Astros vs Royals Preview: Young arms lead pitching duel

You just watched Houston and Kansas City trade massive home run battles on Saturday. The Astros pounded their way to a 10-8 victory after a 8-7 thriller the day before. Both games packed the scoreboard with moonshots. Alvarez, Walker, and Matthews went yard multiple times for Houston. The Royals fought back hard but couldn't quite catch up. Now Spencer Arrighetti takes the mound Sunday for the Astros. He'll face a Royals lineup still hungry to bounce back from Saturday's loss. Houston rides momentum as they push for their second straight win against Kansas City.

Spencer Arrighetti has a 4.5 ERA this season with a 1.33 WHIP. Those numbers show he gives up some hits and walks. The Royals just proved they can swing the bats hard against Houston pitching. Lane Thomas rocketed a 432-foot home run on Saturday. The Royals scored big in the third inning with multiple runs. Pasquantino got a hit too before his injury. Arrighetti needs to throw strikes and keep the ball down. If he avoids walks and wild pitches, he gives Houston a shot. Kansas City's lineup wants to keep attacking. That's the battle: young Astros pitcher versus hungry Royals bats.

Houston sits at 32-39. Kansas City is 28-42. Both squads are below .500 and need to climb back. The Astros won Saturday to keep their winning streak alive. The Royals fell to 1-3, dropping three straight. A Sunday victory matters for either side. The Astros want to build on Saturday's explosiveness. Kansas City needs to respond after losing two straight at home. Steven Kolek pitches for the Royals today. Whichever team strikes first and controls the middle innings likely wins. This game could shift momentum for the entire series.

Sunday brings the final game of this series. Houston and Kansas City have traded victories and traded punch for punch over the past two days. The Astros need to prove they can stay hot after Saturday's 10-8 victory. The Royals need to bounce back and show they belong in this race. Records of 32-39 and 28-42 don't tell the whole story. Both teams have talented players and can explode offensively on any Sunday. Whoever wins today heads into the next week with confidence or frustration. That's why every game matters in June. The bats will decide this one.