Live Updates: Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Guardians (Game Three)

The Royals can take the series over the AL Central leaders with a win Saturday.

Jun 24, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans (55) pitches during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports / William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the Royals sitting at third place in the American League Central going into Saturday's tilt opposite division leader Cleveland, Kansas City can win the four-game series outright with a triumph in the set's penultimate matchup. Left-hander Cole Ragans, whose earned run average sits at just a notch over three even, gets the start for the home team at Kauffman Stadium.

The Guardians (51-29) don't just lead the division. The resurgent squad, led by first-year manager and former MLB catching veteran Stephen Vogt, has the third-best overall record in the AL. Getting the ball first for the visitors is Tanner Bibee, who is 6-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 16 games.

Kansas City has a respectable 46-38 record, nearly 10 games over .500 even though it does not occupy either of the top two places in its division's standings. Part of that is owed to the Guardians' great first-half start. Reigning division champion Minnesota is in second with a 45-37 record. The Royals, meanwhile, have won three games in a row, including the first two in the ongoing series against Cleveland. On Friday night, Kansas City put up double-digit runs and won 10-3. First pitch Saturday will be at 3:10 p.m. CT.

Live Updates (most recent at top):

Bottom 9:

• Perez strikes out swinging to end the game. FINAL: Guardians 7, Royals 2.

• Pasquantino goes down swinging. Royals down to their final out.

• Witt Jr. starts the half-inning with a groundout.

• Scott Barlow is on to try and finish this game out for Cleveland.

Top 9:

• Ramirez pops out, and it's last call for the Royals coming up, with Kansas City down 7-2.

• Freeman is called out on strikes, and there are two away.

• Kwan pops out to short.

• Carlos Hernandez will come on in relief of Nick Anderson, who pitched the eighth inning.

Bottom 8:

• Garcia strikes out swinging. The score remains 7-2 Cleveland, and Kansas City is down to its last three offensive outs.

• Isbel strikes out looking.

• Loftin strikes out swinging.

• Hunter Gaddis is now on the hill for Cleveland.

Top 8:

• Arias strikes out on a foul tip, and it's a clean inning for McArthur.

• Bo Naylor grounds out to second.

• Noel flies out to lead off the frame.

• James McArthur will now pitch for Kansas City.

Bottom 7:

• Melendez strikes out swinging, stranding a pair. The score remains 7-2 Cleveland.

• Renfroe singles to left, keeping the inning alive for MJ Melendez.

• Cade Smith will replace Sam Hentges on the mound for the Orioles.

• Massey reaches on a two-out single.

• Perez grounds out. Two away.

• Pasquantino strikes out swinging.

• Sam Hentges is on to pitch for Cleveland.

Top 7:

• Gimenez grounds out for the third out. Stretch time with the Guardians ahead, 7-2.

• Fry draws a walk.

• Josh Naylor lines out.

• Jose Ramirez hits a solo home run to left, extending the lead to 7-2 in favor of the Guardians. His 23rd this season. He too has his home runs on back-to-back days.

• Freeman fouls out to Pasquantino.

• Will Smith is now pitching for Kansas City.

Bottom 6:

• A Witt Jr. flyout ends the inning. No runs for the Royals, who are still down four runs.

• Garcia grounds out. Two gone.

• Isbel grounds out back to the pitcher, who completes the play at first. One away.

Top 6:

• Kwan grounds out to short, and that'll retire the side. Cleveland is still ahead 6-2.

• Arias grounds out to short.

• Zerpa strikes Bo Naylor out swinging.

Bottom 5:

• Loftin flies out, closing the book on the inning as Cleveland holds a 6-2 lead.

• Melendez flies out.

• Renfroe starts off the inning with a strikeout looking.

Top 5:

• Noel goes down looking, but plenty of damage is done. Guardians 6, Royals 2.

• Gimenez makes Kansas City pay for putting Fry on with an RBI knock, and it's a three-run inning for the Guardians. Runners on second and third.

• Fry is intentionally walked.

• The first pitch Zerpa throws is sent in play by Josh Naylor for an RBI double. Cleveland adds to the lead, and it is now 5-2.

• Angel Zerpa will now pitch for the Royals.

• Jose Ramirez doubles to score Freeman and give the Guardians a two-run lead.

• Freeman grounds into a fielder's choice and reaches, but Kwan is retired. Two gone.

• Kwan singles for his second hit of the game.

• Arias lines out to second base.

Bottom 4:

• Massey grounds into a double play to end the inning with his team still down 3-2.

• Perez flies out.

• Pasquantino gets aboard with a single to right.

Top 4:

• Bo Naylor grounds out to retire the side, but the lead now belongs to Cleveland, 3-2.

• Gimenez's at-bat proves pivotal, as Noel sends a two-strike, two-out home run to left field to get Cleveland the lead back. Second home run of his career. Cleveland 3, Kansas City 2.

• Gimenez gets a two-out single after working an 0-2 count full.

• Fry likewise goes down swinging.

• Josh Naylor falls victim to a swinging strikeout.

Bottom 3:

• Witt Jr. flies out to end the inning. Royals 2, Guardians 1.

• Isbel is picked off at second base for the second out.

• Garcia grounds into a fielder's choice and is retired, but Isbel gets into scoring position. One out.

• Isbel leads off the frame with a single on a soft grounder.

Top 3:

• Ramirez pops out to first, and Ragans retires the side in order. Royals 2, Guardians 1.

• Freeman goes down swinging on a payoff pitch.

• Kwan strikes out looking on a pitch outside. One away.

Bottom 2:

• Loftin pops out to short, ending the inning with no further damage for Bibee. Still a 2-1 game.

• Melendez strikes out looking.

• Renfroe flies out to center.

• Michael Massey breaks the tie with a solo home run to right. It was on the eighth pitch of the at-bat. The Royals working up the count early pays dividends. Kansas City 2, Cleveland 1.

Top 2:

• Nine-hole hitter Gabriel Arias grounds into an inning-ending double play. No score for the Guardians. Still knotted up at one apiece.

• Bo Naylor pops out to third base. One gone.

• Noel draws a leadoff walk, and for the second straight frame, Cleveland's leadoff man reaches.

Bottom 1:

• Perez strikes out swinging to end the first inning. Kansas City 1, Cleveland 1.

• Vinnie Pasquantino hits his 10th home run of the season and has left the yard on back-to-back days. The game is tied at one run apiece.

• Witt Jr. flies out, but the Royals are working Bibee early as that comes at the end of a nine-pitch at-bat.

• Garcia leads off the home half with a groundout to short to end a 10-pitch at-bat.

Top 1:

• Andres Gimenez pops out to first base, thus retiring the side. Cleveland gets the first run of the game and leads by one through half an inning.

• David Fry goes down swinging. Two out.

• Josh Naylor doubles home a run on a 3-0 count. Runners on second and third. Guardians get to Ragans early. Cleveland 1, Kansas City 0.

• Jose Ramirez strikes out swinging for the first out of the ball game.

• Ragans hits Tyler Freeman with a pitch, and the first two Guardian hitters reach.

• Steven Kwan leads the game off with a single to center.

Pregame:

• The game is underway as of 3:18 p.m. CT.

• The game is in a delay. More updates will follow as they become available.

• Kansas City lineup: 1. Maikel Garcia, second base; 2. Bobby Witt Jr., shortstop; 3. Vinnie Pasquantino, third base; 4. Salvador Perez, catcher; 5. Michael Massey, designated hitter; 6. Hunter Renfroe, right field; 7. MJ Melendez, left field; 8. Nick Loftin, third base; 9. Kyle Isbel, center field; P: Cole Ragans (L)

• Cleveland lineup: 1. Steven Kwan, left field; 2. Tyler Freeman, center field; 3. Jose Ramirez, third base; 4. Josh Naylor, third base; 5. David Fry, designated hitter; 6. Andres Gimenez, second base; 7; Jhonkensy Noel, right field; 8. Bo Naylor, catcher; 9. Gabriel Arias, shortstop; P: Tanner Bibee (R)