Kansas City Royals: Second Postseason Picture Update

No longer in the hunt

These teams are the only ones we are certain will not threaten for a playoff spot.

At least we think they won’t. … Heck, who knows.

Let’s put it this way: These teams would be the MOST surprising to make the postseason. But the way this season has gone, we shouldn’t be THAT surprised.

Chicago White Sox

Overall record (through Sunday): 45-70

Last week: 4-2

This week: Off Monday; at Los Angeles Dodgers (Tue.-Wed.); at Texas Rangers (Thu.-Sun.)

In a week full of impressive sweeps, the White Sox might have pulled off the most surprising one.

Chicago opened the week with three consecutive home wins over Houston.

The last of the three was Yoan Moncada’s coming out party (aside from the three-run triple he had against the Kansas City Royals). Down 2-1 in the ninth, the near-unanimous top prospect in baseball hit a solo home run off Houston closer Ken Giles. He followed that up with a walk-off single in the 11th.

If four straight wins is a sign of things to come, the struggles they had on Saturday and Sunday against the Kansas City Royals show they still have a long way to go.

Oakland Athletics

Overall record (through Sunday): 52-66

Last week: 2-4

This week: Vs. Kansas City Royals (Mon.-Wed.); off Thursday; at Houston Astros (Fri.-Sun.)

The Kansas City Royals first opponent of the week didn’t do the Boys in Blue many favors this past week.

Up against two of the primary contenders for the second Wild Card spot, Oakland was swept in a two-game set with Seattle and managed just a split with Baltimore.

The A’s main issue has been pitching, especially since the trade deadline when they sold Sonny Gray, Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle.

Their offense is still more than capable of putting up runs. That’s not a good thing for a Kansas City Royals pitching staff that has struggled to put up zeros in recent weeks.

Detroit Tigers

Overall record (through Sunday): 53-64

Last week: 2-5

This week: At Texas Rangers (Mon.-Wed.); off Thursday; vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (Fri.-Sun.)

Detroit pulled off the comeback win of the week in the game of the week against Minnesota. It was one of the Tigers’ two victories over the previous seven days.

On Saturday, Detroit jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning against hot-and-cold starter Jose Berrios. That lead quickly evaporated as the rejuvenated Twins, which had won six straight games, pounded Jordan Zimmermann and his replacements.

Eventually Minnesota took an 11-6 lead into the seventh inning. In that frame, Justin Upton hit a sacrifice fly to score a run, but he wasn’t done.

Following a three-run eighth inning—highlighted by an Ian Kinsler homer—Upton hit a two-run walk-off shot to stun the Twins.

It was virtually the only positive of the week for the Tigers, but what a positive it was.