Kansas City Royals: Fourth Postseason Picture Update

Biding Their Time (Apparently)

Toronto Blue Jays

Overall record (through Sunday): 61-69

Last week: 2-4

This week: Vs. Boston Red Sox (Mon.-Wed.); at Baltimore Orioles (Thu.-Sun.)

The Blue Jays are right on the edge of joining the White Sox & Co. on the previous slide. Their incredibly slim playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. Seven games total against Boston and Baltimore this week just might snap that thread.

It’s been a good effort to turn things around after a horrendous start. However, the organization will likely rue not selling a couple of members of their starting rotation at the trade deadline.

Toronto lost two of three to Tampa Bay and Minnesota this past week. The Blue Jays will be lucky to finish this coming week with more than two total wins, although they will catch the Red Sox in the midst of a slump.

Texas Rangers

Overall record (through Sunday): 64-66

Last week: 2-4

This week: Off Monday; at Houston Astros (Tue.-Thu.); vs. Los Angeles Angels (Fri.-Sun.)

It was an uneven week for the Rangers. A team that charged up the standings with five wins last week continued its ascension by taking three of four on the road against the Angels, who entered last week tied for the final Wild Card slot.

What followed was a disastrous three-game set in Oakland. Now the team needs to bounce back as it plays six more games against West Division opposition this week.

The Rangers pitching staff was always going to make a playoff push hard to sustain. However, the offense drying up in the Bay Area had to be the most surprising development of the week.

Tampa Bay Rays

Overall record (through Sunday): 65-67

Last week: 4-2

This week: At Kansas City Royals (Mon.-Wed.); off Thursday; at Chicago White Sox (Fri.-Sun.)

This could have easily been the week the Rays shot back into the Wild Card race. Tampa Bay could legitimately have finished a perfect 6-0 if it weren’t for the bullpen issues that have plagued much of its season.

The Rays lost Wednesday to the Blue Jays after allowing the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. On Saturday against St. Louis, a 4-2 lead vanished in the eighth inning and the Cardinals hit a walk-off homer in the ninth.

Even with those disappointing losses, a winning week had to be a welcome sight for Tampa Bay after a rough patch. The Rays will hope to extend their good run with three games against a struggling Kansas City Royals squad and a young, but talented, White Sox team.