The 1996 Kansas City Royals season was the 28th season for the franchise, and their 24th at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals finished fifth in the American League Central with a record of 75 wins and 86 losses and missed the postseason for the 11th consecutive season.
Offseason October 22, 1995: Doug Linton was signed as a free agent by the Royals.Doug Linton page at Baseball Reference\ December 19, 1995: Brent Mayne was traded by the Royals to the New York Mets for Al Shirley (minors).Brent Mayne at Baseball Reference December 21, 1995: Wally Joyner and Aaron Dorlarque (minors) were traded by the Royals to the San Diego Padres for Bip Roberts and Bryan Wolff (minors).Wally Joyner at Baseball Reference January 31, 1996: Tim Belcher was signed as a free agent by the Royals.Tim Belcher at Baseball Reference
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
|- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || April 1 || @ Orioles || colspan=5 |Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for April 2 || 0–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 2 || @ Orioles || 2–4 || Mussina || Appier (0–1) || Myers || 46,818 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 3 || @ Orioles || 1–7 || Wells || Gubicza (0–1) || — || 40,068 || 0–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 4 || @ Orioles || 3–5 || Rhodes || Pichardo (0–1) || Myers || 38,753 || 0–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 5 || Red Sox || 5–4 (12) || Clark (1–0) || Pennington || — || 39,526 || 1–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 6 || Red Sox || 7–3 || Pichardo (1–1) || Belinda || — || 17,339 || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 7 || Red Sox || 1–3 || Moyer || Gubicza (0–2) || Slocumb || 13,183 || 2–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 9 || @ Yankees || 3–7 || Pettitte || Haney (0–1) || — || 56,329 || 2–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 11 || @ Yankees || 3–5 || Key || Belcher (0–1) || Howe || 17,519 || 2–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 9 || April 12 || @ Brewers || 4–1 || Appier (1–1) || Bones || Montgomery (1) || 7,113 || 3–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 13 || @ Brewers || 3–2 || Gubicza (1–2) || Sparks || Montgomery (2) || 9,224 || 4–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 14 || @ Brewers || 2–5 || McDonald || Haney (0–2) || Miranda || 19,131 || 4–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 15 || White Sox || 10–11 || Karchner || Pichardo (1–2) || Hernandez || 12,653 || 4–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 16 || White Sox || 6–5 || Belcher (1–1) || Bere || Montgomery (3) || 12,399 || 5–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 17 || White Sox || 1–3 || Fernandez || Appier (1–2) || Hernandez || 13,350 || 5–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 18 || Brewers || 2–8 || Sparks || Gubicza (1–3) || — || 13,153 || 5–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 19 || Brewers || 2–8 || McDonald || Haney (0–3) || — || 15,321 || 5–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 20 || Brewers || 4–12 || Miranda || Jacome (0–1) || — || 17,220 || 5–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 21 || Brewers || 4–5 || Wickander || Pichardo (1–3) || Fetters || 14,666 || 5–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 22 || Yankees || 2–6 || Cone || Appier (1–3) || — || 14,763 || 5–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || April 23 || Yankees || 5–2 || Gubicza (2–3) || Key || Montgomery (4) || 12,536 || 6–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 24 || Orioles || 8–11 || Mercker || Haney (0–4) || — || 13,962 || 6–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || April 25 || Orioles || 2–3 || Rhodes || Valera (0–1) || Myers || 16,090 || 6–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || April 26 || @ Red Sox || 4–3 || Belcher (2–1) || Clemens || Montgomery (5) || 22,385 || 7–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || April 27 || @ Red Sox || 10–0 || Appier (2–3) || Sele || — || 29,459 || 8–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || April 28 || @ Red Sox || 9–7 || Robinson (1–0) || Slocumb || Montgomery (6) || 32,491 || 9–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || April 29 || @ Twins || 6–11 || Hansell || Clark (1–1) || Bennett || 10,237 || 9–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || April 30 || @ Twins || 7–16 || Naulty || Magnante (0–1) || — || 10,503 || 9–18
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 1 || @ Twins || 5–6 (10) || Stevens || Montgomery (0–1) || — || 11,975 || 9–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 3 || Athletics || 3–1 || Appier (3–3) || Reyes || Montgomery (7) || 14,452 || 10–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 4 || Athletics || 2–5 || Wojciechowski || Gubicza (2–4) || Groom || 15,987 || 10–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 5 || Athletics || 2–0 || Haney (1–4) || Prieto || — || 16,589 || 11–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 6 || @ Angels || 9–4 || Belcher (3–1) || Leftwich || Pichardo (1) || 14,447 || 12–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 7 || @ Angels || 5–3 || Valera (1–1) || Abbott || Montgomery (8) || 14,657 || 13–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 8 || @ Angels || 3–1 (14) || Pichardo (2–3) || Eichhorn || — || 16,210 || 14–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 9 || @ Angels || 8–2 || Gubicza (3–4) || Grimsley || — || 15,302 || 15–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 10 || @ Mariners || 14–10 || Valera (2–1) || Davis || — || 24,231 || 16–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 11 || @ Mariners || 1–11 || Wolcott || Belcher (3–2) || Carmona || 43,297 || 16–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 12 || @ Mariners || 5–8 || Johnson || Linton (0–1) || Charlton || 27,470 || 16–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 13 || @ Rangers || 6–7 || Cook || Montgomery (0–2) || Henneman || 22,981 || 16–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 14 || @ Rangers || 0–10 || Hill || Gubicza (3–5) || — || 28,999 || 16–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 15 || @ Rangers || 3–1 || Haney (2–4) || Pavlik || Montgomery (9) || 26,881 || 17–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 17 || Blue Jays || 4–2 || Belcher (4–2) || Guzman || Montgomery (10) || 20,079 || 18–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 18 || Blue Jays || 2–6 || Viola || Appier (3–4) || — || 18,116 || 18–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 19 || Blue Jays || 2–3 || Hanson || Gubicza (3–6) || Timlin || 15,039 || 18–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || May 20 || Blue Jays || 5–4 || Haney (3–4) || Hentgen || Montgomery (11) || 14,303 || 19–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || May 21 || @ Tigers || 7–1 || Linton (1–1) || Williams || Valera (1) || 24,372 || 20–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 22 || @ Tigers || 6–4 || Belcher (5–2) || Farrell || Montgomery (12) || 12,890 || 21–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || May 23 || Rangers || 4–2 || Appier (4–4) || Oliver || Montgomery (13) || 15,612 || 22–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 49 || May 24 || Rangers || 8–0 || Gubicza (4–6) || Witt || — || 13,696 || 23–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 25 || Rangers || 1–2 || Helling || Haney (3–5) || Henneman || 23,668 || 23–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || May 26 || Rangers || 4–6 || Hill || Linton (1–2) || Henneman || 22,665 || 23–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || May 27 || Tigers || 5–4 (13) || Montgomery (1–2) || Veres || — || 19,776 || 24–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || May 29 || Tigers || 4–5 || Gohr || Appier (4–5) || Walker || 13,712 || 24–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || May 31 || @ Blue Jays || 2–4 || Hentgen || Gubicza (4–7) || Timlin || 33,194 || 24–30
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 1 || @ Blue Jays || 3–5 (10) || Crabtree || Montgomery (1–3) || — || 31,107 || 24–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 2 || @ Blue Jays || 7–5 || Belcher (6–2) || Janzen || Montgomery (14) || 32,253 || 25–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 3 || @ Athletics || 1–2 || Wasdin || Appier (4–6) || Taylor || 6,465 || 25–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 4 || @ Athletics || 3–8 || Wengert || Gubicza (4–8) || — || 11,524 || 25–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 5 || @ Athletics || 5–2 || Haney (4–5) || Johns || Montgomery (15) || 8,113 || 26–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 7 || Mariners || 9–5 || Valera (3–1) || Wolcott || — || 20,891 || 27–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 8 || Mariners || 12–8 || Appier (5–6) || Milacki || Montgomery (16) || 30,022 || 28–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 9 || Mariners || 2–3 || Hitchcock || Gubicza (4–9) || Charlton || 20,489 || 28–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 10 || Angels || 5–7 (10) || McElroy || Pugh (0–1) || Percival || 15,691 || 28–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 11 || Angels || 9–11 || McElroy || Valera (3–2) || Percival || 16,687 || 28–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 12 || Angels || 3–4 (10) || McElroy || Montgomery (1–4) || Percival || 15,428 || 28–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 13 || Orioles || 10–2 || Linton (2–2) || Mercker || — || 20,108 || 29–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 14 || Orioles || 1–6 || Mussina || Gubicza (4–10) || — || 28,502 || 29–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 15 || Orioles || 7–6 (16) || Magnante (1–1) || Krivda || — || 24,784 || 30–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 16 || Orioles || 5–13 || Coppinger || Jacome (0–2) || Mills || 19,437 || 30–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 17 || @ Brewers || 4–9 || Burrows || Appier (5–7) || — || 9,315 || 30–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 18 || @ Brewers || 1–9 || Karl || Linton (2–3) || Potts || 9,116 || 30–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 19 || @ Brewers || 8–4 (10) || Pichardo (3–3) || Mercedes || — || 13,431 || 31–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 21 || @ Orioles || 3–9 || Rhodes || Haney (4–6) || — || 47,644 || 31–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 74 || June 22 || @ Orioles || 3–5 || Erickson || Montgomery (1–5) || — || 47,534 || 31–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || June 23 || @ Orioles || 4–0 || Appier (6–7) || Krivda || — || 47,608 || 32–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || June 25 || Brewers || 3–5 || Bones || Gubicza (4–11) || Fetters || 14,448 || 32–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || June 26 || Brewers || 7–3 || Haney (5–6) || Givens || — || 14,560 || 33–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || June 27 || Brewers || 2–6 || McDonald || Belcher (6–3) || — || 17,670 || 33–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || June 28 || Twins || 6–2 || Appier (7–7) || Radke || — || 21,515 || 34–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || June 29 || Twins || 7–12 || Trombley || Linton (2–4) || — || 23,232 || 34–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || June 30 || Twins || 2–5 || Rodriguez || Gubicza (4–12) || Stevens || 28,246 || 34–47
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 1 || @ Indians || 4–2 || Haney (6–6) || Nagy || — || 40,814 || 35–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 83 || July 2 || @ Indians || 2–3 || Poole || Belcher (6–4) || — || 42,283 || 35–48 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 3 || @ Indians || 4–6 || Tavarez || Magnante (1–2) || Shuey || 42,470 || 35–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 85 || July 4 || @ Twins || 5–3 || Linton (3–4) || Robertson || Montgomery (17) || 37,295 || 36–49 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || July 5 || @ Twins || 8–9 || Guardado || Montgomery (1–6) || — || 18,465 || 36–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 87 || July 6 || @ Twins || 8–5 || Haney (7–6) || Aguilera || Montgomery (18) || 18,699 || 37–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 88 || July 7 || @ Twins || 8–2 || Belcher (7–4) || Aldred || — || 14,251 || 38–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 89 || July 11 || White Sox || 3–2 || Haney (8–6) || Alvarez || — || 22,928 || 39–50 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 90 || July 12 || White Sox || 6–7 || Tapani || Belcher (7–5) || Hernandez || 18,458 || 39–51 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 91 || July 13 || White Sox || 1–3 || Fernandez || Rosado (0–1) || — || 25,363 || 39–52 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 14 || White Sox || 2–3 || Baldwin || Linton (3–5) || Hernandez || 17,024 || 39–53 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 93 || July 15 || Indians || 6–3 || Magnante (2–2) || Tavarez || Montgomery (19) || 22,294 || 40–53 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 94 || July 16 || Indians || 4–10 || McDowell || Haney (8–7) || — || 16,871 || 40–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 95 || July 17 || Indians || 3–2 || Belcher (8–5) || Hershiser || Montgomery (20) || 19,532 || 41–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 96 || July 18 || @ White Sox || 7–1 || Appier (8–7) || Fernandez || Pichardo (2) || 17,657 || 42–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 97 || July 19 || @ White Sox || 7–4 (10) || Montgomery (2–6) || Hernandez || — || 19,604 || 43–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 98 || July 20 || @ White Sox || 7–5 || Linton (4–5) || Keyser || Montgomery (21) || 32,282 || 44–54 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb"