Inside the AL playoff race: The Royals already clinched important tiebreaker
A week ago, the Royals ascended into a first-place tie with the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central and things looked great.
Since then, the Royals have lost five straight games and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, too. He’s out for the rest of the regular season because of a broken thumb.
The Royals again will face the Guardians in a three-game series starting Monday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. No matter what happens in the series, Cleveland will leave Kansas City with the Central lead because the Guardians have a 3 1/2-game lead in the division.
However, the Royals already have clinched the season series, having won seven of the previous 10 meetings with Cleveland.
That could be important because the days of a one-game playoff to determine a division champion are over. MLB rules say the team with the better head-to-head record wins the title.
Here is a closer look at the American League Central and AL Wild Card races (playoff chances are from Baseball Prospectus).
ROYALS
Record: 74-62
Last 10 games: 3-7
Games back in division race: 3 1/2 (Second in AL Central)
Percentage chance of being a wild card: 72.0%
Percentage chance of winning AL Central: 7.1%
This week’s games: vs. Guardians (Monday to Wednesday), vs. Twins (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: The Royals hit 41 home runs in August, the second-most in the American League behind the Yankees (45)
MINNESOTA TWINS
Record: 74-62
Last 10 games: 4-6
Games back in division race: 3 1/2 (Second in the Central)
Percentage chance of being a wild card: 70.2%
Percentage chance of winning AL Central: 20.0%
This week’s games: at Rays (Monday to Thursday), at Royals (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: Shortstop Carlos Correa (plantar fasciitis) has appeared in just 75 games this season, while center fielder Byron Buxton (hip) has played in only 90 games
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Record: 78-59 (First in the AL Central)
Last 10 games: 5-5
Percentage chance of being a wild card: 26.0%
Percentage chance of winning AL Central: 72.9%
This week’s games: at Royals (Monday to Wednesday), at Dodgers (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: The Guardians have only a 5-5 record against the White Sox this season with three to play against Chicago
BOSTON RED SOX
Record: 70-67
Last 10 games: 3-7
Games back in wild-card race: 4 1/2
Percentage chance of being a wild card: 14.8%
This week’s games: at Mets (Monday to Wednesday), vs. White Sox (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: Boston has a 31-38 record at home, but is 39-29 in road games
DETROIT TIGERS
Record: 70-68
Last 10 games: 8-2
Games back in wild-card race: 5
Percentage chance of being a wild card: 8.4%
This week’s games: at Padres (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday), at A’s (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: After losing three of four to the Royals to start August, the Tigers have won 17 of their last 25 games (.680 winning percentage) to get in the playoff hunt
SEATTLE MARINERS
Record: 69-68
Last 10 games: 5-5
Games back in wild-card race: 5 1/2
Percentage chance of being a wild card: 6.4%
This week’s games: at A’s (Monday to Thursday), at Cardinals (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: The Mariners had the second-worst slugging percentage in baseball for the month of August (.342), ahead of only the White Sox
