Los Angeles Angels at Kansas City Royals

KANSAS CITY – After walking a career-high eight batters in New York last weekend and using the word “unacceptable” to describe the performance, Cole Ragans badly needed a bounceback start, and the Royals badly needed one from their ace, too. They got one Saturday night. Ragans twirled six innings of one-run ball with 11 strikeouts and no walks, leading the Royals to a 12-1 win over the Angels at Kauffman Stadium and just their second series victory of the year. It was the first time Kansas City won a game this year with Ragans on the mound. In other words, Saturday’s start was what the Royals expected a lot of in 2026 and finally got: Cole Ragans dominance and a big team win. “That’s exactly what we believe he can do,” manager Matt Quatraro said. It was clear early that Ragans was working with good stuff when he struck out the side in the top of the first. All three came on fastballs 98-plus mph, including the 99.2 mph heater Jo Adell swung through to end the frame. That was Ragans’ hardest pitch of the night, but he averaged 96.5 with his fastball, 2.3 mph above what his season average had been so far. Ragans filled up the zone with a 71% strike percentage and recorded whiffs (47%) and chase (40%). The Angels could not keep up with his fastball, and he was fearless with it, throwing it 51% of the time. Ten of his 11 strikeouts came on the pitch.