Cole Ragans eager to lead Royals to series win vs. Guardians

Cole Ragans will look to guide the visiting Kansas City Royals to a series victory when he starts Wednesday afternoon's game against fellow left-hander Joey Cantillo and the Cleveland Guardians.

Ragans (0-2, 3.60 ERA) allowed an unearned run over six innings in his previous start, a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. He has 13 strikeouts in two starts so far, although he allowed three home runs to the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day.

Ragans made the American League All-Star team in 2024 but was limited to 13 starts a season ago because of a groin strain in April and a rotator-cuff strain in June.

"I thought he locked it in as he went more and more," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Ragans' most recent start. "We're going to take that result every time -- six innings. And it looked like he was probably going to get five, but then the fourth, fifth and sixth were really good."

Ragans owns a 1-2 record with a 4.44 ERA and 26 strikeouts and eight walks in five career appearances (all starts) against the Guardians. Star slugger Jose Ramírez is 1-for-13 with a double and four strikeouts against Ragans.

After breaking through in 2025 as an effective swing man, Cantillo (0-0, 3.00 ERA) figures to be a key cog in the rotation for Cleveland this season. He allowed one run and four hits while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings in his previous start, against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. The Guardians have won both of his starts.

Cantillo told reporters he's been trying to get his changeup in better form. It didn't always feel right against the Cubs, he said.

"That was definitely a focal point," Cantillo said. "Like, 'hey, let's throw it regardless of how the first couple end up. It's a pitch we've got to throw, so keep throwing it and make the adjustment with it."

Cantillo is 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA in five career appearances (two starts) against Kansas City. He pitched eight shutout innings against the Royals on Sept. 9, and he has allowed no more than two earned runs in any of his past nine starts dating to last season.

Cleveland squared this series with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday afternoon, thanks to a walk-off RBI single by Brayan Rocchio in the ninth inning.

Rookie infielder Juan Brito made his major league debut and finished with two hits, including a double. Cleveland added Brito to the active roster after placing Gabriel Arias on the 10-day injured list with a strained hamstring.

"Getting the first hit was a fantastic moment that's been a dream of mine since I was a child," Brito told Guardians TV via a translator.

The Royals mustered just one hit against the Guardians, a solo home run by Carter Jensen in the second inning. Cleveland pitchers combined to strike out 14 batters (and walk eight), with the Royals stranding seven runners.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said both pitching staffs had "gutsy" performances because of temperatures in the low 30s. The first pitch was moved ahead five hours because of an even chillier night-time forecast.

"It was a tough day to pitch, a tough day to get feel," Vogt said.

--Field Level Media