Inside the AL playoff race: Royals can clinch a postseason berth this week
The Royals open their final homestand of the 2024 season on Monday.
Well, final homestand of the regular season. The Royals are on the cusp of clinching a postseason spot and could be playing at Kauffman Stadium in October.
The Royals’ magic number for clinching a playoff berth is eight. The Tigers and Mariners are five games behind the Royals in the wild-card race.
If the Royals win all six games this week (the Tigers and Giants are coming to The K) and the Mariners lose twice, KC would secure at least a Wild Card spot.
That’s not the only race that should be of interest to Royals fans.
The Royals trail the Guardians by four games in the AL Central race and KC is five games back of the Yankees for the best record in the American League.
Baltimore holds a two-game lead over the Royals for the top Wild Card spot, which is important because each three-game Wild Card series is played only at the stadium of the higher-seeded team.
Here is a closer look at the American League playoff races (postseason chances are from Baseball Prospectus).
ROYALS
Record: 82-68
Last 10 games: 7-3
Games back in division race: 4 (Second in AL Central)
Percentage chance of earning Wild Card: 93.9%
Percentage chance of winning A.L. Central: 4.2%
This week’s games: vs. Tigers (Monday to Wednesday), vs. Giants (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: The Royals have scored 48 runs in September, which ranks 27th in Major League Baseball
MINNESOTA TWINS
Record: 79-70
Last 10 games: 4-6
Games back in division race: 6 1/2 (Third in the Central)
Percentage chance of earning Wild Card: 79.0%
Percentage chance of winning A.L. Central: 0.4%
This week’s games: at Guardians (Monday to Thursday), at Red Sox (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: Minnesota is 1-5-1 in its last seven series
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Record: 86-64 (First in the AL Central)
Last 10 games: 6-4
Percentage chance of earning Wild Card: 4.6%
Percentage chance of winning A.L. Central: 94.4%
This week’s games: vs. Twins (Monday to Thursday), at Cardinals (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: The Guardians have the best ERA in baseball this month (2.20)
DETROIT TIGERS
Record: 77-73
Last 10 games: 7-3
Games back in wild-card race: 2 1/2
Percentage chance of earning Wild Card: 9.0%
This week’s games: at Royals (Monday to Wednesday), at Orioles (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: The Tigers have a 40-48 record against teams with a winning record
SEATTLE MARINERS
Record: 77-73
Last 10 games: 7-3
Games back in wild-card race: 2 1/2
Percentage chance of earning Wild Card: 9.5%
This week’s games: vs. Yankees (Tuesday to Thursday), at Rangers (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: The Mariners have scored the most runs in the American League in September (75)
BOSTON RED SOX
Record: 75-75
Last 10 games: 5-5
Games back in wild-card race: 4 1/2
Percentage chance of earning Wild Card: 2.5%
This week’s games: at Rays (Tuesday to Thursday), vs. Twins (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: Boston’s three-game winning streak from Aug. 4-6 is its longest since the All-Star break, the team’s website noted
This story was originally published September 16, 2024 at 10:33 AM.
