After return to power, Yanks seek more of same vs. Royals

The New York Yankees saw their power turn sporadic for most of the past week until Monday.

After hitting four solo homers off Kansas City's Seth Lugo, the Yankees will attempt to keep the offense going Tuesday night when they continue a three-game series against the visiting Royals.

New York has hit a major-league-leading 32 home runs through its first 16 games, but the power has been streaky. The Yankees slugged 25 homers while winning six of their first eight, then hit just three while dropping five of seven before prevailing 4-1 on Monday.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. belted a tying homer in the fourth inning off Lugo before the Yankees hit three in a five-batter span in the fifth. Trent Grisham continued his hot start with a tiebreaking homer, Ben Rice also homered and Austin also connected in New York's third game with at least four homers this season.

"The solo homers, just a handful of good swings from our lefties that we were able to jump him and be the difference tonight," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

In their first visit to New York since losing to the Yankees in four games in the 2024 American League Division Series, the Royals mustered two hits and were held to three runs or fewer for the 10th time this season. Kansas City also was held to five hits or fewer for the eighth time.

"It's not going to be 10, 12 hits every night, but we need to do a better job of stringing some bigger innings together," Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said.

Bobby Witt Jr. had both hits Monday as he homered in the third inning and singled in the ninth when the Royals put two on against New York closer Devin Williams. The shortstop is on a seven-game hitting streak during which he is 10-for-22 (.455).

New York is hoping to get another strong pitching performance after Carlos Carrasco and four relievers combined on a two-hitter a day after Carlos Rodon endured a rough outing against the San Francisco Giants.

Max Fried (2-0, 1.56 ERA), who is coming off his best start as a Yankee, pitches Tuesday on five days of rest. Fried helped the Yankees avoid a sweep last week against the Detroit Tigers when he allowed five hits, struck out 11 and pitched seven scoreless innings in a 4-3 win on Wednesday.

Fried will be making his second career start against the Royals. He allowed three hits in 8 2/3 scoreless innings at Kansas City on Sept. 27, 2024, when he struck out nine in a 3-0 win for the Atlanta Braves.

Kansas City's scheduled Tuesday starter, Michael Wacha (0-2, 4.20 ERA), hopes to see some run support. The Royals scored six runs in his first three outings, and Wacha took a no-decision on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins after permitting two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings of Kansas City's 3-2 win.

Wacha is 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 11 career appearances (nine starts) against the Yankees during the regular season. He also started against New York twice in the ALDS last year, getting a no-decision in Game 1 and taking a loss in Game 4 while permitting a total of five runs in 8 2/3 innings.

--Field Level Media