seth Lugo experienced a decline, finishing the season with a 5.17 ERA. The team must now determine whether to trade the 36-year-old or retain him for his leadership and rotation depth. On the offensive and defensive side, second baseman Michael Massey emerged as a key performer. Despite managing a calf strain and a concussion, Massey played a career-high 131 games and achieved career highs in hits, doubles, and batting average. His defensive performance, ranked in the 96th percentile by Statcast, led to a Gold Glove Award nomination and solidified his role as a potential everyday starter. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-18: Kansas City Royals evaluate roster following 2026 season The Kansas City Royals evaluate their roster after the 2026 season, noting offensive disparities at Kauffman Stadium, Seth Lugo's pitching decline, and Michael Massey's breakout defensive and offensive year. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kansas-city-royals-evaluate-roster-following-2026-season ### 2026-09-30: Kansas City Royals conclude 2026 season with 69-93 record The Kansas City Royals finished the 2026 season with a 69-93 record, driven by a struggling bullpen and injuries. Addressing relief pitching is the team's primary offseason priority. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kansas-city-royals-conclude-2026-season-with-69-93-record ### 2026-09-24: Kansas City Royals face rotation struggles amid injuries The Kansas City Royals face rotation challenges following season-ending injuries to several pitchers, leading to a difficult transition for Daniel Lynch IV as he moves from the bullpen to starting. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kansas-city-royals-face-rotation-struggles-amid-injuries --- Cite as: Kansas City Royals 2026 season struggles and evaluations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/kansas-city-royals-2026-season-struggles