2021 Kansas City Royals season

The 2021 Kansas City Royals season was the 53rd season of the franchise, and their 49th season at Kauffman Stadium. The team finished with a 74–88 win–loss record, landing them in fourth place in the American League Central ahead of the Minnesota Twins by one game. They won their 4,000th game in franchise history on September 29.

Regular season The Royals won 14–10 against the Texas Rangers to open the season. The 14 runs set a Royals franchise record for Opening Day.

Season standings

American League Central

American League Wild Card

Record against opponents

Game log

|- style="background:#bfb;" | 1 || April 1 || Rangers || 14–10 || Hernández (1–0) || Cody (0–1) || Davis (1) || 9,155 || 1–0 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || April 3 || Rangers || 11–4 || Minor (1–0) || Sborz (0–1) || — || 8,889 || 2–0 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || April 4 || Rangers || 3–7 || Lyles (1–0) || Singer (0–1) || — || 8,869 || 2–1 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || April 5 || @ Indians || 3–0 || Duffy (1–0) || Allen (0–1) || Hahn (1) || 8,914 || 3–1 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || April 7 || @ Indians || 2–4 || Clase (1–0) || Holland (0–1) || Wittgren (1) || 5,908 || 3–2 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 6 || April 8 || @ White Sox || 0–6 || Lynn (1–0) || Keller (0–1) || — || 8,207 || 3–3 || L2 |- style="background:#bbb;" | – || April 10 || @ White Sox || colspan=7 | Postponed (Rain, Makeup May 14) |- style="background:#bfb;" | 7 || April 11 || @ White Sox || 4–3 || Holland (1–1) || Crochet (0–1) || Zimmer (1) || 7,695 || 4–3 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 8 || April 12 || Angels || 3–10 || Cobb (1–0) || Singer (0–2) || — || 6,962 || 4–4 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 9 || April 13 || Angels || 3–2 || Duffy (2–0) || Bundy (0–1) || Holland (1) || 6,404 || 5–4 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 10 || April 14 || Angels || 6–1 || Keller (1–1) || Canning (0–1) || — || 6,814 || 6–4 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 11 || April 15 || Blue Jays || 7–5 || Junis (1–0) || Kay (0–1) || Barlow (1) || 6,266 || 7–4 || W3 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 16 || Blue Jays || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain, Makeup: April 17) |- style="background:#fbb;" | 12 || April 17 || Blue Jays || 1–5 || Matz (3–0) || Minor (1–1) || — || N/A || 7–5 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 13 || April 17 || Blue Jays || 3–2 || Holland (2–1) || Payamps (0–1) || — || 8,950 || 8–5 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 14 || April 18 || Blue Jays || 2–0 || Zimmer (1–0) || Zeuch (0–2) || Holland (2) || 9,042 || 9–5 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 15 || April 19 || Rays || 1–4 || Fleming (1–1) || Duffy (2–1) || — || 5,589 || 9–6 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 16 || April 20 || Rays || 7–14 || Kittredge (3–0) || Keller (1–2) || Richards (1) || 4,481 || 9–7 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 17 || April 21 || Rays || 9–8 || Barlow (1–0) || Castillo (0–1) || — || 5,053 || 10–7 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 18 || April 23 || @ Tigers || 6–2 || Minor (2–1) || Mize (1–2) || — || 8,000 || 11–7 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 19 || April 24 || @ Tigers || 2–1 || Singer (1–2) || Boyd (2–2) || Staumont (1) || 8,000 || 12–7 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 20 || April 25 || @ Tigers || 4–0 || Duffy (3–1) || Skubal (0–3) || — || 8,000 || 13–7 || W4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 21 || April 26 || @ Tigers || 3–2 || Keller (2–2) || Turnbull (1–1) || Staumont (2) || 7,288 || 14–7 || W5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 22 || April 27 || @ Pirates || 1–2 || Underwood Jr. (1–0) || Junis (1–1) || Rodríguez (4) || 5,510 || 14–8 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 23 || April 28 || @ Pirates || 9–6 || Zimmer (2–0) || Keller (1–3) || Staumont (3) || 4,226 || 15–8 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 24 || April 30 || @ Twins || 1–9 || Pineda (2–1) || Singer (1–3) || — || 9,982 || 15–9 || L1

|- style="background:#bfb;" | 25 || May 1 || @ Twins || 11–3 || Duffy (4–1) || Shoemaker (1–3) || — || 9,993 || 16–9 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 26 || May 2 || @ Twins || 4–13 || Berríos (3–2) || Keller (2–3) || — || 9,997 || 16–10 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 27 || May 3 || Indians || 6–8 || Shaw (1–0) || Junis (1–2) || Clase (6) || 6,919 || 16–11 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 28 || May 4 || Indians || 3–7 || Wittgren (1–1) || Staumont (0–1)|| — || 5,997 || 16–12 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 29 || May 5 || Indians || 4–5 || Wittgren (2–1) || Davis (0–1) || Karinchak (3) || 9,640 || 16–13 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 30 || May 6 || Indians || 0–4 || McKenzie (1–1) || Duffy (4–2) || — || 9,259 || 16–14 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 31 || May 7 || White Sox || 0–3 || Rodón (5–0) || Keller (2–4) || Hendriks (6) || 16,011 || 16–15 || L6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 32 || May 8 || White Sox || 1–9 || Lynn (3–1) || Lynch (0–1) || — || 15,895 || 16–16 || L7 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 33 || May 9 || White Sox || 3–9 || Giolito (2–3) || Minor (2–2) || — || 12,102 || 16–17 || L8 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 34 || May 11 || @ Tigers || 7–8 || Soto (3–1) || Barlow (1–1) || — || 7,312 || 16–18 || L9 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 35 || May 12 || @ Tigers || 2–4 || Mize (2–3) || Duffy (4–3) || Soto (4) || 7,133 || 16–19 || L10 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 36 || May 13 || @ Tigers || 3–4 || Turnbull (2–2) || Lynch (0–2) || Fulmer (2) || 7,369 || 16–20 || L11 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 37 || May 14 || @ White Sox || 6–2 || Keller (3–4) || Giolito (2–4) || — || 8,574 || 17–20 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 38 || May 14 || @ White Sox || 1–3 || Heuer (3–1)|| Junis (1–3)|| Hendriks (8) || 9,823 || 17–21 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 39 || May 15 || @ White Sox || 5–1 || Minor (3–2) || Rodón (5–1) || — || 9,886 || 18–21 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 40 || May 16 || @ White Sox || 3–4 || Foster (2–1) || Davis (0–2) || — || 9,928 || 18–22 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 41 || May 18 || Brewers || 2–0 || Brentz (1–0) || Woodruff (2–2) || Staumont (4) || 9,298 || 19–22 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 42 || May 19 || Brewers || 6–4 || Barlow (2–1) || Feyereisen (0–2) || Staumont (5) || 8,950 || 20–22 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 43 || May 21 || Tigers || 5–7 || Ureña (2–4) || Zuber (0–1) || Fulmer (4) || 17,080 || 20–23 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 44 || May 22 || Tigers || 7–5 || Singer (2–3) || Boyd (2–5) || — || 14,226 || 21–23 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 45 || May 23 || Tigers || 3–2 || Zimmer (3–0) || Fulmer (3–3) || — || 15,540 || 22–23 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 46 || May 25 || @ Rays || 2–1 || Keller (4–4) || Hill (3–2) || Zimmer (2) || 4,946 || 23–23 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 47 || May 26 || @ Rays || 1–2 || Feyereisen (1–2) || Zuber (0–2) || — || 4,973 || 23–24 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 48 || May 27 || @ Rays || 2–7 || McClanahan (2–0) || Singer (2–4) || — || 5,519 || 23–25 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 49 || May 28 || @ Twins || 8–3 || Bubic (1–0) || Dobnak (1–4) || — || 14,260 || 24–25 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 50 || May 29 || @ Twins || 5–6 || Happ (3–2) || Santana (0–1) || Rogers (4) || 18,444 || 24–26 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 51 || May 30 || @ Twins || 6–3 || Keller (5–4) || Shoemaker (2–6) || Holland (3) || 17,923 || 25–26 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 52 || May 31 || Pirates || 7–3 || Minor (4–2) || Kuhl (0–2) || — || 12,604 || 26–26 || W2

|- style="background:#bfb;" | 53 || June 1 || Pirates || 10–5 || Singer (3–4) || Crowe (0–4) || — || 10,333 || 27–26 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 54 || June 3 || Twins || 6–5 || Junis (2–3) || Robles (1–2) || Barlow (2) || 11,072 || 28–26 || W4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 55 || June 4 || Twins || 14–5 || Keller (6–4) || Shoemaker (2–7) || — || 22,612 || 29–26 || W5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 56 || June 5 || Twins || 4–5 || Berríos (6–2) || Minor (4–3) || Robles (5) || 21,574 || 29–27 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 57 || June 6 || Twins || 1–2 || Farrell (1–0) || Singer (3–5) || Rogers (5) || 14,046 || 29–28 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 58 || June 7 || @ Angels || 3–8 || Bundy (1–6) || Kowar (0–1) || — || 9,481 || 29–29 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 59 || June 8 || @ Angels || 1–8 || Heaney (4–3) || Bubic (1–1) || — || 9,387 || 29–30 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 60 || June 9 || @ Angels || 1–6 || Canning (5–4) || Keller (6–5) || — || 10,474 || 29–31 || L5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 61 || June 10 || @ Athletics || 6–1 || Minor (5–3) || Montas (6–6) || — || 3,211 || 30–31 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 62 || June 11 || @ Athletics || 3–4 || Trivino (3–2) || Barlow (2–2) || — || 6,964 || 30–32 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 63 || June 12 || @ Athletics || 2–11 || Kaprielian (3–1) || Kowar (0–1) || — || 7,678 || 30–33 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 64 || June 13 || @ Athletics || 3–6 || Bassitt (7–2) || Bubic (1–2) || Trivino (10) || 7,060 || 30–34 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 65 || June 14 || Tigers || 3–10 || Jiménez (2–0) || Keller (6–6) || — || 11,910 || 30–35 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 66 || June 15 || Tigers || 3–4 || Mize (4–4) || Minor (5–4) || Soto (6) || 15,947 || 30–36 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 67 || June 16 || Tigers || 5–6 || Skubal (4–7) || Holland (2–2) || Fulmer (5) || 11,327 || 30–37 || L6 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 68 || June 18 || Red Sox || 5–3 || Bubic (2–2) || Pivetta (6–3) || Holland (4) || 29,870 || 31–37 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 69 || June 19 || Red Sox || 1–7 || Pérez (5–4) || Keller (6–7) || — || 24,568 || 31–38 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 70 || June 20 || Red Sox || 7–3 || Minor (6–4) || Eovaldi (7–4) || — || 20,726 || 32–38 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 71 || June 22 || @ Yankees || 6–5 || Brentz (2–0) || Loáisiga (7–3) || Holland (5) || 21,130 || 33–38 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 72 || June 23 || @ Yankees || 5–6 || Chapman (5–2) || Holland (2–3) || — || 25,032 || 33–39 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 73 || June 24 || @ Yankees || 1–8 || Taillon (2–4) || Keller (6–8) || — || 21,350 || 33–40 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 74 || June 25 || @ Rangers || 4–9 || Dunning (3–6) || Minor (6–5) || — || 30,389 || 33–41 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 75 || June 26 || @ Rangers || 0–8 || Gibson (6–0) || Bubic (2–3) || — || 31,612 || 33–42 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 76 || June 27 || @ Rangers || 1–4 || Lyles (3–5) || Singer (3–6) || Kennedy (13) || 29,046 || 33–43 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 77 || June 28 || @ Red Sox || 5–6 || Sawamura (4–0) || Staumont (0–2) || Barnes (17) || 22,766 || 33–44 || L6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 78 || June 29 || @ Red Sox || 6–7 || Ríos (2–0) || Brentz (2–1) || Barnes (18) || 25,180 || 33–45 || L7 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 79 || June 30 || @ Red Sox || 2–6 || Pérez (6–4) || Minor (6–6) || — || 24,616 || 33–46 || L8

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 80 || July 1 || @ Red Sox || 1–15 || Eovaldi (9–4) || Bubic (2–4) || — || 27,913 || 33–47 || L9 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 81 || July 2 || Twins || 7–4 || Lovelady (1–0) || Happ (4–4) || Barlow (3) || 31,824 || 34–47 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 82 || July 3 || Twins || 6–3 || Zimmer (4–0) || Jax (1–1) || Barlow (4) || 16,133 || 35–47 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 83 || July 4 || Twins || 2–6 || Maeda (4–3) || Keller (6–9) || — || 15,350 || 35–48 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 84 || July 5 || Reds || 2–6 || Gutiérrez (4–3) || Minor (6–7) || — || 14,709 || 35–49 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 85 || July 6 || Reds || 7–6 || Lovelady (2–0) || Hembree (2–4) || — || 14,491 || 36–49 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 86 || July 7 || Reds || 2–5 || Gray (2–4) || Barlow (2–3) || Hembree (4) || 11,457 || 36–50 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 87 || July 8 || @ Indians || 4–7 || Karinchak (5–2) || Holland (2–4) || — || 13,272 || 36–51 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;"