The Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals will meet for the final game of their three-game series on April 24, 2025, at Kauffman Stadium, with the Royals aiming for a sweep and the Rockies desperately trying to halt their spiraling start to the season. Entering the matchup, the Royals sit at 10-14 and have shown flashes of stability in their pitching and defensive schemes despite a lackluster offensive output, while the Rockies are mired in a brutal stretch at 4-18, with glaring issues in both run prevention and run production. Game 2 of the series ended in dramatic fashion as Kansas City secured a 4-3 extra-inning win, once again highlighting the Royals’ ability to scrape together timely hits and play clean, situational baseball, even if they aren’t lighting up the scoreboard. Thursday’s finale features a matchup of young starters with contrasting momentum—Kansas City’s Cole Ragans, who boasts a 3.58 ERA and has been a bright spot in the rotation, versus Colorado’s Chase Dollander, whose 7.36 ERA and lack of command have underscored the Rockies’ early-season pitching woes. Statistically, both teams have struggled to score, with Kansas City averaging just 2.91 runs per game and Colorado slightly better at 3.24, but the major difference has been in run prevention, where the Royals’ more consistent pitching staff and defensive execution (allowing 3.96 runs per game) have outshined the Rockies’ league-worst 5.67. With Colorado unable to support its starters and the bullpen often stretched thin, this game represents more than just a shot at salvaging a series—it’s a measuring stick for whether this team can find signs of competitiveness before falling irreparably behind in the standings. Kansas City enters Thursday’s game with a chance to capitalize on a team in disarray and head into their next series against the Astros with renewed momentum. Although their offense has been among the league’s least productive, timely hitting and a consistent approach at the plate have helped them grind out tight wins, including multiple one-run victories that have masked their lack of power.

With Cole Ragans on the mound, the Royals have a genuine chance to control this game from start to finish, as he’s shown an ability to miss bats (42 strikeouts) and work deep into outings, something that could give the bullpen a break after back-to-back close contests. Kansas City’s defensive play has also been a strength, allowing them to minimize damage during innings and often preserving slim leads when their bats have gone quiet. While the offense will need to be better long-term, the short-term formula of strong starting pitching, clean defense, and opportunistic hitting is working well enough to carry them in matchups like this. A sweep would not only lift Kansas City further from the basement of the AL Central but also provide confidence that this rotation and defense can keep them competitive while the bats gradually come around. The Rockies, meanwhile, are in urgent need of a reset as they continue one of the most disappointing starts in franchise history, entering the game with a 4-18 record and very little going right on the field. Their offense has been inconsistent at best, plagued by a lack of on-base ability, weak situational hitting, and too many missed opportunities when they do manage to get runners aboard. Leading into this series, their team average and slugging percentage have ranked near the bottom of MLB, and the power threats expected to drive their offense—like Kris Bryant and Ryan McMahon—have not delivered the consistency or production needed to spark any sort of winning rhythm. On the mound, Chase Dollander has shown flashes of potential, but his 7.36 ERA tells the story of a young pitcher still finding his footing at the major league level, too often left exposed by defensive lapses or thin bullpen support. To win Game 3, the Rockies will need Dollander to limit early damage, command the strike zone, and hope for early run support—something they’ve lacked repeatedly this season. Their defense will also need to be sharper, as unearned runs and fielding errors have compounded their woes and turned winnable games into lopsided losses. This game isn’t just about avoiding a sweep—it’s a critical moment for the Rockies to demonstrate whether they can stabilize or are destined to continue their freefall deeper into last place. For a club that has already lost morale and momentum, one clean, well-executed game could be a step toward rediscovering competitive spirit in a season that’s slipping away far too soon.