Royals Look to Capitalize as Diamondbacks Battle Injuries and Heat in Game 89 Showdown
As we head into Game 89 of the season, it’s Royals vs. Diamondbacks in a matchup that has all the makings of a quiet sleeper game with big implications. The Kansas City Royals, currently sitting at 41-47, are rolling into Phoenix after splitting a tough four-game series with the Mariners. Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks, hovering around .500 at 43-44, are just trying to hold things together with a banged-up roster and a brutal July heat wave looming over the desert.
First of all—how do people live in Phoenix? I mean seriously. As I’m saying this, it’s 103 degrees there. That’s not even the high—that’s just right now. The forecast for July 9th is an eye-melting 115 during the day and 91 at night. At least in Kansas City, we get a break after the sun goes down. Dry heat or not, that’s the kind of climate that makes even baseball feel like a survival sport.
But let’s get to the game. The Royals are sending out Kris Bubic tonight, and he's been the team’s most consistent and dominant arm this year. He’s not just having a strong season for KC—he’s been one of the top 10 pitchers in all of MLB this year. This could be one of those outings where he gives the Royals a real edge.
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On the other side, Arizona’s starting Eduardo Rodriguez. He’s had decent strikeout stuff over his 72 innings, but luck hasn’t been on his side. A high BABIP and low strand rate have inflated his ERA to 5.13. That said, he’s still dangerous, especially if he’s on his game and the Royals bats go quiet, as they’ve done far too often this season.
Both teams are in similar territory—trying to build around cornerstone stars. Bobby Witt Jr. for the Royals, Corbin Carroll for the Dbacks. Interestingly, both were drafted in 2019 and debuted in 2022, rising as leaders on young squads clawing their way to postseason relevance. The Diamondbacks even made it to the World Series in 2023 after just 84 wins—proof that a hot streak at the right time can change everything. Unfortunately, Carroll’s currently sidelined, and the Dbacks’ big offseason pitching addition, Corbin Burnes, is out after Tommy John surgery. They’re vulnerable right now.
That opens the door for the Royals. KC hasn’t been playing great—just 3-7 in their last ten—but this series feels like a real opportunity. Bobby Witt Jr. has been heating up, with hits in seven straight games and a .310 average in his last 10. Vinnie Pasquantino’s also showing life with 12 homers and 49 RBIs on the year.
Look, it’s not just about records anymore. It’s about who can take advantage of the moment. This isn’t a marquee game by national standards, but for two teams trying to scrape together momentum in July, it matters. A series win here could set a tone for the second half of the season.
The game kicks off at 8:40pm Central, and whether you’re tuning in from Kansas City or catching it via MLB Network out-of-market, this is one to keep an eye on. Both the Royals and Diamondbacks may be down, but they’re far from out.
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