​KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 05: Seth Lugo #67 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Kauffman Stadium on September 05, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images The only team Seth Lugo has a worse career ERA (min. three appearances) against than tonight’s opponent, the Boston Red Sox, are the Cleveland Guardians. And considering how poorly Lugo has pitched since the All-Star Break and how often the Red Sox get to him, it doesn’t take much imagination at all to see his ERA of 5.61 against them going higher than the 5.88 he has against the Guardians.Add in that the only AL team the Royals have performed worse against in the past 3 years are the New York Yankees. Then slap some “Sonny Gray has dominated the Royals with a 10-2 record and a 1.74 ERA in 14 career starts” on top, and tonight’s game seems ripe for disaster for the good guys.Honestly, I don’t think I have anything more to say about the pitching matchup.LineupsJac Caglianone is still missing from the lineup, even as the DH. Of course, to stick him in at DH, the Royals would have to give Salvy a day off. And why would they do that now when he’s finally hitting well and the season is nearly over?