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In 2024, the New York Yankees eliminated the Kansas City Royals from the postseason. Presently, only one of these clubs has consistently played like a playoff contender.

The American League East-leading Yankees eye a sixth straight win over the Royals when New York visits Kansas City in Tuesday night’s series opener.

Last year, Kansas City returned to the postseason for the first time since winning the 2015 World Series. However, after sweeping Baltimore in the wild-card round, the Royals managed just one win in the best-of-five division series versus New York.

A little more than two months into the 2025 campaign, the Yankees own the second-best record in the AL and entered Monday with a 4 1/2-game lead in the East. That’s after allowing 21 runs in two straight losses against rival Boston.

“The message is: ‘Just keep going,'” New York star Aaron Judge said. “… That’s baseball. Just go back to work.”

Kansas City, meanwhile, was 24-16 on May 9 but has averaged 3.3 runs while going 10-16 since. The Royals entered Monday fourth in the AL Central but won 7-5 on Sunday to avoid a series sweep at the hand of the lowly Chicago White Sox.

“You got to keep putting good at-bats together,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

Back in April, Kansas City scored just six runs while being swept at New York.

Judge went 7-for-10 with a double and a solo homer during that April series. Batting a major league-best .396, Judge had three hits, including his 22nd and 23rd home runs, during Sunday’s 11-7 home loss to the Red Sox.

“He’s probably the best hitter on the planet right now,” teammate Paul Goldschmidt told reporters.

Judge and the Yankees will get their first look at talented Kansas City rookie Noah Cameron (2-1, 0.85 ERA), who has been stellar in five career starts. The left-hander from nearby St. Joseph, Mo., has allowed just three runs while giving up 15 hits and 10 walks over 31 2/3 innings.

Cameron yielded two hits over six scoreless innings Thursday, but the Royals’ bullpen failed to hold a 3-0 lead in a 6-5, 10-inning loss at St. Louis. He’s the first pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 to allow one or no runs while going six or more innings in his first five career starts.

“I’m just trying to, obviously, help us win, and pitch deep into the game. And, obviously, give us a chance,” Cameron told the MLB Network.

Fellow Royals rookie Jac Caglianone, who will play his first home game on Tuesday since debuting June 3, had four hits Sunday at Chicago after going 2-for-21 in his first five career games.

Caglianone and the Royals could again have their hands full against scheduled Yankees starter Max Fried (8-1, 1.78 ERA), who ranks among the AL leaders in wins and ERA. The left-hander showed off his dominance Thursday by limiting Cleveland to just one hit and two walks while striking out seven in a 4-0 New York win.

Against the Royals on April 15, Fried gave up five hits and two walks but fanned seven over 6 innings in the Yankees’ 4-2 victory.

Kansas City star Bobby Witt Jr. is 2-for-6 with a double lifetime versus Fried. He’s also batting .345 with two homers and six RBIs in seven June contests.

–Field Level Media