If the Chicago Cubs make the postseason, adding another quality starter who can slot into a playoff series would make them a serious World Series threat.

Friday night’s game at Kauffman will be broadcast on Apple TV+ and Saturday’s contest will air on Fox 4 as part of the network’s weekly national game. The other game Fox will show nationally on Saturday will be the Dodgers at Red Sox.

The Royals are hoping they can show enough over the next week to keep trade candidate Seth Lugo in Kansas City.

Vinnie Pasquantino hit two of Kansas City’s four two-run homers and doubled on a 3-for-4 afternoon, leading the Royals past the Chicago Cubs 8-4 on Wednesday. Salvador Perez and rookie Tyler Tolbert also went deep as the Royals took two of three games from the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Vanderbilt baseball recruit Sean Gamble signed with the Kansas City Royals. Gamble was taken 23rd overall in this year's MLB draft.

BLANKINGS: The Cubs’ 12 shutouts are one more than they had all of last season. They had 13 in 2023, 18 in 2018 and 21 in 2015. They had 22 in 1969, their most in the Live Ball Era. They had more in seven seasons between 1905 and 1918, with a high of 33 in 1907. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)

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With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, the Royals are rumored to be a team that could acquire Jarren Duran from the Red Sox.