It’s the Athletics versus the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on August 20, 2026. Here’s how to watch live on TV.
- Time: 2:10 PM ET
- Location: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
- TV Channels: MLB Network®, NBC Sports California, Kansas City Royals
- League Package: MLB Extra Innings®
How to Watch Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals on August 20, 2026
You can watch the Kansas City Royals take on the Athletics live on DIRECTV on MLB Network®, NBC Sports California and Kansas City Royals on August 20, 2026 at 2:10 PM ET.
Athletics (49-78) at Kansas City Royals (54-74) — Game Preview
The Athletics (49-78) visit Kauffman Stadium to take on the Kansas City Royals (54-74), with the Athletics sitting 27.5 games back in the American League and the Royals 23 games back as the calendar turns toward September. Kansas City’s pitching staff has been the sturdier of the two by team ERA, working to a 4.79 mark against a 5.50 ERA for the Athletics, while the Athletics have countered with more thump at the plate, launching 153 team home runs to Kansas City’s 128. Third baseman Zack Gelof has given the Athletics real pop in the middle of the order, hitting .273 with 14 home runs and a .488 slugging percentage.
Second baseman Jeff McNeil leads the Athletics with 43 RBIs, seven ahead of Gelof’s 36, while hitting .264 and getting on base at a .318 clip. On the Kansas City side, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is hitting .284 with a .360 on-base percentage, while right fielder Jac Caglianone has provided serious power of his own with 22 home runs and 60 RBIs. Caglianone is currently listed as day-to-day with right ankle soreness but has remained in the Royals’ everyday lineup.
Regional Coverage
NBC Sports California and Kansas City Royals
National TV
MLB Network®
League Packages
What Time is the Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals Game Today?
The Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals game starts at 2:10 PM ET.
Where Can I Watch Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals?
You can watch Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals on MLB Network®, your local regional sports network and MLB Extra Innings®.
Athletics Channel on DIRECTV
Locally, the game airs on NBC Sports California (Channel 698).
Kansas City Royals Channel on DIRECTV
Locally, the game airs on Kansas City Royals (Channel 671).
Players to Watch: Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals
Athletics
Zack Gelof — 3B. The third baseman is hitting .273 with 14 home runs and a .488 slugging percentage, numbers that stand out on a roster still finding its footing. His power has held up even as the club’s season has slipped, giving the lineup a genuine long-ball threat most nights.
Jeff McNeil — 2B. McNeil leads the Athletics with 43 RBIs, seven ahead of Gelof’s 36, while hitting .264 with a .362 slugging percentage. He gives the lineup a steady, professional at-bat near the top of the order.
Jacob Wilson — SS. Contact has been his calling card, and Wilson is hitting .266 with a .388 slugging percentage at shortstop for the Athletics. He has racked up 37 RBIs to go with seven home runs, evidence that his line-drive approach can still do damage when he connects.
Kansas City Royals
Bobby Witt Jr. — SS. The Royals’ shortstop is hitting .284 with a .360 on-base percentage, reaching base at a level that anchors the top of Kansas City’s order. His .455 slugging percentage adds pop to that table-setting role, giving the Royals a spark before the middle of the lineup turns over.
Jac Caglianone — RF. Twenty-two home runs and 60 RBIs into his season, Caglianone has given the Royals’ lineup real thump from right field, hitting .279 with a .495 slugging percentage. He is listed as day-to-day with right ankle soreness but has remained a full-time presence in the middle of Kansas City’s lineup.
Salvador Perez — DH. A veteran at designated hitter, Perez continues to provide right-handed power for Kansas City, hitting .215 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs. His .365 slugging percentage keeps him firmly in the middle of the order even as the Royals lean on younger bats like Caglianone and Witt Jr. around him.
Watch Major League Baseball Live on DIRECTV
You can watch Major League Baseball games live every day right on DIRECTV. Get started today!
Interested in a service that lets you access live sports, and only live sports and includes ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost? Check out MySports® Genre Pack® today.
© 2026 Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. All rights reserved. Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc
Statistics provided by ESPN and subject to change.
DIRECTV Insider brings you our views on what’s happening in streaming, t.v., movies and sports. Companies and persons mentioned are not necessarily associated with and do not necessarily endorse DIRECTV. We will disclose sponsored content on our site when we show it to you, and some of the links on the site may be ads or affiliate links which means DIRECTV may earn compensation from your purchases.
