MJ Melendez

Frazier will get the nod in right field against right-hander Clarke Schmidt, which means Tommy Pham will begin the contest on the bench. The rest of the Royals lineup: 2B Michael Massey, SS Bobby Witt Jr., DH Vinnie Pasquantino, C Salvador Perez, 1B Yuli Gurriel, LF MJ Melendez, 3B Maikel Garcia, RF Frazier and CF Kyle Isbel.

Cole wasn't anywhere close to great, as he had issues finishing off the Kansas City lineup and was pulled after a long leadoff single in the sixth inning. He allowed seven hits with two walks, and he struck out four with the big blow a two-run homer by MJ Melendez. Cole threw 80 pitches, so if the Yankees were so inclined, they could bring their ace back in Game 4 if necessary. Cole has normally been good in the postseason, but Saturday was a mediocre effort at best.

Melendez gave the Royals a 3-2 lead with a two-run blast off Gerrit Cole into the right-field bleachers. The 25-year-old has his first postseason homer, and he's slugging .545 in the first four games of his playoff run.

Hunter Renfroe got the nod over Pham against the Orioles' Zach Eflin. Today's lineup is the same the Royals used in the opener against Baltimore: 2B Michael Massey, SS Bobby Witt Jr., DH Vinnie Pasquantino, C Salvador Perez, 1B Yuli Gurriel, LF MJ Melendez, RF Pham, CF Kyle Isbel, 3B Maikel Garcia.

Renfroe will take the spot of Tommy Pham in the lineup as the Royals look to advance to the NLDS against the Yankees. Renfroe has hit well against Baltimore starter Zach Eflin in a small sample, going 5-for-13 with a 1.154 OPS. The full lineup: Michael Massey 2B, Bobby Witt Jr. SS, Vinnie Pasquantino DH, Salvador Perez C, Yuli Gurriel 1B, MJ Melendez LF, Renfroe RF, Kyle Isbel CF and Maikel Garcia hitting ninth at third behind Seth Lugo and the Kansas City pitching staff.