Kansas City Royals: Postseason Picture Update

Tanking teams

We will start by looking at the teams that have essentially given up on this season. These were the teams that did what some Kansas City Royals fans might have preferred their team had ended up doing, and that is sell, sell, sell.

Chicago White Sox

Overall record (through Sunday): 41-68

Last week: 1-6

This week: Off Monday; vs. Houston Astros (Tue.-Thu.); vs. Kansas City Royals (Fri.-Sun.)

The White Sox had the worst record in the American League this past week, including a four-game sweep at the hands of the Red Sox, to move further into the Central Division cellar.

Fans on the South Side probably don’t care too much at this point.

More than any other organization, the White Sox cashed in on their veterans at the trade deadline in an effort to boost an already impressive farm system. Between trades with their crosstown rival Cubs and the Yankees, among others, the White Sox are primed for a long period of success.

Although that success might not start until 2019.

Oakland Athletics

Overall record (through Sunday): 50-62

Last week: 4-3

This week: Off Monday; vs. Seattle Mariners (Tue.-Wed.); vs. Baltimore Orioles (Thu.-Sun.)

A .500 week for a team that traded its ace in Sonny Gray to the Yankees at the deadline is a sign of good things to come.

The A’s opened the week in a rare battle of last-placed teams against their Bay Area rival Giants. After splitting the four games (two in Oakland and two in San Francisco), they capped the week by taking two of three against the Angels.

Fans in Oakland though are mostly looking toward the future. In particular the haul received for Gray could be key down the line, especially if Dustin Fowler and James Kaprielian recover from their respective season-ending injuries.

Detroit Tigers

Overall record (through Sunday): 51-59

Last week: 4-3

This week: At Pittsburgh Pirates (Mon.-Tue.); vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (Wed.-Thu.); vs. Minnesota Twins (Fri.-Sun.)

There is still enough talent in Detroit to steal a few wins from teams fighting for the postseason.

Despite making trades to send J.D. Martinez to Arizona and the combination of Justin Wilson and Alex Avila to the Cubs, the Tigers managed to have a winning record over the past week. Two of the wins came against the Yankees and the other two came against the Orioles.

This week features games against Pittsburgh and Minnesota, which both currently sit three games under .500. Detroit could have a lot to say about how those teams view their already slim playoff chances moving forward.