Kansas City Royals: Postseason Picture Update

Waffling teams

These are the teams whose fans should be most upset at this point of the campaign. Rebuilds are a tough process to go through, but at least the teams on the previous slide fully committed to them.

The only thing worse than choosing to rebuild is being forced to. These teams fall into the latter category, although most sold off at least a few pieces at the deadline.

Some of these teams are still mathematically on the fringes of the postseason chase but likely won’t be for long.

Toronto Blue Jays

Overall record (through Sunday): 52-59

Last week: 3-4

This week: Off Monday; vs. New York Yankees (Tue.-Thu.); vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (Fri.-Sun.)

Like the Kansas City Royals, the Blue Jays got off to a horrendous start to the season.

Unlike their 2015 ALCS opponent, Toronto has not turned things around and would need nothing short of a miracle to steal a Wild Card bid.

The Blue Jays traded pitchers Francisco Liriano (Houston) and Joe Smith (Cleveland) at the deadline.

However, they held on to their other assets, including former MVP Josh Donaldson and pitchers Marco Estrada and J.A. Happ. According to USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, the Kansas City Royals were in talks to land Estrada or Happ on deadline day.

Whether the organization expected too much in return for those guys is unknown, but it’s safe to say postseason baseball will not happen in Canada this year.

Texas Rangers

Overall record (through Sunday): 53-58

Last week: 3-4

This week: Off Monday; at New York Mets (Tue.-Wed.); off Thursday; vs. Houston Astros (Fri.-Sun.)

The biggest trade of the season signaled a realization that postseason hopes were bleak deep in the heart of Texas.

Yu Darvish being shipped to Los Angeles to bolster an already ludicrous Dodgers team might have determined the fate of all 30 teams in Major League Baseball. It definitely sealed the Rangers’ fate.

After consecutive West Division titles, the Rangers will in all likelihood be watching October baseball from their couches this time around.

Minnesota Twins

Overall record (through Sunday): 53-56

Last week: 3-3

This week: Vs. Milwaukee Brewers (Mon.-Tue.); at Milwaukee Brewers (Wed.-Thu.); at Detroit Tigers (Fri.-Sun.)

At the All-Star break, the Twins held a half-game lead over the Kansas City Royals for second place in the Central Division. Minnesota was just one game out of the second Wild Card spot.

An abysmal second half, though, has all but ended the Twins’ playoff hopes. Minnesota currently sits just 3.5 games out of the final playoff spot, but with four teams ahead of them in the Wild Card standings, things aren’t looking good for the overachieving Twins.

If Minnesota was to turn things around, this would be the week to start. The Brewers have been wildly inconsistent in the second half and the Tigers, as mentioned before, care not where they end up at the end of this season.