May 19, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic (50) throws a pitch during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images Kris Bubic hopes his exceptional performance in May carries over to June and helps the Kansas City Royals snap the Detroit Tigers’ road-series winning streak.
Brimming with confidence, Bubic will aim to continue his dominance in this series rubber game against the American League Central-leading Tigers on Sunday afternoon.
In his sixth major league season, two years removed from Tommy John surgery and back in a rotation for the first time since 2022, Bubic (5-2, 1.45 ERA) has been one of baseball’s biggest surprises through 11 starts this season.
Entering play Saturday, the left-hander owned the lowest ERA of any qualified starter, and he allowed just two runs and eight walks and struck out 33 over 32 1/3 innings while going 3-0 with an 0.56 ERA in five May starts.
“It’s almost like you don’t expect them to score at all,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “What he’s doing is phenomenal. You can’t take it for granted. You appreciate every out.”
Bubic completed seven innings and allowed two hits over each of his last two outings. He yielded one of those runs and two walks while striking out nine during a 2-1, 10-inning victory last Sunday at Minnesota.
“It’s been a lot of fun this year,” said Bubic, 27, who didn’t have an official spot in the Royals’ rotation entering spring training. “Just trying to take the opportunity with the starting rotation and run with it.
Bubic is 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA in seven career starts versus Detroit. He last faced the Tigers in that capacity in 2022.
He’ll have a tough act to follow after teammate Michael Wacha allowed one hit and struck out six over seven innings — while locked in a pitchers’ duel with Tigers ace Tarik Skubal — in Kansas City’s 1-0 victory Saturday. Vinnie Pasquantino delivered an RBI single in the eighth for the Royals, who snapped Detroit’s five-game winning streak.
“We know that we’re looking up at (the Tigers) in the standings, so we want to win every time we have a chance against them,” Quatraro said. “A win in that situation is really good.”
Kansas City has split its last 12 games and hasn’t won back-to-back contests since May 18-19.
Meanwhile, Detroit has won 10 of 13 games while claiming four consecutive road series. The Tigers, who won 7-5 in Friday’s series opener, averaged 6.7 runs during a 12-3 road stretch before Saturday.
Scheduled Tigers starter Keider Montero (2-1, 4.54 ERA) has bounced back and forth between the minors and the big club in 2025. Making his first start since May 8 after two lengthy relief outings since being recalled from Triple-A Toledo on May 13, the right-hander tossed five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks, during Monday’s 3-1 home win over San Francisco.
“He didn’t back down from them,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said of Montero, who has made 21 starts in 26 appearances since making his major league debut roughly one year ago. “He’s always going to compete.”
In his only previous start against the Royals, last season, Montero yielded a three-run homer to Pasquantino and one other run over seven innings of the Tigers’ 7-1 home loss.
Pasquantino is batting .348 in his last 23 games.
Detroit’s Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene are a combined 4-for-10 versus Bubic. Torkelson was 0-for-3 on Saturday but is batting .318 with 10 RBIs against the Royals this season.
–Field Level Media
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Who is Derek Lunsford, the three times champion at Mr. Olympia 2025? Check all the category results
Derek Lunsford once again amazed the bodybuilding world with a physique that eclipsed the competition at the 61st edition of Mr. Olympia, held in Las Vegas. The prestigious event gathered the sport's elite across 11 fiercely contested categories, where athletes showcased years of dedication and discipline in pursuit of the ultimate bodybuilding crown.Mr. Olympia remains the pinnacle of competitive bodybuilding, bringing together the best physiques on the planet for a shot at glory and record prize money. This year's edition featured a total prize pool surpassing $2 million. The event not only celebrated physical excellence but also highlighted the sport's growing popularity and global reach.Who is Derek Lunsford, the back-to-back winner of Mr. Olympia 2025?Derek Lunsford has become one of the most dominant and admired figures in professional bodybuilding, making history with achievements few have ever matched. Born in 1993 […]
Celtic Dino headlines ‘Welsh Champion’ Hurdle
We have competitive jumps action on Sunday with an intriguing card at Chepstow, live on Sky Sports Racing...3.17 Chepstow - Progressive pair Celtic Dino and Tutti Quanti clashSam Thomas saddled the 1-2 in the DragonBet 'Welsh Champion' Hurdle last year with Lump Sum seeing off Steel Ally and Celtic Dino will take plenty of beating in here. A solid third when favourite at Aintree on his final start of last season, a five-pound rise seems fair, and his trainer is sure to have him ready to roll.Tutti Quanti catches the eye for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. This improving five-year-old is likely to head over fences at some point but may capitalise on a mark of 132 beforehand.Listentoyourheart and Wilful top a list of alternatives. 2.42 Chepstow - Top hurdler Blueking d'Oroux tackles fencesClassy hurdler Blueking d'Oroux makes his chasing […]
Tiger undergoes ‘successful’ surgery in fresh injury setback
Tiger Woods has suffered a further injury setback after confirming that he has undergone "successful" surgery on his back to try and limit "pain and a lack of mobility".The 15-time major winner had lumbar disk replacement surgery after he experienced pain in his lower back, the second time he has undergone back surgery in just over a year and at least the seventh he has had during his career. Woods' surgery was performed on Friday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, with the 49-year-old still yet to confirm any timeframe for his latest rehabilitation or any proposed date for a potential return to competitive action. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player A look back at the highlights from Tiger Woods' historic five wins at The Masters, including his 2019 success In a statement […]
Tomorrow’s Top 25 Today: Indiana replaces Oregon, Texas returns to college football rankings
The debate at the top of the college football rankings gained another worthy contender on Saturday when Indiana marched in Oregon and handed the Ducks a stunning double-digit loss. Oregon has previously been in the mix -- with No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Miami -- as a team worthy of consideration for the "best team in the country" moniker. The voting points in the AP Top 25 poll last week reflected that with a small margin between Ohio State at No. 1 and Oregon at No. 3 and then a relatively much larger gap before getting to Ole Miss at No. 4. Well, that top tier changed in Week 7, and the new college football rankings should reflect that as Oregon falls out but Indiana joins the new debate for "best team in the country." While Indiana faces the same […]
Curt Cignetti Dreamed Bigger — Now Indiana Football Is Living It
EUGENE, Ore. — When it finally ended — when the meaningless heave from Oregon quarterback Dante Moore rattled between bodies and dropped to the Autzen Stadium turf — wave upon wave of deliriously defiant Hoosiers raced toward the west end zone, toward a mob of ebullient Indiana fans that had flown across the country and were now inching ever closer to the front row, encroaching on territory long ago vacated by dejected Ducks supporters. Some of Indiana’s players promptly hoisted themselves atop the railing like a modified Lambeau Leap. Others raised their hands and pointed at familiar faces in the stands. Everyone sang, clapped and danced as the fight song blared. Indiana Hoosiers players and fans celebrate a 30-20 win over the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) <!--> -->And then, after completing a brief postgame interview […]
Dodgers, Brewers clash in rematch of 2018 NL Championship Series: Key matchups, prediction
By: Fabian Ardaya, Andy McCullough and Eno SarrisIt will be the self-described “Average Joes” against the team with the richest payroll in the history of the sport for the National League pennant, as the Milwaukee Brewers will look to unseat the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in a rematch of the 2018 National League Championship Series. It was the Brewers who finished with the best record in the National League this summer, with their particular dominance over the Dodgers perhaps serving as the difference between these two sides — the Brewers went 6-0 and frustrated the Dodgers en route to finishing with four more regular-season wins.AdvertisementThe Brewers will battle an attempt at history. The Dodgers, seeking to become baseball’s first repeat champions in a quarter century, reloaded this winter and have assembled a payroll that will ultimately cost […]
Related
Who is Derek Lunsford, the three times champion at Mr. Olympia 2025? Check all the category results
Derek Lunsford once again amazed the bodybuilding world with a physique that eclipsed the competition at the 61st edition of Mr. Olympia, held in Las Vegas. The prestigious event gathered the sport's elite across 11 fiercely contested categories, where athletes showcased years of dedication and discipline in pursuit of the ultimate bodybuilding crown.Mr. Olympia remains the pinnacle of competitive bodybuilding, bringing together the best physiques on the planet for a shot at glory and record prize money. This year's edition featured a total prize pool surpassing $2 million. The event not only celebrated physical excellence but also highlighted the sport's growing popularity and global reach.Who is Derek Lunsford, the back-to-back winner of Mr. Olympia 2025?Derek Lunsford has become one of the most dominant and admired figures in professional bodybuilding, making history with achievements few have ever matched. Born in 1993 […]
Tiger undergoes ‘successful’ surgery in fresh injury setback
Tiger Woods has suffered a further injury setback after confirming that he has undergone "successful" surgery on his back to try and limit "pain and a lack of mobility".The 15-time major winner had lumbar disk replacement surgery after he experienced pain in his lower back, the second time he has undergone back surgery in just over a year and at least the seventh he has had during his career. Woods' surgery was performed on Friday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, with the 49-year-old still yet to confirm any timeframe for his latest rehabilitation or any proposed date for a potential return to competitive action. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player A look back at the highlights from Tiger Woods' historic five wins at The Masters, including his 2019 success In a statement […]
Celtic Dino headlines ‘Welsh Champion’ Hurdle
We have competitive jumps action on Sunday with an intriguing card at Chepstow, live on Sky Sports Racing...3.17 Chepstow - Progressive pair Celtic Dino and Tutti Quanti clashSam Thomas saddled the 1-2 in the DragonBet 'Welsh Champion' Hurdle last year with Lump Sum seeing off Steel Ally and Celtic Dino will take plenty of beating in here. A solid third when favourite at Aintree on his final start of last season, a five-pound rise seems fair, and his trainer is sure to have him ready to roll.Tutti Quanti catches the eye for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. This improving five-year-old is likely to head over fences at some point but may capitalise on a mark of 132 beforehand.Listentoyourheart and Wilful top a list of alternatives. 2.42 Chepstow - Top hurdler Blueking d'Oroux tackles fencesClassy hurdler Blueking d'Oroux makes his chasing […]
Tomorrow’s Top 25 Today: Indiana replaces Oregon, Texas returns to college football rankings
The debate at the top of the college football rankings gained another worthy contender on Saturday when Indiana marched in Oregon and handed the Ducks a stunning double-digit loss. Oregon has previously been in the mix -- with No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Miami -- as a team worthy of consideration for the "best team in the country" moniker. The voting points in the AP Top 25 poll last week reflected that with a small margin between Ohio State at No. 1 and Oregon at No. 3 and then a relatively much larger gap before getting to Ole Miss at No. 4. Well, that top tier changed in Week 7, and the new college football rankings should reflect that as Oregon falls out but Indiana joins the new debate for "best team in the country." While Indiana faces the same […]
Curt Cignetti Dreamed Bigger — Now Indiana Football Is Living It
EUGENE, Ore. — When it finally ended — when the meaningless heave from Oregon quarterback Dante Moore rattled between bodies and dropped to the Autzen Stadium turf — wave upon wave of deliriously defiant Hoosiers raced toward the west end zone, toward a mob of ebullient Indiana fans that had flown across the country and were now inching ever closer to the front row, encroaching on territory long ago vacated by dejected Ducks supporters. Some of Indiana’s players promptly hoisted themselves atop the railing like a modified Lambeau Leap. Others raised their hands and pointed at familiar faces in the stands. Everyone sang, clapped and danced as the fight song blared. Indiana Hoosiers players and fans celebrate a 30-20 win over the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) <!--> -->And then, after completing a brief postgame interview […]
Dodgers, Brewers clash in rematch of 2018 NL Championship Series: Key matchups, prediction
By: Fabian Ardaya, Andy McCullough and Eno SarrisIt will be the self-described “Average Joes” against the team with the richest payroll in the history of the sport for the National League pennant, as the Milwaukee Brewers will look to unseat the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in a rematch of the 2018 National League Championship Series. It was the Brewers who finished with the best record in the National League this summer, with their particular dominance over the Dodgers perhaps serving as the difference between these two sides — the Brewers went 6-0 and frustrated the Dodgers en route to finishing with four more regular-season wins.AdvertisementThe Brewers will battle an attempt at history. The Dodgers, seeking to become baseball’s first repeat champions in a quarter century, reloaded this winter and have assembled a payroll that will ultimately cost […]
Be the first to leave a comment