The Kansas City Royals welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to Kauffman Stadium on June 24, 2025, looking to build on their improved play throughout the summer and capitalize on home field advantage in front of a supportive crowd. With a 37–41 record overall and a respectable 20–18 mark at home against the spread (ATS), the Royals have quietly become a scrappy and dangerous team capable of upsetting playoff contenders, especially when their young talent clicks. Leading the charge offensively is Bobby Witt Jr., who has emerged as the franchise cornerstone with his speed, gap power, and improved plate discipline that’s made him a daily threat both at the plate and on the basepaths. Salvador Perez continues to provide leadership and timely power from behind the plate, while Vinnie Pasquantino has found his rhythm as a middle-of-the-order force capable of drawing walks and delivering big hits in clutch moments. The Royals are expected to start Kris Bubic, a left-hander with a deceptive changeup and solid strikeout-to-walk ratios, although his 3–7 record and 4.65 ERA reflect the challenges he’s faced when falling behind in counts. Kansas City’s bullpen, anchored by lefty Will Smith and power righty Carlos Hernández, has had some hiccups but also flashed dominance when protecting late-inning leads, especially at home where they’ve been able to feed off the energy of the crowd.

Defensively, the Royals remain a work in progress, with moments of brilliance from Witt and Maikel Garcia in the infield, though occasional lapses have cost them outs and extended innings against more disciplined lineups. The Royals’ success at home has stemmed from playing with aggression, whether it’s pushing runners with bunts, stealing bases, or applying pressure on opposing defenses with contact-heavy lineups. Their offensive approach leans toward early swings and short bursts of run production rather than long-ball dependency, which can work in their favor at pitcher-friendly Kauffman Stadium if they string hits together. Bubic’s effectiveness will be a crucial storyline—if he can locate his fastball to set up his signature changeup, he has a chance to limit Tampa Bay’s right-handed hitters and keep the game within reach. Manager Matt Quatraro’s familiarity with the Rays organization, having previously served on their coaching staff, may offer strategic insight and an edge in preparing his squad for Tampa Bay’s platoon-based attack. The Royals have shown flashes of becoming a more complete team and will aim to turn this game into a test of fundamentals, hustle, and execution. If their bullpen can hold up and their offense generates enough early support for Bubic, Kansas City could be primed for a statement win. With the AL Central still loosely competitive and plenty of games left to play, the Royals remain a team looking to carve out an identity and gain respect through hard-fought victories, especially against contenders like the Rays. A win on Sunday could serve as a springboard toward a stronger second half of the season, reinforcing their belief that they belong in the conversation as more than just rebuilders.