The Kansas City Royals wrap up their road trip with a Sunday afternoon matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 20, 2026, with first pitch set for 1:35 PM ET. Michael Wacha gets the ball for Kansas City against Pittsburgh's Lake Bachar. With the regular season winding down and every game carrying real weight in the standings, the Royals need to take care of business against a Pirates club that has its own reasons to play spoiler. This one is available on Royals.TV and KFNZ 610AM for fans back home.
Pitching Matchup: Michael Wacha vs. Lake Bachar
Michael Wacha draws the start for Kansas City, and the veteran right-hander is exactly the kind of arm you want taking the ball in a meaningful September game. Wacha has been a reliable presence in the Royals rotation, a seasoned pitcher who knows how to work through a lineup and keep his team in games. He does not overpower hitters, but his ability to command multiple pitches and adjust within at-bats makes him a legitimate factor every time he toes the rubber.
On the Pittsburgh side, Lake Bachar gets the nod. Bachar is a name that Royals hitters will need to work to get familiar with early, and that is precisely where Kansas City's lineup discipline will be tested. The approach at the plate — working counts, making Bachar throw strikes, and capitalizing on mistake pitches — will be central to generating offense.
Keys to Watch for Kansas City
- Wacha's command early: If Wacha can establish his fastball and keep Pittsburgh's lineup off-balance in the first three innings, Kansas City's bullpen gets protected and the Royals stay in control of the game's tempo.
- Plate discipline against an unfamiliar arm: Facing a pitcher the lineup has limited experience against, the Royals need patient at-bats. Walking is winning early against Bachar until Kansas City's hitters get a read on his stuff.
- Situational hitting: Scoring first at PNC Park matters. The Royals need to convert when runners reach base, particularly with two outs, to avoid leaving runs on the table against a Pirates staff that can keep games close.
- Bullpen management: With the regular season in its final stretch, how manager Matt Quatraro deploys his relievers behind Wacha will be worth watching, especially if the game tightens in the seventh inning and beyond.
Prediction
This is a winnable game for Kansas City. Wacha is the more proven commodity on the mound, and if the Royals offense generates any kind of sustained pressure against Bachar, they should have enough to come away with a road victory. Pittsburgh will compete — the Pirates are never a pushover at PNC Park — but Kansas City's experience advantage in this pitching matchup tips the scale. Expect a close game that the Royals take by a run or two. Royals 4, Pirates 2.
