(Photo credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images)

Left-hander Kris Bubic is headed to his first All-Star Game next week, but he hasn't been sharp of late for the Kansas City Royals.

However, Bubic could still pose a serious challenge for the offensively struggling Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bubic and the Royals will look to complete their first home series sweep in more than two months and send the Pirates to an eighth consecutive road loss Wednesday night.

More than two years removed from elbow surgery and serving as a full-season starter for the first time since 2022, Bubic (7-6, 2.36 ERA) has been one of the majors' most pleasant surprises this year. He was rewarded by being named an All-Star.

'I think it speaks more to just the work we put in, not just this year, but coming back last year from the elbow,' Bubic told the Royals' official website.

'It's been a long road, kind of unpredictable at times, but to be in this situation is pretty cool.'

Bubic had a 5-3 record and 1.43 ERA through his first 12 starts of 2025 but is 2-3 with a 4.88 ERA since. However, he earned his second quality start in his past three outings after allowing three runs -- despite yielding seven hits and three walks -- over seven innings of Friday's 9-3 victory at Arizona.

This will be Bubic's first start against the Pirates since 2020. His is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in two appearances against Pittsburgh.

Kansas City rolled to a 9-3 victory in Monday's series opener and won 4-3 via Nick Loftin's walk-off, RBI single in the ninth Tuesday. That secured the Royals' first winning home series since they swept a four-game set against the Chicago White Sox from May 5-8.

The Royals hit just 15 homers at home entering this series but have gone deep six times in the last two games. Loftin is 4-for-8 and homered in each game of the past two contests for Kansas City, which is 6-2 in July following an 8-18 June.

'We're just going out there and competing and trying to prepare the best we can,' said Loftin, who has three home runs for the season.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is 0-5 to open a nine-game stretch away from home and has been outscored 34-11 during its seven-game road slide. Oneil Cruz and Nick Gonzales homered Tuesday for the Pirates, who have just 34 hits in those last seven road contests. They have struck out 75 times.

Even with his most recent homer, Cruz is 2-for-21 with six strikeouts this month.

Wednesday's scheduled Pirates starter, Bailey Falter (6-4, 3.69 ERA), has a 5.06 ERA in six outings since his most recent quality start at San Diego on May 31. Though Pittsburgh is 4-2 in those six starts, the left-hander heavily relied on his fastball but allowed four runs on three homers over 5 2/3 innings of Friday's 6-0 loss at Seattle.

'The heater is still my bread and butter,' Falter said. 'I'm still going to throw it, but I just need to execute a little bit better. I'm just grinding a little bit right now, but I'll come out on top.'

Falter has never faced the Royals.

Despite his team's issues at the plate, Pittsburgh's Tommy Pham is batting .415 in his last 12 games and is 2-for-5 versus Bubic.

--Field Level Media