Inside the AL playoff race: New Royal players imparted wisdom to teammates
Royals general manager J.J. Picollo should be the front-runner to win the MLB Executive of the Year award this fall.
Picollo made savvy moves during the offseason, before the trade deadline and just a few weeks ago. The Royals claimed a trio of players: infielders Yuli Gurriel and Robbie Grossman and outfielder Tommy Pham.
Those three players have a combined .310 batting average since joining the Royals with four doubles and five RBIs.
The veterans also offered some advice to their new teammates, even though they joined the Royals during that ugly seven-game losing streak.
“Just keep showing up. We’ve got a good team,” Grossman said of his message to the team. “There’s a reason why you’re in this position at this time of year. Just keep showing up, putting your best foot forward because good things are gonna happen.”
Since that skid, the Royals have won four straight and strengthened their postseason chances. Here is a closer look at the American League Central and AL Wild Card races (playoff chances are from Baseball Prospectus).
ROYALS
Record: 79-65
Last 10 games: 4-6
Games back in division race: 2 1/2 (Second in AL Central)
Percentage chance of being a wild card: 83.2%
Percentage chance of winning A.L. Central: 8.9%
This week’s games: at Yankees (Monday to Wednesday), at Pirates (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: Royals starters have allowed two runs or fewer in eight of the last 10 games, a stretch in which they’ve posted a 2.76 ERA
MINNESOTA TWINS
Record: 76-67
Last 10 games: 4-6
Games back in division race: 5 (Third in the Central)
Percentage chance of being a wild card: 79.5%
Percentage chance of winning A.L. Central: 5.6%
This week’s games: vs. Angels (Monday to Thursday), vs Reds (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: After being swept by the Royals, the Twins have a 37-51 record against teams with a winning record
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Record: 81-62 (First in the AL Central)
Last 10 games: 6-4
Percentage chance of being a wild card: 14.5%
Percentage chance of winning A.L. Central: 85.5%
This week’s games: at White Sox (Monday to Wednesday), vs Rays (Thursday to Sunday)
Stat of note: In his first 49 games, Steven Kwan hit .390, and MLB.com story noted, but he batted just .210 over his next 67 games. In his first six September games, Kwan was 1 for 23.
DETROIT TIGERS
Record: 73-71
Last 10 games: 5-5
Games back in wild-card race: 3 1/2
Percentage chance of being a wild card: 9.0%
This week’s games: vs. Rockies (Tuesday to Thursday), vs Orioles (Friday to Sunday)
Stat of note: The Tigers have won seven of their last eight series
SEATTLE MARINERS
Record: 73-71
Last 10 games: 5-5
Games back in wild-card race: 3 1/2
Percentage chance of being a wild card: 6.5%
This week’s games: vs. Padres (Tuesday and Wednesday), vs. Rangers (Thursday to Sunday)
Stat of note: The Mariners play 12 of their final 18 games at home
BOSTON RED SOX
Record: 72-71
Last 10 games: 3-7
Games back in wild-card race: 4
Percentage chance of being a wild card: 5.5%
This week’s games: vs. Orioles (Monday to Wednesday), at Yankees (Thursday to Sunday)
Stat of note: With a minus-6 run differential, Boston is the only A.L. team with a winning record that doesn’t have a positive run differential
