The Royals on Monday start the most pivotal stretch of their season
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals begin a crucial 25-game stretch, with 19 scheduled at Kauffman Stadium.
- Kansas City trails Yankees by four games for final American League wild card.
- Upcoming home series feature last-place Nationals, White Sox and rival Rangers.
By the first Sunday in September, we could have a good idea of whether the Royals will be returning to the playoffs.
Despite their 58-60 record, the Royals are in the postseason hunt, just four games behind the Yankees for the final wild-card spot.
The Royals return home Monday to begin a pivotal 25-game stretch of their season. A whopping 19 of those games will be at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals have just a .500 record at home (28-28), thanks largely to an 11-game losing streak at The K in June. But they’ve won eight of their last 12 at Kauffman Stadium.
If the Royals want to make hay in the playoff race, the time is now. The first two series are against teams that are in last place in their respective divisions: the Nationals and White Sox.
Washington has the second-worst ERA in baseball (5.29), ahead of only the Rockies. The White Sox are dead last in MLB, having blown 52% of their save opportunities.
Then comes four games against a team the Royals are chasing in the wild-card race: the Texas Rangers. Texas has lost four straight.
This 25-game stretch also includes 15 against teams with a losing record. The Royals have a 28-19 record against teams that are .500 or worse this season.
Six of the games are against the AL Central-leading Tigers, but they are just 9-17 since July 9.
Here are the Royals’ next 25 games.
- Monday to Wednesday: 3 games vs. Nationals
- Friday to Sunday: 3 games vs. White Sox
- Aug. 18-21: 4 games vs. Rangers
- Aug. 22-24: 3 games at Tigers
- Aug. 25-27: 3 games at White Sox
- Aug. 29-31: 3 games vs. Tigers
- Sept. 2-4: 3 games vs. Angels
- Sept. 5-7: 3 games vs. Twins
Should the Royals stumble through this stretch of games, it won’t torpedo their postseason chances, which sat at 28.3% on Monday morning, according to Fangraphs. But this is the Royals’ best opportunity to gain ground in the race.
Of the Royals’ final 19 games of the 2025 season, just six will be at Kauffman Stadium. And nine games in that stretch will be against teams that currently hold a playoff spot.
The Royals are just 30-41 against teams with a winning record.
This story was originally published August 11, 2025 at 10:08 AM.
