(Interstat) — Royals at Athletics Preview

KANSAS CITY (12-17) at ATHLETICS (15-14) Thursday, April 30, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PT Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, Calif. Weather: 75 degrees, clear

The Athletics look to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Kansas City Royals when they meet in the finale of their series Thursday evening at Sutter Health Park.

Athletics right-hander Aaron Civale (0-3, 4.05 ERA) will oppose Royals left-hander Noah Cameron (2-1, 3.12 ERA).

Civale drew a no-decision Tuesday in his only start against Kansas City this season, allowing five hits and no earned runs over five innings in a 4-1, 10-inning loss. He has pitched well overall in two of his past three outings, yielding one earned run over 5 2/3 innings in a win at the New York Mets, but has received little run support.

Cameron makes his fifth start of the season. The lefty has not faced the Athletics this year but has been effective against the division, allowing three earned runs or fewer in three of his four starts. He is coming off a win April 22 against Baltimore, when he allowed three runs over six innings.

The Royals (12-17) have won the first two games of the series by identical 4-1 scores. Kansas City enters having won four of its past five, including a 12-1 rout of the Los Angeles Angels on April 25.

Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been productive in the series, driving in three runs Tuesday on a home run. Reliever Kris Bubic (1-0, 2.79 ERA) pitched five innings of one-run ball Tuesday, striking out six, though he is not scheduled to start.

The Athletics (15-14) have dropped two straight after winning four of their previous five. Their offense managed only one run in the first two games of the series after scoring 17 runs in a three-game set at Texas.

Oakland’s lineup has struggled against Royals pitching, particularly with runners in scoring position. Relievers Scott Barlow and Jack Perkins combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings in Tuesday’s loss.

The over/under for Thursday’s game is 9.5 runs. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-5 Athletics victory, and the ELO system gives the Athletics a 50.90 percent probability to win. The Athletics are listed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5.

Kansas City opens a three-game series at Seattle on Friday. The Athletics return home Friday to host Cleveland.