Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals, September 16, 2026

RoyalsKC
5-2
Final
AstrosHOU

September 16, 2026, 8:10 PM ET | Daikin Park

Last 5 Form

Kansas City Royals

2-3

Last 5
W 3-2
@ BOS
L 1-5
@ BOS
L 1-4
@ BOS
L 2-4
@ HOU
W 5-2
@ HOU

Houston Astros

1-4

Last 5
L 1-3
@ TB
L 2-3
@ TB
L 4-14
@ TB
W 4-2
vs KC
L 2-5
vs KC

Starting Pitchers

Kansas City Royals

Daniel Lynch IV headshot
Daniel Lynch IV
Recorded starter

Houston Astros

Cristian Javier headshot
Cristian Javier
Recorded starter

Standings Snapshot

Full standings
Season recordsRecord, division and wild card rank, games back. Standings as of Sep 16, 11:25 PM ET
TeamW-LPCTDivWCGB
Kansas City Royals67-85.441#5#1010.5
Houston Astros76-76.500#1N/A-
PCT
winning percentage
Div
division rank
WC
wild card rank
GB
games back

Season Comparison

2026
Kansas City RoyalsHouston Astros
.718
OPS
.732
170
HR
226
690
Runs
734
4.77
ERA
4.45
1.41
WHIP
1.34
1173
Strikeouts by pitchers
1411

Lower is better for ERA and WHIP; bars show each value against the larger of the two.

Top Players

Across up to five recent games with recorded boxscores.

Kansas City Royals

Hitters

Carter Jensen headshot
Carter Jensen

6 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI

Michael Massey headshot
Michael Massey

7 H, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Vinnie Pasquantino headshot
Vinnie Pasquantino

3 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Pitchers

Daniel Lynch IV headshot
Daniel Lynch IV

5.0 IP, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA

Noah Cameron headshot
Noah Cameron

6.0 IP, 4 SO, 1.50 ERA

Seth Lugo headshot
Seth Lugo

5.0 IP, 7 SO, 3.60 ERA

Houston Astros

Hitters

Isaac Paredes headshot
Isaac Paredes

3 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI

Jeremy Peña headshot
Jeremy Peña

7 H, 2 HR, 2 RBI

Yainer Diaz headshot
Yainer Diaz

7 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI

Pitchers

Bryan King headshot
Bryan King

3.0 IP, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA

Ethan Pecko headshot
Ethan Pecko

5.2 IP, 4 SO, 1.59 ERA

Hunter Brown headshot
Hunter Brown

5.0 IP, 10 SO, 1.80 ERA

Top Performers

Picked by MLBDB from this game's box score. MLB's own list of top performers can differ.

Daniel Lynch IV headshot
Daniel Lynch IV
Kansas City Royals, MLBDB pick
Michael Massey headshot
Michael Massey
Kansas City Royals, MLBDB pick
Cristian Javier headshot
Cristian Javier
Houston Astros, MLBDB pick

Line Score

Kansas City Royals 5, Houston Astros 2: KC 8 hits, HOU 8 hits; KC 0 errors, HOU 1 error.

Runs by inningThen runs (R), hits (H) and errors (E) for the game
Team123456789RHE
Kansas City Royals000200030580
Houston Astros000000011281

Box Score

Batting

Michael Massey led Kansas City Royals with 3 hits and 1 home run and 1 RBI.

Kansas City Royals batting
PlayerABRHRBIBBSOHR
Carter JensenC4011100
Bobby Witt Jr.SS3000210
Vinnie Pasquantino1B4000100
Salvador PerezDH5000010
Michael Massey2B5231011
Nick LoftinRF2010100
Jac CaglianonePH1000010
Kyle IsbelCF1000000
John RaveCF/RF4112011
Josh Rojas3B3110100
Isaac CollinsLF3110110
Totals35584762

Jeremy Peña led Houston Astros with 3 hits.

Houston Astros batting
PlayerABRHRBIBBSOHR
Jeremy PeñaSS4030000
Yordan AlvarezDH4010010
Isaac Paredes3B3001010
Jose Altuve2B4010000
Yainer DiazC4121001
Christian Walker1B4000020
Cam SmithRF2000000
LaMonte Wade Jr.PH0000000
Nelson VelázquezPH/LF1000010
Joey LoperfidoPH1000010
Daulton VarshoCF4010000
Jorge BarrosaLF/RF2100210
Totals33282271

Pitching

Daniel Lynch IV went 5.0 innings for Kansas City Royals (3 SO, 0 ER); Cristian Javier went 5.1 innings for Houston Astros (2 SO, 2 ER).

Pitching lines
PitcherIPHRERBBSOHR
Kansas City Royals
Daniel Lynch IV5.0200130
Craig Kimbrel1.0100000
Nolan Hoffman0.1200000
Anthony Gose0.2000010
Nate Pearson1.0111100
Steven Cruz1.0211031
Houston Astros
Cristian Javier5.1522321
Bryan King1.1100110
Enyel De Los Santos1.1232221
Tatsuya Imai1.0000110
AB
at-bats
R
runs
H
hits
RBI
runs batted in
BB
walks
SO
strikeouts
HR
home runs
IP
innings pitched
ER
earned runs

Scoring Summary

  • T4

    Home Run John Rave homers (6) on a fly ball to right field. Michael Massey scores. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T8

    Home Run Michael Massey homers (12) on a fly ball to right field. KC 3, HOU 0

  • T8

    Double Astros challenged (tag play), call on the field was upheld: Carter Jensen doubles (33) on a line drive to right fielder Jorge Barrosa. Josh Rojas scores. Isaac Collins scores. Carter Jensen to 3rd. Throwing error by right fielder Jorge Barrosa. KC 5, HOU 0

  • B8

    Sac Fly Isaac Paredes out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Kyle Isbel. Jorge Barrosa scores. KC 5, HOU 1

  • B9

    Home Run Yainer Diaz homers (12) on a line drive to left field. KC 5, HOU 2

Play-by-Play

All 78 recorded plate appearances, newest first.

  • B9

    Strikeout Jorge Barrosa strikes out swinging. KC 5, HOU 2

  • B9

    Single Daulton Varsho singles on a ground ball to right fielder John Rave. KC 5, HOU 2

  • B9

    Strikeout Joey Loperfido called out on strikes. KC 5, HOU 2

  • B9

    Strikeout Christian Walker strikes out swinging. KC 5, HOU 2

  • B9

    Home Run Yainer Diaz homers (12) on a line drive to left field. KC 5, HOU 2

  • T9

    Groundout Kyle Isbel grounds out softly, third baseman Isaac Paredes to first baseman Christian Walker. KC 5, HOU 1

  • T9

    Strikeout Michael Massey strikes out swinging. KC 5, HOU 1

  • T9

    Lineout Salvador Perez lines out sharply to shortstop Jeremy Peña. KC 5, HOU 1

  • T9

    Walk Vinnie Pasquantino walks. KC 5, HOU 1

  • B8

    Groundout Jose Altuve grounds out softly, third baseman Josh Rojas to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. KC 5, HOU 1

  • B8

    Sac Fly Isaac Paredes out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Kyle Isbel. Jorge Barrosa scores. KC 5, HOU 1

  • B8

    Double Yordan Alvarez doubles (31) on a sharp line drive to center fielder Kyle Isbel. Jorge Barrosa to 3rd. KC 5, HOU 0

  • B8

    Flyout Jeremy Peña flies out to right fielder John Rave. KC 5, HOU 0

  • B8

    Walk Jorge Barrosa walks. KC 5, HOU 0

  • T8

    Strikeout Bobby Witt Jr. called out on strikes. KC 5, HOU 0

  • T8

    Double Astros challenged (tag play), call on the field was upheld: Carter Jensen doubles (33) on a line drive to right fielder Jorge Barrosa. Josh Rojas scores. Isaac Collins scores. Carter Jensen to 3rd. Throwing error by right fielder Jorge Barrosa. KC 5, HOU 0

  • T8

    Walk Isaac Collins walks. Josh Rojas to 2nd. KC 3, HOU 0

  • T8

    Walk Josh Rojas walks. KC 3, HOU 0

  • T8

    Groundout John Rave grounds out to first baseman Christian Walker. KC 3, HOU 0

  • T8

    Strikeout Jac Caglianone strikes out swinging. KC 3, HOU 0

  • T8

    Home Run Michael Massey homers (12) on a fly ball to right field. KC 3, HOU 0

  • B7

    Flyout Daulton Varsho flies out to right fielder Nick Loftin. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B7

    Strikeout Nelson Velázquez strikes out swinging. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B7

    Flyout Christian Walker flies out to right fielder Nick Loftin. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B7

    Single Yainer Diaz singles on a line drive to center fielder John Rave. Jose Altuve to 2nd. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B7

    Single Jose Altuve singles on a line drive to center fielder John Rave. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T7

    Groundout Salvador Perez grounds out, shortstop Jeremy Peña to first baseman Christian Walker. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T7

    Flyout Vinnie Pasquantino flies out to center fielder Daulton Varsho. Isaac Collins to 3rd. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T7

    Intent Walk Bryan King intentionally walks Bobby Witt Jr. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T7

    Groundout Carter Jensen grounds out, pitcher Bryan King to first baseman Christian Walker. Isaac Collins to 2nd. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T7

    Single Isaac Collins singles on a ground ball to center fielder Daulton Varsho. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B6

    Forceout Isaac Paredes grounds into a force out, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to second baseman Michael Massey. Jeremy Peña out at 2nd. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B6

    Flyout Yordan Alvarez flies out to right fielder Nick Loftin. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B6

    Single Jeremy Peña singles on a fly ball to right fielder Nick Loftin. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B6

    Groundout Jorge Barrosa grounds out, second baseman Michael Massey to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T6

    Groundout Josh Rojas grounds out, shortstop Jeremy Peña to first baseman Christian Walker. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T6

    Strikeout John Rave strikes out swinging. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T6

    Walk Nick Loftin walks. Michael Massey to 2nd. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T6

    Single Michael Massey singles on a line drive to right fielder Cam Smith. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T6

    Lineout Salvador Perez lines out to center fielder Daulton Varsho. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B5

    Pop Out Daulton Varsho pops out to catcher Carter Jensen in foul territory. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B5

    Lineout Cam Smith lines out to left fielder Isaac Collins. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B5

    Strikeout Christian Walker strikes out swinging. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T5

    Flyout Vinnie Pasquantino flies out to center fielder Daulton Varsho. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T5

    Pop Out Bobby Witt Jr. pops out to shortstop Jeremy Peña. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T5

    Flyout Carter Jensen flies out to right fielder Cam Smith. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B4

    Pop Out Yainer Diaz pops out to second baseman Michael Massey. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B4

    Groundout Jose Altuve grounds out, third baseman Josh Rojas to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. KC 2, HOU 0

  • B4

    Strikeout Isaac Paredes strikes out swinging. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T4

    Groundout Isaac Collins grounds out to first baseman Christian Walker. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T4

    Flyout Josh Rojas flies out to center fielder Daulton Varsho. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T4

    Home Run John Rave homers (6) on a fly ball to right field. Michael Massey scores. KC 2, HOU 0

  • T4

    Flyout Nick Loftin flies out to center fielder Daulton Varsho. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T4

    Single Michael Massey singles on a fly ball to center fielder Daulton Varsho. KC 0, HOU 0

  • B3

    Grounded Into DP Yordan Alvarez grounds into a double play, second baseman Michael Massey to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Jeremy Peña out at 2nd. Yordan Alvarez out at 1st. KC 0, HOU 0

  • B3

    Single Jeremy Peña singles on a ground ball to left fielder Isaac Collins. Jorge Barrosa to 2nd. KC 0, HOU 0

  • B3

    Walk Jorge Barrosa walks. KC 0, HOU 0

  • B3

    Groundout Daulton Varsho grounds out to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T3

    Strikeout Salvador Perez strikes out swinging. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T3

    Lineout Vinnie Pasquantino lines out sharply to center fielder Daulton Varsho. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T3

    Flyout Bobby Witt Jr. flies out to left fielder Jorge Barrosa. KC 0, HOU 0

  • B2

    Pop Out Cam Smith pops out to second baseman Michael Massey. KC 0, HOU 0

  • B2

    Flyout Christian Walker flies out to right fielder Nick Loftin. KC 0, HOU 0

  • B2

    Groundout Yainer Diaz grounds out, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T2

    Flyout Carter Jensen flies out sharply to right fielder Cam Smith. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T2

    Strikeout Isaac Collins strikes out on a foul tip. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T2

    Single Josh Rojas singles on a line drive to center fielder Daulton Varsho. Nick Loftin to 3rd. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T2

    Pop Out John Rave pops out to second baseman Jose Altuve. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T2

    Single Nick Loftin singles on a line drive to left fielder Jorge Barrosa. KC 0, HOU 0

  • B1

    Flyout Jose Altuve flies out to right fielder Nick Loftin. KC 0, HOU 0

  • B1

    Groundout Isaac Paredes grounds out softly, catcher Carter Jensen to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Jeremy Peña to 3rd. KC 0, HOU 0

  • B1

    Strikeout Yordan Alvarez strikes out on a foul tip. KC 0, HOU 0

  • B1

    Double Jeremy Peña doubles (19) on a sharp line drive to right fielder Nick Loftin. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T1

    Pop Out Michael Massey pops out to first baseman Christian Walker in foul territory. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T1

    Groundout Salvador Perez grounds out, second baseman Jose Altuve to first baseman Christian Walker. Carter Jensen to 3rd. Bobby Witt Jr. to 2nd. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T1

    Flyout Vinnie Pasquantino flies out to center fielder Daulton Varsho. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T1

    Walk Bobby Witt Jr. walks. Carter Jensen to 2nd. KC 0, HOU 0

  • T1

    Walk Carter Jensen walks. KC 0, HOU 0