Kansas City Royals Playoff Picture: Not So Fast, Royals Pessimist

The Kansas City Royals roll into Detroit today to start a three game set in which they will face Artie Lewicki in his MLB debut, Anibal Sanchez and his 6.95 ERA, and Matt Boyd with his stellar 5.92 ERA.

Coming off of a huge series win in the Twin Cities, the Kansas City Royals will counter with a hot Jake Junis, their 2017 (qualified) ERA leader in Jason Vargas, and Jason Hammel.

This series in Detroit could not come at a better time for The Boys in Blue. Kansas City currently finds themselves 3.5 GB of the second Wild Card with five teams standing in their way.

The Minnesota Twins, who the Royals play four more times in Kansas City this weekend, will be in Tampa Bay for a three-game set against the Rays this week. If the Kansas City Royals can sweep Detroit this week (like they ought to be able to) and find a way to take 3 of 4 from Minnesota this weekend, they will catapult themselves right back into the thick of the playoff race in seven days.

Here’s the schedules for the other four teams in the AL Wildcard race over the next seven days:

• Baltimore Orioles: Three games at home with the Yankees, off Thursday, at Cleveland for three games.
• Los Angeles Angels: Three games at Oakland, off Thursday, at Seattle for three games.
• Seattle Mariners: Three games at home with Houston, off Thursday, Three games at home with LAA.
• Texas Rangers: Three games at Atlanta, off Thursday, Three games at home with the NYY.

The Royals have by far the most advantageous schedule of any Wildcard team over the next seven days.

That’s not to say it’s the easiest schedule, but three games against a team that’s already folded and four games at home with the current second Wildcard holder is incredibly advantageous.

The New York Yankees play two teams in front of KC this week. Two of the teams in front of KC play each other in a three-game set in Seattle. AL Central foe Cleveland plays Baltimore three times in Cleveland. This might be a good week to start loving some of Kansas City’s recent rivals.

Next: Checking Out the September Call-Ups

Our Boys in Blue have dug themselves a hole that even Stanley Yelnats would be proud of, but they aren’t out of it…yet. The next seven days could very well dictate the season for the Kansas City Royals, and my money is on the former World Champions to get the job done.