MLB Final Intelligence
Chicago Cubs vs Kansas City Royals โ Recap
February 23, 2026 ยท Surprise Stadium ยท View Preview
Game Recap
The Chicago Cubs edged out the Kansas City Royals in a tight 3-2 contest, holding off their opponent in a pitching-heavy affair to secure a crucial road victory. The game remained a low-scoring battle throughout, with both pitching staffs largely containing opposing offenses. For the Royals, Josh Rojas provided a solitary spark, contributing all of Kansas City's offense with a home run. However, Chicago's pitchers managed to limit further damage, preventing the Royals from building any significant rallies. The Cubs' pitching staff ultimately made the difference, allowing only two runs despite Rojas's power display. A key performance came from Ben Brown, who delivered two dominant innings in relief, striking out three and surrendering no earned runs, helping to shut down any potential Kansas City comeback efforts. This stifling relief work ensured the narrow lead held. In a game where every run mattered, Chicago's ability to minimize Kansas City's offensive output proved decisive, securing a hard-fought victory. The Cubs now stand at 73-53, while the Royals fall to 51-75.
Player of the Game
Pitching
| Pitcher | Team | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Brown |
|
2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 |
| Luinder Avila L |
|
2.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4.50 |
| Seth Lugo |
|
2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Javier Assad W |
|
1.1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Collin Snider |
|
1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Porter Hodge |
|
1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13.50 |
| Ryan Rolison |
|
1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Tyler Ras |
|
1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Walker Powell S |
|
1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Eric Cerantola |
|
1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Jose Cuas |
|
1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Ryan Ramsey |
|
1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Shane Panzini |
|
1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4.50 |
| Jackson Kirkpatrick |
|
0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Alex Lange |
|
0.2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13.50 |
| Zachary Cawyer |
|
0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Batting
| Batter | Team | AB | H | HR | RBI | R | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedro Ramirez |
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Maikel Garcia |
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jefferson Rojas |
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Josh Rojas |
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| James Triantos |
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B.J. Murray Jr. |
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brett Bateman |
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Bobby Witt Jr. |
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Elih Marrero |
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sam Kulasingam |
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vinnie Pasquantino |
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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