Kansas City Royals: Fifth Postseason Picture Update

Right on Their Tail

Seattle Mariners

Overall record (through Sunday): 69-68

Last week: 4-2

This week: Vs. Houston Astros (Mon.-Wed.); off Thursday; vs. Los Angeles Angels (Fri.-Sun.)

After a tough sweep at the hands of the Orioles, the Mariners took advantage of an Athletics team with nothing to play for in 2017 to earn a three-game sweep over the weekend. The schedule is not as kind this week to Seattle.

The week starts with three games against an Astros team that has shown glimpses of its former self recently. After what could be a key day off, the Mariners host the Angels in a massive series.

This week continues a ridiculous stretch of West Division games for Seattle. The Mariners won’t face a non-division foe until Cleveland on Sept. 22-24. Remarkably, those are the only games for the Mariners against a team not named the Astros, Rangers, A’s or Angels the rest of the season.

Baltimore Orioles

Overall record (through Sunday): 70-67

Last week: 5-2

This week: Vs. New York Yankees (Mon.-Wed.); off Thursday; at Cleveland (Fri.-Sun.)

The Orioles turned a week full of potential wins into a 5-2 record. That’s pretty solid, but after sweeping the Mariners, they probably expected more than a split with Toronto in a four-game weekend set.

Baltimore has as tough a schedule as anyone in the American League this coming week. The Yankees visit the Charm City for three games to start the week, and Baltimore travels to Cleveland for three to finish it.

Six games against two of the four teams that are solidly in the playoffs? That’s a tough ask for a streaky team hoping to make another late push.

Los Angeles Angels

Overall record (through Sunday): 70-67

Last week: 4-2

This week: At Oakland Athletics (Mon.-Wed.); off Thursday; at Seattle Mariners (Fri.-Sun.)

Having just swept Oakland this past week, Los Angeles will be more than happy to see the Athletics on the schedule again. A few solid showings in the Bay Area could put the Angels in a good position heading into a weekend series at the Mariners.

The Angels showed this past week that they were going all-in in the chase for the second Wild Card slot. The team added Justin Upton and Brandon Phillips in trades that should just add to an already hot offense. However, the moves failed to address Los Angeles’ real issues.

Starting pitching and the bullpen both have been inconsistent this season. The team has allowed 33 runs over its past four games. If it wasn’t for some late rallies in Texas, Los Angeles would have been swept by the Rangers. It’s still hard to see a pitching staff this bad making the postseason.