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Today · 6:40 PM ETLineup pendingAL Central / NL Central

Kansas City Royals   vs   Pittsburgh Pirates Preview

September 19, 2026

Starting pitchers, lineup status, recent form and weather at PNC Park.

6:40 PM ET · PNC ParkStats availableLineups not confirmed
T-Score37
Kansas City Royals
67–86 · 5th AL Central · T-Score 37
–
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First pitch 6:40 PM ET
Pittsburgh Pirates
76–77 · 3rd NL Central · T-Score 52
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T-Score52
First pitch 6:40 PM ET

Matchup at a glance

PitcherStat calculation
CategoryComparisonWhy
Starting pitcherRoyalsCameron leads Chandler in P-Score (60 vs 51), WHIP and FIP.
Offense vs handEvenBoth offenses perform near the same level against the opposing starter's handedness.
Team strengthPiratesPittsburgh leads 52–37 in T-Score.
WeatherModerate impactA 4 mph wind could modestly increase carry on fly balls.

Starting pitchers

KC
Noah Cameron LHP
Noah Cameron
Kansas City Royals
2026 season (MLB rank among qualified starters)
ERA
3.84
86th
WHIP
1.19
62nd
K/9
8.06
111th
BB/9
2.81
77th
P-Score60i
FIP
3.67
HR/9
0.92
52nd
OPS/R
0.648
IP
166.1
2026 ERA splits
Home ERA4.58
Road ERA3.18
Last 5 starts
PIT
Bubba Chandler RHP
Bubba Chandler
Pittsburgh Pirates
2026 season (MLB rank among qualified starters)
ERA
4.28
118th
WHIP
1.35
126th
K/9
8.06
113th
BB/9
4.58
197th
P-Score51i
FIP
4.10
HR/9
0.86
42nd
OPS/R
0.603
IP
147.1
2026 ERA splits
Home ERA4.27
Road ERA4.28
Last 5 starts
How the starters differ
·Cameron walks 1.8 fewer batters per nine innings.
·Cameron carries a 3.18 road ERA, compared with Chandler's 4.27 mark at home.
Advanced starter metricsERA−, FIP, WAR, career vs opponent
MetricCameronChandlerNote
ERA−9098Park- and league-adjusted; 100 is average.
FIP3.674.10
WAR3.12.1Season value.

How the lineups match the starters' pitch mix

Pitch data coverage: partial. Usage and velocity only.

Cameron arsenal
PitchUsageVelo
Four-seam24%92.5
Cutter21%89.8
Changeup21%81.0
Curveball16%81.8
Slider13%85.2
Sinker4%91.5
Eephus Pitch0%57.4
Chandler arsenal
PitchUsageVelo
Four-seam48%98.4
Slider21%91.1
Changeup14%91.5
Sinker8%97.7
Sweeper4%87.8
Curveball4%86.7

Team OPS vs opposing starter's hand

Royals vs RHP (Bubba Chandler)
14th
in MLB
0.721OPS
.600.700.800.9001.000
Pirates vs LHP (Noah Cameron)
18th
in MLB
0.695OPS
.600.700.800.9001.000

Lineups

Lineup pendingOrder from the stored snapshot; treat as unofficial until the card is filed.Full lineup page
Lineups not announced

Neither club has posted a batting order. Handedness composition, H-Score leaders and batter-vs-pitcher samples appear here as soon as the first order is filed — typically two to three hours before first pitch.

Team comparison

ResultsKCKC·PITPIT
+12727th
Run differential
+24413th
67–86 Record76–77
Last 10 games
Kansas City Royals (0–0)
Pittsburgh Pirates (0–0)
2026 head-to-head
Season Series
0—0
0 Games Played

Frequently asked

Who is starting for the Royals?+
Noah Cameron is listed as the starter.
Who is starting for the Pirates?+
Bubba Chandler is listed as the starter.
What time does the game start?+
6:40 PM ET at PNC Park.
Where is the game being played?+
PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Are the lineups confirmed?+
Not yet. Orders appear here when they are posted.
How do the starters compare on P-Score?+
Noah Cameron is at 60; Bubba Chandler is at 51. P-Score is PitcherStat's 0–100 season index for qualified starters.