Game thread XCVI - Royals at Red Sox

After winning in convincing fashion against the team ahead of them in the Wild Card standings, the Royals have an opportunity this evening to guarantee themselves a winning series and - for only the second time this year - a winning road trip. As good as the Royals have been at home, they have struggled mightily on the road at times, but now they’re on a four-game winning streak and can put an exclamation point on their first half with a victory tonight, tomorrow, or - even better - both.

The odds would seem to favor the Royals as Cy Young Award candidate Seth Lugo will make his final start before the All-Star Break tonight. Lugo, in case you’ve been hiding under a rock, leads the American…