Pittsburgh Pirates vs Kansas City Royals, September 18, 2026

RoyalsKC
5-8
Final
PiratesPIT

September 18, 2026, 6:40 PM ET | PNC Park

Last 5 Form

Kansas City Royals

1-4

Last 5
L 1-4
@ BOS
L 2-4
@ HOU
W 5-2
@ HOU
L 2-6
@ HOU
L 5-8
@ PIT

Pittsburgh Pirates

3-2

Last 5
W 4-3
@ CHC
L 1-5
vs MIL
L 4-5
vs MIL
W 7-4
vs MIL
W 8-5
vs KC

Starting Pitchers

Kansas City Royals

Randy Dobnak headshot
Randy Dobnak
Recorded starter

Pittsburgh Pirates

Paul Skenes headshot
Paul Skenes
Recorded starter

Standings Snapshot

Full standings
Season recordsRecord, division and wild card rank, games back. Standings as of Sep 18, 11:25 PM ET
TeamW-LPCTDivWCGB
Kansas City Royals67-87.435#5#1012.0
Pittsburgh Pirates77-77.500#3#519.0
PCT
winning percentage
Div
division rank
WC
wild card rank
GB
games back

Season Comparison

2026
Kansas City RoyalsPittsburgh Pirates
.718
OPS
.734
170
HR
186
690
Runs
767
4.77
ERA
4.14
1.41
WHIP
1.30
1173
Strikeouts by pitchers
1496

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

Michael Massey headshot
Michael Massey

5 H, 2 HR, 2 RBI

Vinnie Pasquantino headshot
Vinnie Pasquantino

3 H, 2 HR, 3 RBI

Carter Jensen headshot
Carter Jensen

5 H, 0 HR, 4 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

Connor Thomas headshot
Connor Thomas

3.0 IP, 4 SO, 6.00 ERA

Pittsburgh Pirates

Hitters

Brandon Lowe headshot
Brandon Lowe

6 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI

Oneil Cruz headshot
Oneil Cruz

7 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI

Konnor Griffin headshot
Konnor Griffin

9 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI

Pitchers

Yohan Ramírez headshot
Yohan Ramírez

3.0 IP, 4 SO, 0.00 ERA

Antwone Kelly headshot
Antwone Kelly

3.0 IP, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA

Brandon Eisert headshot
Brandon Eisert

3.0 IP, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA

Top Performers

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

Paul Skenes headshot
Paul Skenes
Pittsburgh Pirates, MLBDB pick
Vinnie Pasquantino headshot
Vinnie Pasquantino
Kansas City Royals, MLBDB pick
Brandon Lowe headshot
Brandon Lowe
Pittsburgh Pirates, MLBDB pick

Line Score

Pittsburgh Pirates 8, Kansas City Royals 5: KC 8 hits, PIT 15 hits; KC 2 errors, PIT 0 errors.

Runs by inningThen runs (R), hits (H) and errors (E) for the game
Team123456789RHE
Kansas City Royals103100000582
Pittsburgh Pirates00221030x8150

Box Score

Batting

Vinnie Pasquantino led Kansas City Royals with 2 hits and 1 home run and 2 RBI.

Kansas City Royals batting
PlayerABRHRBIBBSOHR
Carter JensenC4000030
Bobby Witt Jr.SS4110000
Vinnie Pasquantino1B4222001
Maikel Garcia3B4012010
Michael Massey2B4111001
Salvador PerezDH4000020
John RaveLF2010110
Isaac CollinsPH1000010
Nick LoftinRF3010110
Kyle IsbelCF2110010
Tyler TolbertPH1000010
Totals335852112

Konnor Griffin led Pittsburgh Pirates with 4 hits and 2 RBI.

Pittsburgh Pirates batting
PlayerABRHRBIBBSOHR
Konnor GriffinSS5142000
Brandon Lowe2B5112021
Bryan ReynoldsLF/RF5020010
Oneil CruzCF5230010
Nick Gonzales3B3110000
Jared Triolo3B1000000
Ryan O'HearnDH3001110
Ronny SimonRF4110010
Billy CookLF0000000
Spencer Horwitz1B3222100
Henry DavisC3011110
Totals378158371

Pitching

Randy Dobnak went 3.2 innings for Kansas City Royals (1 SO, 4 ER); Paul Skenes went 6.0 innings for Pittsburgh Pirates (7 SO, 5 ER).

Pitching lines
PitcherIPHRERBBSOHR
Kansas City Royals
Randy Dobnak3.2744211
Connor Thomas1.1211020
Anthony Gose1.0200020
Nate Pearson1.0333120
Lucas Erceg1.0100000
Pittsburgh Pirates
Paul Skenes6.0655172
Brandon Eisert0.2100110
Yohan Ramírez1.1000010
Gregory Soto1.0100020
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

  • T1

    Home Run Vinnie Pasquantino homers (13) on a fly ball to right field. KC 1, PIT 0

  • T3

    Single Vinnie Pasquantino singles on a sharp line drive to right fielder Ronny Simon. Kyle Isbel scores. Bobby Witt Jr. to 2nd. KC 2, PIT 0

  • T3

    Double Maikel Garcia doubles (19) on a line drive to right fielder Ronny Simon. Bobby Witt Jr. scores. Vinnie Pasquantino scores. Maikel Garcia out at 3rd on the throw, right fielder Ronny Simon to second baseman Brandon Lowe to third baseman Nick Gonzales. KC 4, PIT 0

  • B3

    Home Run Brandon Lowe homers (32) on a fly ball to center field. Konnor Griffin scores. KC 4, PIT 2

  • T4

    Home Run Michael Massey homers (13) on a fly ball to right field. KC 5, PIT 2

  • B4

    Double Henry Davis doubles (6) on a line drive to right fielder Nick Loftin. Ronny Simon scores. Spencer Horwitz to 3rd. KC 5, PIT 3

  • B4

    Groundout Konnor Griffin grounds out, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Spencer Horwitz scores. KC 5, PIT 4

  • B5

    Forceout Ryan O'Hearn grounds into a force out, third baseman Maikel Garcia to second baseman Michael Massey. Oneil Cruz scores. Nick Gonzales out at 2nd. Ryan O'Hearn to 1st. KC 5, PIT 5

  • B7

    Single Spencer Horwitz singles on a line drive to left fielder John Rave. Oneil Cruz scores. Nick Gonzales scores. KC 5, PIT 7

  • B7

    Single Konnor Griffin singles on a ground ball to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Spencer Horwitz scores. Henry Davis to 2nd. KC 5, PIT 8

Play-by-Play

All 78 recorded plate appearances, newest first.

  • T9

    Strikeout Tyler Tolbert strikes out swinging. KC 5, PIT 8

  • T9

    Double Nick Loftin doubles (26) on a fly ball to right fielder Bryan Reynolds. KC 5, PIT 8

  • T9

    Strikeout Isaac Collins strikes out swinging. KC 5, PIT 8

  • T9

    Flyout Salvador Perez flies out sharply to center fielder Oneil Cruz. KC 5, PIT 8

  • B8

    Grounded Into DP Ryan O'Hearn grounds into a double play, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Oneil Cruz out at 2nd. Ryan O'Hearn out at 1st. KC 5, PIT 8

  • B8

    Pop Out Jared Triolo pops out to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino in foul territory. KC 5, PIT 8

  • B8

    Field Error Oneil Cruz reaches on a fielding error by first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Bryan Reynolds to 3rd. KC 5, PIT 8

  • B8

    Double Bryan Reynolds doubles (39) on a ground ball to left fielder John Rave. KC 5, PIT 8

  • T8

    Groundout Michael Massey grounds out, second baseman Brandon Lowe to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. KC 5, PIT 8

  • T8

    Strikeout Maikel Garcia called out on strikes. KC 5, PIT 8

  • T8

    Groundout Vinnie Pasquantino grounds out, third baseman Jared Triolo to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. KC 5, PIT 8

  • B7

    Strikeout Brandon Lowe strikes out swinging. KC 5, PIT 8

  • B7

    Single Konnor Griffin singles on a ground ball to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Spencer Horwitz scores. Henry Davis to 2nd. KC 5, PIT 8

  • B7

    Walk Henry Davis walks. Spencer Horwitz to 2nd. KC 5, PIT 7

  • B7

    Single Spencer Horwitz singles on a line drive to left fielder John Rave. Oneil Cruz scores. Nick Gonzales scores. KC 5, PIT 7

  • B7

    Pop Out Ronny Simon pops out to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. KC 5, PIT 5

  • B7

    Strikeout Ryan O'Hearn strikes out swinging. KC 5, PIT 5

  • B7

    Hit By Pitch Nick Gonzales hit by pitch. Oneil Cruz to 2nd. KC 5, PIT 5

  • B7

    Single Oneil Cruz singles on a ground ball to third baseman Maikel Garcia. KC 5, PIT 5

  • T7

    Groundout Bobby Witt Jr. grounds out, third baseman Nick Gonzales to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. KC 5, PIT 5

  • T7

    Strikeout Carter Jensen strikes out swinging. KC 5, PIT 5

  • T7

    Sac Bunt Kyle Isbel out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Brandon Eisert to second baseman Brandon Lowe. John Rave to 3rd. Nick Loftin to 2nd. KC 5, PIT 5

  • T7

    Walk Nick Loftin walks. John Rave to 2nd. KC 5, PIT 5

  • T7

    Single John Rave singles on a pop up to third baseman Nick Gonzales. KC 5, PIT 5

  • B6

    Strikeout Bryan Reynolds strikes out swinging. KC 5, PIT 5

  • B6

    Groundout Brandon Lowe grounds out, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Spencer Horwitz to 3rd. Konnor Griffin to 2nd. KC 5, PIT 5

  • B6

    Single Konnor Griffin singles on a line drive to right fielder Nick Loftin. Spencer Horwitz to 2nd. KC 5, PIT 5

  • B6

    Strikeout Henry Davis strikes out swinging. KC 5, PIT 5

  • B6

    Single Spencer Horwitz singles on a line drive to right fielder Nick Loftin. KC 5, PIT 5

  • T6

    Strikeout Salvador Perez strikes out swinging. KC 5, PIT 5

  • T6

    Groundout Michael Massey grounds out, second baseman Brandon Lowe to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. KC 5, PIT 5

  • T6

    Flyout Maikel Garcia flies out to right fielder Ronny Simon. KC 5, PIT 5

  • B5

    Strikeout Ronny Simon strikes out swinging. KC 5, PIT 5

  • B5

    Forceout Ryan O'Hearn grounds into a force out, third baseman Maikel Garcia to second baseman Michael Massey. Oneil Cruz scores. Nick Gonzales out at 2nd. Ryan O'Hearn to 1st. KC 5, PIT 5

  • B5

    Single Nick Gonzales singles on a line drive to right fielder Nick Loftin. Oneil Cruz to 3rd. KC 5, PIT 4

  • B5

    Double Oneil Cruz doubles (13) on a ground ball to left fielder John Rave. KC 5, PIT 4

  • B5

    Groundout Bryan Reynolds grounds out softly, pitcher Connor Thomas to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. KC 5, PIT 4

  • T5

    Flyout Vinnie Pasquantino flies out to first baseman Spencer Horwitz in foul territory. KC 5, PIT 4

  • T5

    Flyout Bobby Witt Jr. flies out to center fielder Oneil Cruz. KC 5, PIT 4

  • T5

    Strikeout Carter Jensen strikes out on a foul tip. KC 5, PIT 4

  • B4

    Strikeout Brandon Lowe called out on strikes. KC 5, PIT 4

  • B4

    Groundout Konnor Griffin grounds out, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Spencer Horwitz scores. KC 5, PIT 4

  • B4

    Double Henry Davis doubles (6) on a line drive to right fielder Nick Loftin. Ronny Simon scores. Spencer Horwitz to 3rd. KC 5, PIT 3

  • B4

    Walk Spencer Horwitz walks. KC 5, PIT 2

  • B4

    Forceout Ronny Simon grounds into a force out, first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Ryan O'Hearn out at 2nd. Ronny Simon to 1st. KC 5, PIT 2

  • B4

    Hit By Pitch Ryan O'Hearn hit by pitch. KC 5, PIT 2

  • T4

    Strikeout Kyle Isbel called out on strikes. KC 5, PIT 2

  • T4

    Forceout Nick Loftin grounds into a force out, third baseman Nick Gonzales to second baseman Brandon Lowe. John Rave out at 2nd. Nick Loftin to 1st. KC 5, PIT 2

  • T4

    Walk John Rave walks. KC 5, PIT 2

  • T4

    Strikeout Salvador Perez strikes out swinging. KC 5, PIT 2

  • T4

    Home Run Michael Massey homers (13) on a fly ball to right field. KC 5, PIT 2

  • B3

    Flyout Nick Gonzales flies out to right fielder Nick Loftin. KC 4, PIT 2

  • B3

    Strikeout Oneil Cruz strikes out swinging. KC 4, PIT 2

  • B3

    Groundout Bryan Reynolds grounds out, pitcher Randy Dobnak to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. KC 4, PIT 2

  • B3

    Home Run Brandon Lowe homers (32) on a fly ball to center field. Konnor Griffin scores. KC 4, PIT 2

  • B3

    Single Konnor Griffin singles on a ground ball to right fielder Nick Loftin. KC 4, PIT 0

  • T3

    Double Maikel Garcia doubles (19) on a line drive to right fielder Ronny Simon. Bobby Witt Jr. scores. Vinnie Pasquantino scores. Maikel Garcia out at 3rd on the throw, right fielder Ronny Simon to second baseman Brandon Lowe to third baseman Nick Gonzales. KC 4, PIT 0

  • T3

    Single Vinnie Pasquantino singles on a sharp line drive to right fielder Ronny Simon. Kyle Isbel scores. Bobby Witt Jr. to 2nd. KC 2, PIT 0

  • T3

    Single Bobby Witt Jr. singles on a line drive to right fielder Ronny Simon. Kyle Isbel to 2nd. KC 1, PIT 0

  • T3

    Pop Out Carter Jensen pops out to third baseman Nick Gonzales in foul territory. KC 1, PIT 0

  • T3

    Single Kyle Isbel singles on a ground ball to center fielder Oneil Cruz. KC 1, PIT 0

  • T3

    Strikeout Nick Loftin called out on strikes. KC 1, PIT 0

  • B2

    Pop Out Henry Davis pops out to second baseman Michael Massey. KC 1, PIT 0

  • B2

    Lineout Spencer Horwitz lines out to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. KC 1, PIT 0

  • B2

    Double Ronny Simon doubles (3) on a line drive to left fielder John Rave. Ryan O'Hearn to 3rd. KC 1, PIT 0

  • B2

    Walk Ryan O'Hearn walks. KC 1, PIT 0

  • B2

    Flyout Nick Gonzales flies out to center fielder Kyle Isbel. KC 1, PIT 0

  • T2

    Strikeout John Rave strikes out swinging. KC 1, PIT 0

  • T2

    Pop Out Salvador Perez pops out to shortstop Konnor Griffin. KC 1, PIT 0

  • T2

    Lineout Michael Massey lines out to shortstop Konnor Griffin. KC 1, PIT 0

  • B1

    Single Oneil Cruz singles on a soft ground ball to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Bryan Reynolds out at home, first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino to third baseman Maikel Garcia. KC 1, PIT 0

  • B1

    Double Bryan Reynolds doubles (38) on a ground ball to left fielder John Rave. KC 1, PIT 0

  • B1

    Grounded Into DP Brandon Lowe grounds into a double play, second baseman Michael Massey to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Konnor Griffin out at 2nd. Brandon Lowe out at 1st. KC 1, PIT 0

  • B1

    Single Konnor Griffin singles on a ground ball to center fielder Kyle Isbel. KC 1, PIT 0

  • T1

    Pop Out Maikel Garcia pops out to catcher Henry Davis. KC 1, PIT 0

  • T1

    Home Run Vinnie Pasquantino homers (13) on a fly ball to right field. KC 1, PIT 0

  • T1

    Lineout Bobby Witt Jr. lines out to center fielder Oneil Cruz. KC 0, PIT 0

  • T1

    Strikeout Carter Jensen strikes out swinging. KC 0, PIT 0