Royals manager Mike Quatraro ejected late in 6-3 loss to Marlins

Jaylon Thompson, The Kansas City Star on Sep 1, 2026

Published in Baseball

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have returned to Kauffman Stadium to begin the final stretch of their 2026 season.

They arrived with a new batch of September call-ups. They promoted minor league relievers Nolan Hoffman and Easton McGee from Triple-A Omaha, and outfielder Drew Waters was also back with the big league club.

September is the perfect time for roster expansion. The Royals have an opportunity to evaluate their roster ahead of a pivotal offseason.

With 23 games remaining, each night will include chances for players to impress the Kansas City coaching staff and front office.

Royals pitcher Randy Dobnak is among those looking to solidify a roster spot for 2027. He carried a 1.92 ERA into his Tuesday evening start against the Miami Marlins at The K.

Dobnak had allowed three earned runs while recording 15 strikeouts across his previous 15 2/3 innings. The Marlins were another test for the journeyman pitcher.

Dobnak did not fare well. He took the loss as the Royals (62-77) fell 6-3 to the Marlins in the series opener.

Miami's Graham Pauley and Kyle Stowers clobbered home runs. Pauley gave the Marlins (70-69) a two-run lead with his second of the season. He had just arrived from Triple-A Jacksonville ahead of the series opener.

Stowers followed with a solo homer in the fifth inning and Dobnak was chased in the seventh. Pauley tagged him for a two-run triple — his fourth RBI of the game — as the Marlins took a 5-0 lead.

Left-hander Anthony Gose followed Dobnak in relief. He allowed an RBI single to Marlins shortstop Javier Sanoja before escaping the inning. But the damage was done.

The Royals couldn’t get anything going offensively. Marlins starter Tyler Phillips allowed one hit across five innings with four strikeouts.

Phillips’ pitches darted throughout the strike zone. He relied on three primary offerings — a sinker, sweeper and splitter — to stymie the Royals’ lineup. The off-speed pitches helped generate 11 called strikes and eight whiffs, per Baseball Savant.

The Royals didn’t score until the eighth inning. Carter Jensen recorded an RBI double and Bobby Witt Jr. added an RBI on a sacrifice fly.

The Royals almost scored a third run. Marlins reliever Victor Vodnik appeared to balk while facing Jac Caglianone.

Initially, the Royals were granted the balk call. But as Jensen jogged toward home plate, the umpires convened and reversed the decision.

KC manager Matt Quatraro was furious and came out of the dugout. He was ejected from the game after a heated discussion with crew chief Chris Guccione, who was manning second base.

Quatraro departed after a few more vocal moments. When play resumed, Caglianone was retired to end the inning. Jensen was left standing on third base.

The Royals scored once more in the ninth on Nick Loftin’s solo homer.

What’s next?

Royals left-hander Noah Cameron (9-8, 3.98 ERA) will start Wednesday night opposite Marlins right-hander Eury Perez (7-10, 3.44 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. Central at Kauffman Stadium.