Chicago Cubs vs Kansas City Royals Starting Lineup — Sunday, Aug 9, 2026
Expected Batting Order
Official lineups not yet announced for this game. Check back closer to game time.
No lineup data available for Chicago Cubs.
No lineup data available for Kansas City Royals.
Chicago Cubs at Kansas City Royals (2026-08-09). Matthew Boyd vs Randy Dobnak at Kauffman Stadium.
Starters — Boyd has a 3.59 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 72.2 innings with 7.8 K/9, 2.48 BB/9, and 0.99 HR/9. His last three starts were 6.2 innings and 4 earned runs with 3 strikeouts and 1 walk, then 7 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks, then 7 innings with 1 earned run, 4 strikeouts, and 3 walks. The recent form is steady overall, and his listed trend is flat. Dobnak has a 1.16 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 31 innings with 4.35 K/9, 3.77 BB/9, and 0.58 HR/9. His last three starts were 5 innings and 1 earned run with 1 strikeout and 3 walks, then 7 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk, then 5 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts and 1 walk. The run prevention has been excellent, and his listed trend is up, though the strikeout rate remains modest.
Teams — Chicago enters with a .752 OPS and 604 runs scored, backed by a .248 team average. The Cubs also carry a 4.07 team ERA and 1.25 WHIP, and they are 7-3 over their last 10 games. Kansas City has a .711 OPS and 490 runs scored with a .245 team average. The Royals’ pitching staff has a 4.79 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, and they are 4-6 over their last 10. From a matchup perspective, Chicago brings the stronger season-long offense and the cleaner overall staff numbers, while Kansas City leans more heavily on Dobnak’s current form than on broader team pitching results.