The Kansas City Royals have secured a spot in the playoffs thanks to the Twins losing 7-2 to the Orioles.
Earlier that night, the Royals lost 3-0 to the Braves, but it didn’t matter because they still made it to the postseason. This will be their first playoff appearance since 2015 when they won the World Series against the Mets.
The Royals had an incredible turnaround this year after losing 106 games in 2023. According to MLB research, only one other team has made it to the playoffs after losing 100 or more games in a full season: the 2017 Minnesota Twins (the Marlins did it too but in a shortened season).
Key Players and Moves:
Kansas City’s success can be attributed to some smart off-season moves, including signing veteran pitchers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. Together, these two players contributed nearly nine Wins Above Replacement (WAR), making their $31 million salaries well worth it.
Young stars like Bobby Witt Jr. and Cole Ragans also played crucial roles. Witt achieved over 9 WAR, something only George Brett did back in 1980 for this franchise. He also had his second consecutive 30-30 season . Ragans emerged as one of the best left-handed starters with a solid ERA of 3.14 and an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Fans might think this comeback is nothing short of amazing!
Now, with their playoff spot secured, they join other American League teams like the Yankees, Guardians, Astros, Orioles, and Tigers. The exact seeding isn’t clear yet but we know who’s in.
What do you think about this incredible turnaround?
