Mapping a path for the Royals to avoid a 100-loss season

If the Royals are to avoid a fifth 100-loss season in their history, they will have to finish with a 36-31 record over the second half of the season.

That’s a tall task for a team that has a 27-68 record, but I took a shot at mapping out a path for the Royals to get to 63 wins.

There is some good news. The Royals have 21 series remaining this season, and two-thirds are against teams with a record below .500. Thirteen of the those series are against AL Central teams, including 10 against the White Sox, Tigers and Twins, who all have a losing record.

The biggest key for the Royals losing just 99 games is simple. OK, that’s not been simple this season, but the Royals can get to the magic 63-win mark by playing much better at home. They finished the first half with an 11-35 record (.239) at Kauffman Stadium.

In my breakdown, the Royals would have a 21-14 record (.600) at The K in the second half (is that too big of a leap or merely things evening out? You decide).

Here is how the Royals can get to 63 victories:

July 20-22 vs. Twins: 2-1

The Royals have split the first six games of the series and have outscored Minnesota by a run (33-32)

July 23-25 vs. Tigers: 2-1

These teams have already played 10 times and the Royals have won six of those games

July 26-29 at Yankees: 1-3

A key to avoided 100 losses will be grabbing a win in New York

July 31-Aug. 2 at White Sox: 2-1

The White Sox have won 33 games this season and 21 percent have come against the Royals (seven total). Royals have to get some wins back

Aug. 3-5 at Twins: 2-1

Who knows what the Royals and Twins will look like after non-waiver trade deadline?

Aug. 6-8 vs. Cubs: 1-2

Sneaking one against the Cubs would be huge

Aug. 10-12 vs. Cardinals: 2-1

The Royals won the series in St. Louis earlier this year

Aug. 13-16 vs. Blue Jays: 3-1

Toronto is below .500 but this still won’t be easy

Aug. 17-19 at White Sox: 1-2

The Royals ended the first half by losing two of three in Chicago

Aug. 20-23 at Rays: 2-2

Another tall task as the Rays have a winning record at 49-47

Aug. 24-26 vs. Indians: 1-2

The Royals are 2-7 against Cleveland this season

Aug. 28-29 vs. Tigers: 1-1

Winning both games would better, but let’s go with a split

Aug. 31-Sept. 2 vs. Orioles: 3-0

A sweep likely would give Baltimore the edge for the No. 1 pick next season

Sept. 3-5 at Indians: 1-2

Cleveland won two of three in each of first two series at home against Royals this year

Sept. 7-9 at Twins: 2-1

Expanded rosters means anything can happen in September for teams out of the race

Sept. 10-12 vs. White Sox: 2-1

Specific prediction: Matt Davidson hits only one home run at Kauffman Stadium in the series

Sept. 13-16 vs. Twins: 2-2

A split at home seems reasonable here

Sept. 17-19 at Pirates: 1-2

Pittsburgh got hot before the All-Streak break, winning six straight. Who knows what they’ll look like in September

Sept. 20-23 at Tigers: 2-2

Splitting a four-game series on the road would be huge

Sept. 25-26 at Reds: 1-1

Cincinnati swept the two-game series at Kauffman Stadium. A split could be sufficient

Sept. 27-30 vs. Indians: 2-2

Going out on a limb and predicting the Indians are locked into a playoff seed and the Royals will have more to play for the final weekend of the season