The Kansas City Royals delivered a significant road victory on Monday, July 21, 2025, overcoming an early deficit to defeat the Chicago Cubs 8-4 at Wrigley Field. This win marks a crucial moment for the Royals, who are battling to stay relevant in the American League Wild Card race, while the Cubs, despite the loss, remain tied for the lead in a tight National League Central division.
The game kicked off with a pitching matchup featuring rookie left-hander Noah Cameron (3-4, 2.31 ERA) for the Royals and a bullpen game for the Cubs, led by right-hander Ryan Brasier (0-0, 1.04 ERA) as the opener. Brasier, who has been stellar this season allowing just two runs over 17 1/3 innings prior to this outing, started strong, striking out Vinnie Pasquantino in the first inning. Cameron also began by fanning Nico Hoerner in the bottom of the first, showcasing the potential for a pitcher’s duel.
However, the bats quickly came alive. The Royals drew first blood in the top of the second when Jac Caglianone launched a solo home run, his fifth of the season, off Cubs pitcher Ben Brown, making it 1-0. The Cubs responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Carson Kelly tied the game with a solo shot, his 13th, off Cameron. Moments later, Matt Shaw blasted a three-run homer, his fourth, giving Chicago a 4-1 lead and putting pressure on the young Royals starter. Despite the early struggles, Cameron settled down, ultimately pitching 6 2/3 innings of scoreless ball in his previous start against the Mets, and continued to show flashes of his potential.
The Royals, known for their resilience, began their comeback in the fourth inning. Salvador Perez, a consistent power threat, hit a two-run home run, his 16th, off Ben Brown, narrowing the Cubs’ lead to 4-3. The fifth inning proved to be decisive for Kansas City. Jonathan India hit an RBI double, scoring Rave and tying the game. Bobby Witt Jr. followed with an RBI single, giving the Royals a 5-4 lead. The inning continued to unravel for the Cubs as India scored on a throwing error by catcher Carson Kelly, and Witt Jr. later scored on a wild pitch by Brown, extending the Royals’ advantage to 7-4. The Royals added another run in the seventh with a solo homer from Rave, solidifying their lead at 8-4.
Pre-game betting insights had the Cubs as favorites, ranging from -135 to -153 on the moneyline across various sportsbooks (CBS Sports, Fox Sports, Sportsbook Wire, Covers). The Royals, priced as underdogs at +115 to +125, delivered an upset victory. The total, set at 7.5 or 8 runs, easily went Over with a combined 12 runs scored, defying some expert predictions for an Under outcome. Player props saw mixed results; Ryan Brasier hit his projected Over 0.5 strikeouts, while Noah Cameron exceeded his Over 4.5 strikeouts projection with 8 punchouts. However, Cubs sluggers like Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson, who were highlighted for their potential impact, did not record home runs or significant combined hits+runs+RBI as some models predicted.
This win improves the Royals’ record to 48-52, keeping them within striking distance of a Wild Card berth, albeit still 5.5 games back. The Cubs, now 59-40, will look to bounce back quickly to maintain their position atop the NL Central, where they are tied with the surging Milwaukee Brewers, who are on a 10-game winning streak (CBS Sports).
