Kansas City Royals vs. Athletics

Kansas City Royals vs. Athletics at Kauffman Stadium

Wednesday has the Royals at home and the Athletics across the diamond. Make April 14 your date at Kauffman Stadium, with an American League West visitor giving Kansas City a regular-season contest to get behind.

Rooting for Kansas City can be a welcome break from a week organized around obligations. Set aside time for something you want to do: an inning to follow, an at-bat to care about and a team whose success matters to you. A Wednesday with baseball in it gives you more to anticipate than reaching the weekend.

There is an existing connection to the opponent. Kansas City beat this franchise in the 2014 AL Wild Card game, when the Athletics were based in Oakland. If that result belongs to your memories of the Royals, the name across the diamond already carries meaning. Bring that attachment to a fresh meeting rather than expecting the past to repeat itself.

The live contest offers smaller pleasures, too. Stay with a batter through the count. Notice what changes when a runner reaches base. Want the next out for your side. Those are ordinary parts of baseball, but enjoying them is why a game can deserve time of its own.

Put the middle of your week back in Royal blue. Find Royals–Athletics tickets for April 14 and make Kauffman your Wednesday plan.