Panthers look to break five-game slump against Guelph Royals
Posted Jun 13, 2026 08:25:54 AM.
Last Updated Jun 15, 2026 03:26:36 PM.
After a strong start to the 2026 Canadian Baseball League season, the Kitchener Panthers have cooled off and now look to snap a five-game losing skid vs. the Guelph Royals.
The June 13 and 14 doubleheader will give both teams a chance to jump back above the playoff line, after the Royals bumped the Panthers for the fifth seed earlier in June.
The latest Panthers loss came on Friday via a 13-4 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto recorded 18 hits in the win and handed Panthers’ hurler Evan Elliott just his second loss of the season.
The bulk of the Panthers’ recent struggles have come in the form of pitching and defence. They’ve allowed eight runs or more in all of their last five games during the losing streak, including allowing double digits in four of those. Kitchener has played a tough recent schedule as of late, and they’ll hope the less proven Royals will give them a chance to bounce back.
Team RBI leader Petey Kiefer has been a bright spot of the Panthers’ offense to open the year, but a recent hitting slump has limited Kitchener’s ability to respond in games where their opponents score double digit runs. Kiefer has now hit just two for 20 in the last five Panthers contests.
While Mateo Zeppieri has struggled similarly at the plate during the streak, hitting just 4 for 19, he’s also stealing bases at a rate near the league high. He’s swiped seven bases during the last five contests.
Eyes now turn to the home-and-home vs. Guelph, which kicks off with a contest at the Royals’ Hastings Stadium on June 13 at 2:00 p.m. Then it’s the Panthers turn to host the second stage, as the Royals head to Jack Couch Park on Sunday June 14 at 2:05 p.m.
Kitchener Panthers:
