Yordan Alvarez is having an MVP-caliber season for the Houston Astros.
That includes continued success against the Kansas City Royals.
Following a historic first-inning performance in the opener of this three-game set, Alvarez will look to help the Astros secure their first winning series at Kansas City in four years on Saturday night.
Alvarez hit a two-run homer and a grand slam during a nine-run first inning for the Astros, who held on for a 10-8 win on Friday night.
Batting .321 with 24 homers, 54 RBIs and riding a 19-game on-base streak, Alvarez joined Lee May (1974) and Jeff Bagwell (1994) as the only Astros to homer twice in one inning.
Alvarez and Boston’s David Ortiz (2008) are the only players since 1920 to hit two home runs and post six RBIs in a first inning.
“Yordan is special. You just tip your cap and enjoy the show,” teammate Jeremy Pena told Space City Home Network.
Alvarez is batting a superb .350 with 14 home runs and 32 RBIs in 33 career games against the Royals.
“Incredible what he can do. Just incredible how he’s able to get big hits,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “He’s just an amazing player.”
However, the Astros are 3-7 at Kansas City since last winning a series there in June 2022. And they could have their hands full Saturday against scheduled Royals starter Noah Cameron (3-4, 3.84 ERA), who will face the Astros for the first time.
The left-hander began his second major league season with a 5.55 ERA and just one quality start through his first seven outings of 2026. However, he’s posted a 1.80 ERA, walked just three batters and recorded a quality start in four of five since then.
On Sunday at Minnesota, Cameron yielded an unearned run, three hits and struck out seven without a walk over six innings of Kansas City’s 6-5 victory.
“His stuff was good,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He’s throwing more strikes early in the count. … His breaking ball has gotten better, and the slider, as well.”
Though Kansas City scored five times in the bottom of the first on Friday, then got within 9-8 in the eighth, it has lost 13 of the last 18 games at home.
The Royals’ Michael Massey had two hits with two RBIs on Friday. He’s batting .366 with nine RBIs in his last 11 contests. Teammate Jac Caglianone went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts Friday but still is batting .457 in his last 10 games.
Scheduled Houston starter Mike Burrows (3-8, 5.77 ERA) will face the Royals for the first time since making his major league debut in 2024. The right-hander has allowed 11 runs — nine earned — and 16 hits, including four homers, while walking seven over 10 innings in losing his last two starts. Both came at home.
However, Burrows has a 3.12 ERA and three quality starts in his last four games on the road.
“Try to minimize the damage; that’s always been key for him,” Espada said. “He works really hard. He’s got really good stuff. When this guy is executing, he’s lights out.”
–Field Level Media
