Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals begin their four-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday as one of the worst road teams in Major League Baseball. 

Kansas City is 2-7 away from Kauffman Stadium and just got swept at Yankee Stadium, but the matchup in play on Thursday at Comerica Park suits the Royals. 

Michael Lorenzen has been a steady force on the mound that the Royals can trust to get beyond the fifth inning. 

The Kansas City lineup owns some favorable numbers against Reese Olson, most notably Bobby Witt Jr., who has incredible head-to-head splits versus the Detroit right-hander. 

Michael Lorenzen Over 15.5 Outs Recorded (-125) 

Michael Lorenzen lasted at least 5.1 innings in each of his three starts to begin the season. 

That’s the target again on Thursday to clear the over on his outs recorded prop. 

Lorenzen has allowed his share of hits (17), but he hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of his appearances. 

A year ago, Lorenzen went five and 5.2 innings in two starts versus Detroit. He only allowed three hits in the appearance in Detroit, an outing that would’ve lasted longer had he not walked five batters. 

Four of the last six starters to face the Tigers went at least five innings. The Tigers lineup has produced 15 runs in the last five games, but nine of them came on Monday. 

As long as Lorenzen avoids a high volume of walks, he can cruise into the sixth inning against a Detroit lineup trending in the wrong direction. 

Bobby Witt Jr. Over 1.5 Total Bases (-105) 

Betting the over on Bobby Witt Jr.’s total bases is a good move on almost any night because he’s one of the best hitters in baseball. 

It’s an even better bet when you look at Witt’s history against Reese Olson.

The superstar shortstop owns a .545 batting average, 1.902 OPS, two home runs and six RBIs in 11 career at-bats versus Olson. 

Witt owns a nine-game hitting streak in which he’s had five extra-base hits. 

At least one hit seems like a guarantee against Olson, and with the gap-to-gap power he has, it’s also worth looking into betting him to record a double (+310) or triple (+1000).

Seven of his 22 hits this season have been doubles, and one of his 11 triples last season came in Detroit. 

Royals ML (+130)

Witt isn't the only Royal with strong numbers against Olson. Michael Massey (2-for-8, 1 HR) and Maikel Garcia (3-for-10, 1 HR) and Kyle Isbel (2-for-5) have had success against the Detroit righty.

Olson has allowed 10 earned runs, 17 hits and eight walks in 15 innings this season.

Kansas City does have a bad road record and it is second-to-last in batting average against righties this season, but the familiarity against Olson will help the Royals get out to an early lead and out of their road rut.

As the start of the 2025 MLB season draws nearer, the Kansas City Royals made an announcement on Tuesday that is sure to excite fans.

The Royals revealed that they will be bringing back their signature Powder Blue uniforms for the 2025 campaign:

They're back. pic.twitter.com/ofNPTctJcY

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 18, 2025

It was previously revealed that Kansas City will be wearing its Powder Blue uniforms on Opening Day when it faces the Cleveland Guardians on March 27.

The Royals later announced that they will be rocking the Powder Blue uniforms for every Saturday home game and launched the Powder Blue Six-Pack where fans who buy tickets to six of those games will receive a limited-run bobblehead of longtime catcher and captain Salvador Perez.

Kansas City is coming off an impressive 2024 season in which it finished with an 86-76 record and made the playoffs for the first time since its World Series win in 2015. The team swept the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Wild Card Series before falling to the New York Yankees in four games in the ALDS.

The Royals are led by rising star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who finished second behind Yankees slugger Aaron Judge in the voting for AL MVP last season. Witt led the majors with a .332 batting average while adding career highs of 32 home runs and 109 RBI. He also had 31 stolen bases for his second straight 30-30 season, making him the only shortstop in MLB history to achieve the feat. He earned his first selection to the All-Star Game and won his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

Witt and the Royals will be looking to reach even greater heights in 2025, and they will look fresh in their Powder Blue uniforms as they chase their goals.

The Kansas City Royals reportedly made a hefty contract offer to outfielder Anthony Santander before he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in free agency.

The Royals offered Santander a three-year deal worth $66 million, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The proposal contained deferrals as well as an opt-out after the second year.

Santander ended up signing a five-year, $92.5 million contract with the Blue Jays on Jan. 20.

The 30-year-old's deal with Toronto includes $61.75 million in deferred money, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Rosenthal noted that by the time the Royals made their $66 million contract proposal to Santander, he had already chosen to join the Blue Jays.

Prior to signing with Toronto, Santander established himself as a consistent power hitter while spending the first eight years of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. He's also coming off a 2024 campaign in which he earned his first All-Star nod.

In 155 games last season, Santander racked up 44 home runs and 25 doubles to go along with a .235/.308/.506 slash line. He also recorded 102 RBIs, which ranked No. 9 among all American League players.

Tony Taters #Walkoff!

The @Orioles win it on Anthony Santander's 42nd home run of the season! pic.twitter.com/DhmIZXT8TF

— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024

Santander could have been a key addition to a Kansas City lineup that lacked power outside of star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. in 2024. Despite making a postseason appearance for the first time since 2015, no Royal reached 20 home runs other than Witt and catcher Salvador Perez.

Kansas City remained active in free agency after missing out on Santander, signing relief pitcher Carlos Estévez to a two-year deal worth $22.2 million (via Rosenthal).

The Royals looked to add Santander in free agency as they attempt to build upon their 2024 ALDS appearance, but he ultimately chose the Blue Jays.

Michael Lorenzen is staying with the Kansas City Royals.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the right-handed starter agreed to a one-year, $7 million contract with the Royals that includes a second-year mutual option for $12 million.

Lorenzen started the 2024 season with the Texas Rangers but was acquired by Kansas City in July.

Lorenzen, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, has been a journeyman over the past few years, playing for five different teams since 2022. He was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2023 season before last year's trade to the Royals, meaning he was on four different rosters in the same calendar year.

He'll now get to stay in Kansas City for at least one more year as he looks to put together a strong second season with the Royals.

Before being traded to Kansas City last year, Lorenzen had a 3.81 ERA in 19 games with the Rangers. He closed out the season well, posting a 1.57 ERA with a 2-0 record in seven games with the Royals.

He came out of the bullpen in two postseason games to record a 3.86 ERA as Kansas City fell to the New York Yankees in the American League divisional series.

Lorenzen started his career as a starting pitcher for the Reds in 2015 but proceeded to spend the next six seasons mainly as a reliever. That changed in 2022 when he joined the Los Angeles Angels and returned to a starting role, posting a 4.24 ERA and 18 starts. The following year, he was an All-Star with the Tigers as he recorded a 3.58 ERA before the trade to the Phillies.

He's spent the last few years mostly in a starting role, but still occasionally comes out of the bullpen, making him a versatile option for the Royals as they look to build off of their first postseason appearance since 2015.

The Kansas City Royals are reportedly looking to upgrade their offense this offseason.

According to Anne Rogers or MLB.com, the team has "checked in" on Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward, "but nothing has progressed deeply yet."

That follows a report from C. Trent Rosecrans and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic over the weekend that Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India is "one of several hitters the Royals are targeting" this offseason, with Kansas City starting pitcher Brady Singer "drawing interest from the Reds and other teams seeking to deepen their rotations."

The Royals, behind superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and a solid pitching staff—led by Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans and Michael Wacha—made a surprising run to the MLB postseason in 2024, sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in the Wild Card Round before losing to the New York Yankees in four games during the ALDS.

In the six postseason games, the Royals averaged 2.5 runs per game. During the regular season, the team ranked 20th in homers (170) and 13th in runs (735).

The future is bright, but an offensive upgrade is clearly needed.

India, 27, hit .248 with 15 homers, 58 RBI, 84 runs and 13 stolen bases in the 2024 season, posting a .750 OPS. He would address the team's need for a leadoff hitter.

Bohm, 28, was excellent for much of the past season, hitting .280 with 15 homers, 97 RBI, 62 runs, 44 doubles and a .779 OPS, earning his first All-Star Game bid. He cooled off significantly late in the regular season and during the playoffs after returning from a hand injury, however, and there have been reports that the Phillies might be interested in moving him to pursue bigger fish in free agency like Juan Soto or Alex Bregman.

The Phillies haven’t met with Juan Soto yet but they plan to. Not many teams want to win more than them.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 19, 2024

Ward, 30, would add some home-run pop to Kansas City's lineup after hitting .246 with a career-high 25 homers and 75 RBI in 2024, adding a .748 OPS. Rogers reported that the Royals were "interested in him at the most recent trade deadline."

The Kansas City Royals agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal with starting pitcher Michael Wacha, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Passan reported the contract, which includes a club option for the 2028 season, can max out at $72 million.

Coming back to KC!

We have agreed to terms with RHP Michael Wacha on a three-year contract with a club option for 2028. pic.twitter.com/kbGzSEyr0m

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) November 3, 2024

Wacha and Kansas City originally agreed to a two-year pact last winter. The second year was a $16 million player option.

Now, the right-hander gets a little more financial security, while the Royals have him on the books for two more years than if he had picked up his option. At this point, Wacha is probably tired of changing uniforms.

Here is the only offseason storyline I am interested in: Will Michael Wacha end up on his seventh team in seven seasons pic.twitter.com/pFAjNJd4AT

— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) October 29, 2024

The 33-year-old presents some risk in terms of his durability since he hasn't made 30 starts in a single season since 2017.

His performance over the last three years has been a model of consistency, though. From 2022 on, he has maintained a 3.30 ERA and a 3.87 FIP while averaging 7.8 strikeouts to 2.5 walks per nine innings, according to Baseball Reference.

Wacha's changeup was downright filthy in 2024. Per Baseball Savant, opposing hitters slugged just .312 and had a 34.1 percent whiff rate on that pitch.

Pitching has long been an issue for the Royals. During a lengthy rebuild, they invested a lot of draft capital toward their starting rotation and saw little return on the field.

Signing Wacha and Seth Lugo last offseason represented a slight change of tack, and both wound up exceeding expectations. Cole Ragans, who arrived in 2023 from the Aroldis Chapman trade, has also thrived after Kansas City moved him from the bullpen to the rotation full time.

Kansas City made a 30-win improvement this year, going from 106 losses to a wild-card berth. Considering the makeup of the squad, there's no reason why the Royals can't maintain that in 2025 and challenge for an American League Central crown.

Getting Wacha extended before he could even hit free agency was a nice boost to the general atmosphere surrounding the organization.

The Kansas City Royals finished off a two-game American League Wild Card Series sweep of the host Baltimore Orioles with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday evening.

After the game, the Royals social media trolled the Orioles with an homage to The Wire:

You come for the crown you best not miss.#HEYHEYHEYHEY https://t.co/JXadJiUjNc pic.twitter.com/r7yMaLbfrr

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) October 2, 2024

Bobby Witt Jr.'s two-out infield RBI single, which scored Kyle Isbel, put Kansas City ahead 2-1 in the sixth inning. Witt's blazing speed proved to be the difference and helped vault the Royals to the AL Division Series, where they will meet the New York Yankees.

Bob’s got wheels! pic.twitter.com/43N4Nk7H8V

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) October 2, 2024

Kansas City got on the board in the first inning when Vinnie Pasquantino's RBI single scored Michael Massey.

Vinnie punches one through! pic.twitter.com/uuTxnbamXk

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) October 2, 2024

Royals starter Seth Lugo cruised through the first four innings but got in trouble in the fifth when Cedric Mullins led off with a homer to tie the game at one.

ENTERTAIN US, CEDRIC MULLINS pic.twitter.com/vMvkJTc4Tx

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) October 2, 2024

A Ramón Urías single and a Gunnar Henderson walk put two runners on before Lugo committed an error on a bunt attempt from Jordan Westburg, loading the bases with no one out.

Lugo got Anthony Santander to pop out before Angel Zerpa took over. The Orioles' rally died after Colton Cowser struck out and Adley Rutschman grounded out.

The Royals bullpen dominated the Baltimore lineup, throwing 4.2 shutout innings while allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out six. It continued a phenomenal stretch from the relievers.

Going back to September 21st, the Royals bullpen has allowed 14 hits and one earned run in their last 40 innings.

Read that again.

— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) October 2, 2024

Lucas Erceg got his second save in as many nights, striking out Henderson to end the game.

Silence the noise. 🤫#HEYHEYHEYHEY pic.twitter.com/gy0G7FFpdW

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) October 2, 2024

The result certainly excited Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is also part of the Royals' ownership group.

LETSSSSS GOOOOOOO!!!!! @Royals

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) October 2, 2024

Mahomes was also impressed with Witt's wheels.

https://t.co/fHwRX9An5C pic.twitter.com/YUZpOIdhlx

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) October 2, 2024

The 24-year-old Witt just enjoyed a phenomenal season that included an MLB-high .332 batting average and 211 hits. Witt amassed 32 home runs and 109 RBI while stealing 31 bases and scoring 125 runs. He posted a .977 OPS, and his 9.4 WAR (wins above replacement) was good enough for second in the American League, per Baseball-Reference.

And now he's excelling in the playoffs. Witt was also responsible for Game 1's lone run thanks to a sixth-inning RBI single that scored Maikel Garcia.

Bobby Witt Jr. joins Jimmie Foxx as the only players in AL/NL history to drive in the game-winning run in each of their first two career #Postseason games.

(H/T @EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/gIAZMFxqq7

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 2, 2024

at 24 years & 110 days, Bobby Witt Jr. is the 2nd-youngest player in postseason history to have a go-ahead hit in the 6th for later in consecutive postseason games, older than only:

Cody Bellinger in 2017 WS G4-5 (22y, 107-108d)

h/t @EliasSports

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 3, 2024

The lights aren't too bright at all for the superstar in his first-ever playoff appearance, and Witt (and the rest of the Royals) got much-deserved love on social media.

Bobby Witt Jr. is becoming one of my favourite players to watch.

— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) October 2, 2024

One team had Bobby Witt Jr. and the other didn't.

— Kent Swanson (@kent_swanson) October 3, 2024

Bobby Witt, Jr.

2 career playoff games.

2 career playoff game winning hits.

— nick wright (@getnickwright) October 2, 2024

Bobby Witt Jr is so good it’s stupid pic.twitter.com/qLKjy8RDAd

— RGS (@Real_RGS) October 2, 2024

Bobby Witt Jr. might just be carving himself into baseball legend. The Royals were VERY smart to sign him long term. https://t.co/GaNraETSCt

— M. Da Glyde Woodrow (@GlydeW15) October 3, 2024

Bobby Witt Jr is the best player in baseball

— Drew Nixon (@drewbnix) October 3, 2024

Bobby Witt Jr tryna get to the World Series

— ™️6 (@BCKMTW) October 3, 2024

Bobby Witt Jr. is an incredible player. He drove in the go-ahead run in both games of his 1st career postseason series.

— Alterraun⚡ (@Hockfan445) October 2, 2024

The Royals are a very good team with really good starting pitching in Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo in particular. Lucas Erceg is elite out of their bullpen, Bobby Witt Jr. is a flat out superstar, Vinnie Pasquantino is criminally underrated, and Salvy is still very good and owns us

— John 🇨🇻 (@YaBoyyyJohn) October 2, 2024

WE GOT A SQUAD!!
#KCvsBAL pic.twitter.com/pdiYdqB3RR

— Anthony AO Oropeza (@AOART5) October 2, 2024

The way I see it the @Royals are playing on house money right now so just enjoy the moment and let’s have some fun Kansas City.

— ALL THINGS SPORTS WITH SEAN & CO. (@things_sean) October 3, 2024

so happy for the kansas city royals they deserve this so much so happy for them

— audra (@rosestreakks) October 3, 2024

The Kansas City Royals are the first team in MLB history to lose 100 games in one season, then win a playoff series the year later…If you fall get back up and keep fighting

— Luke (@LKRWS) October 3, 2024

The Royals will now travel to New York to begin the best-of-five ALDS. Game 1 will be at Yankee Stadium on Saturday at 6:38 p.m. ET.

Kansas City Royals ace Cole Ragans threw six shutout innings and struck out eight to lead his team to a 1-0 road victory over the Baltimore Orioles in Game 1 of their American League Wild Card series on Saturday.

A shutout to start the #Postseason for KC!

The @Royals secure AL #WildCard Game 1 in Baltimore! pic.twitter.com/SBhlt7VdDW

— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2024

Ragans earned the win in a pitchers' duel with O's starter Corbin Burnes, who allowed just one earned run over eight-plus innings, striking out three.

Ragans departed before the seventh inning due to left leg cramps. Thankfully, there is no long-term concern.

Talked with Cole Ragans. He said he cramped up with two batters left in his final inning and could’ve gone back out. But, he said, he’s hoping to keep pitching for a while in October.

He’ll be ready to go against the New York Yankees if the Royals advance to the ALDS.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 1, 2024

Royals relievers Sam Long and Kris Bubic earned holds before Lucas Erceg got the four-out save.

The @Royals get their first #Postseason victory since winning the 2015 World Series 👀 pic.twitter.com/rmgy0bTWcm

— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2024

Kansas City scored its lone run in the sixth inning, when Bobby Witt Jr.'s two-out single scored Maikel Garcia.

Bobby cashes in! pic.twitter.com/T7HVw1g9vq

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) October 1, 2024

Ragans mostly cruised in this one but got into trouble in the fifth inning after Ramón Urías doubled and Cedric Mullins singled, putting runners on the corners with one out. But Ragans got James McCann and Gunnar Henderson to strike out swinging, ending the threat.

Cole Ragans is HYPED 😤

(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/sF6M6kq9f8

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) October 1, 2024

The left-hander was one of the American League's best pitchers in 2024, posting a 3.14 ERA (1.14 WHIP) with 223 strikeouts in 186.1 innings (32 starts). He got a tough assignment to begin the playoffs, drawing a road start against a 91-win Orioles team that finished second in the American League in runs per game.

But Ragans got the job done, and now the Royals are one win away from their first American League Division Series appearance since 2015, the year of the franchise's last World Series victory.

Needless to say, fans and analysts were impressed with Ragans' work.

Cole Ragans was brilliant in his Playoff debut, striking out 8 in 6.0 Scoreless IP

His stuff was untouchable, racking up 15 whiffs on the day and allowing very weak contact

He was pulled after 80 pitches as the Royals hope their bullpen can hold the lead pic.twitter.com/R0UkBCjE9R

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) October 1, 2024

Cole Ragans is a GROWN ASS MAN. #Royals

— Jack Johnson (@JohnyJ_15) October 1, 2024

Cole Ragans pic.twitter.com/8IYDfb5Gsr

— Kent Swanson (@kent_swanson) October 1, 2024

My God I love Cole Ragans.

— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) October 1, 2024

80 pitches through 6.

Cole Ragans is pitching like an pic.twitter.com/mLLFntxgnd

— Kyle Henning (@kthen16) October 1, 2024

Cole Ragans pic.twitter.com/0XQYssa5wZ

— Zach Football (@ZFootball1967) October 1, 2024

HUGE STRIKEOUTS FROM COLE RAGANS!!!!!

— Royals Review (@royalsreview) October 1, 2024

Cole Ragans in the first. #Royals pic.twitter.com/JOFRElfYBM

— Jared Perkins (@JaredCP1) October 1, 2024

You look up “Bad Man” in Webster’s it shows you a picture of Cole Ragans

— Austin Dixon (@ThirtyDixChmbrs) October 1, 2024

I called Cole Ragans left-handed Gerrit Cole over a year ago and I feel pretty good about that.

— Mario Delgado Genzor (@DeGenZGZ) October 1, 2024

Grown ass man pitching by Cole Ragans.

— Brandon J. (@BeeSupreme_) October 1, 2024

Cole Ragans has a lotta Cole Hamels in him…similar delivery, same arsenal, same height, same freakin name…they even look similar

— The Mush Bros (@TheMushBros) October 1, 2024

Cole Ragans is cold blooded man my god

— g (@freewave3) October 1, 2024

Cole Ragans for Heisman

— Kevin Flaherty (@KFlahertyKCSN) October 1, 2024

Cole Ragans#royals pic.twitter.com/ST1WAvzdSo

— Seth Lugo Protector (@Sethlugo9) October 1, 2024

Kansas City will look to close out the best-of-three series on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. ET in Baltimore. Seth Lugo will start for the Royals, and Zach Eflin will get the ball for the Orioles.

The Kansas City Royals' historic turnaround will include a playoff appearance after they locked up an American League wild-card spot with the Minnesota Twins' loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

The Boys are playin' some October ball! pic.twitter.com/ghrM2oMecn

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) September 28, 2024

Kansas City was limping to the finish line with a seven-game losing streak before getting back on track earlier this week by sweeping the Washington Nationals.

Now, the Royals have locked up their first postseason berth since winning the 2016 World Series.

Here's a look at the current playoff matchups and bracket if the season ended today as well as up-to-date standings.

Projected MLB Playoff Bracket

• AL Wild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Kansas City Royals; No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Detroit Tigers
• NL Wild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks; No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 New York Mets
• First-Round Byes: No. 1 New York Yankees and No. 2 Cleveland Guardians (American League); No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers and No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies (National League)

MLB Standings

AL East

1. New York Yankees (93-66); clinched division and first-round bye
2. Baltimore Orioles (89-71, 4 GB); clinched playoff berth
3. Boston Red Sox (80-79, 13 GB) 
4. Tampa Bay Rays (78-81, 15 GB) 
5. Toronto Blue Jays (74-85, 19 GB)

AL Central

1. Cleveland Guardians (92-67); clinched division and first-round bye
2. Detroit Tigers (86-74, 6.5 GB; clinched playoff berth 
3. Kansas City Royals (85-75, 7.5 GB); clinched playoff berth 
4. Minnesota Twins (82-78, 10 GB) 
5. Chicago White Sox (39-121, 53.5 GB)

AL West

1. Houston Astros (86-73); clinched division
2. Seattle Mariners (82-77, 4 GB) 
3. Texas Rangers (75-84, 11 GB) 
4. Oakland Athletics (69-90, 17 GB) 
5. Los Angeles Angels (63-96, 23 GB)

AL Wild Card

1. Baltimore Orioles (89-71); clinched wild card
2. Detroit Tigers (86-74); clinched wild card
3. Kansas City Royals (85-75); clinched wild card
4. Minnesota Twins (82-78, 3 GB)
5. Seattle Mariners (82-77, 3 GB)

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies (94-66); clinched division and first-round bye
2. New York Mets (87-70, 5.5 GB) 
3. Atlanta Braves (87-71, 6 GB) 
4. Washington Nationals (69-90, 25 GB) 
5. Miami Marlins (59-100, 35 GB)

NL Central

1. Milwaukee Brewers (91-68); clinched division 
2. Chicago Cubs (82-78, 9.5 GB) 
3. St. Louis Cardinals (81-78, 10 GB) 
4. Cincinnati Reds (76-84, 15.5 GB) 
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (74-85, 17 GB)

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (95-64); clinched division and first-round bye
2. San Diego Padres (91-68, 4 GB); clinched playoff berth
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (88-71, 4 GB) 
4. San Francisco Giants (79-80, 16 GB) 
5. Colorado Rockies (61-98, 34 GB)

NL Wild Card

1. San Diego Padres (91-68, +3 Games); clinched wild card
2. New York Mets (87-70) 
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (88-71)
4. Atlanta Braves (86-71, 1 GB)

After tying the franchise record with 106 losses last season, the Royals, by their usual standards, went on a massive spending spree in free agency to at least get back to respectability.

Kansas City added $47 million to its 2024 payroll by signing Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Chris Stratton, Garrett Hampson, Will Smith and Hunter Renfroe. That doesn't include the 11-year, $289 million extension given to Bobby Witt Jr. in February.

Lugo turned out to be arguably the best free-agent signing for any team last winter. The 34-year-old is on the shortlist of AL Cy Young candidates with a 3.03 ERA in a career-high 204.2 innings.

The rotation with Lugo, Wacha, Cole Ragans and Singer is very dangerous for opposing teams in a short series. The rotation as a whole ranks third in MLB with 19.9 FanGraphs' wins above replacement and second with a 3.57 ERA.

Witt is probably going to finish second to Aaron Judge in AL MVP voting. The 24-year-old superstar leads MLB in batting average, hits and owns a .332/.389/.591 slash line. He is the first player in franchise history to have at least 30 homers and 30 steals in a season.

Great starting pitching combined with Witt leading the offense have allowed the Royals to become just the 14th team in MLB history to have a winning record one year after losing at least 100 games.

Kansas City is just the second team to make the playoffs in the season after losing at least 100 games, joining the 2017 Minnesota Twins.

With a postseason berth locked up, the Royals are still waiting to find out their opponent in the AL Wild Card series. They will face either the Houston Astros or Baltimore Orioles in a best-of-three series.