Royals face bullpen struggles as Quad Cities wins Midwest League Championship

The Quad Cities River Bandits completed an undefeated postseason to win the 2026 Midwest League Championship, highlighted by Blake Mitchell's two-run home run in the eighth inning against the Dayton Dragons. In contrast, the Kansas City Royals experienced issues with their bullpen throughout the 2026 season, particularly after closer Carlos Estevez's injury limited his appearances. Royals President of Business Operations Brooks Sherman addressed public concerns regarding funding for a new downtown stadium project, indicating that elected leaders support it. While positive developments arose in young hitters like Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen, the Royals' struggles were mainly tied to their bullpen depth.

• 12:00 PMYahoo Sports — Kansas City Royals news: Bullpen to blame for 2026 woes?