So, thanks to the Mariners just absolutely refusing to move forward despite every opportunity to, we've now got a much spicier wild card race. Because now, the Rangers, Royals, Guardians and Rays are all in it for that last spot along with the Mariners. That's four other teams who weren't wild card threats before, but since the Mariners just forgot how to win games in August again it's gonna be close.
The Royals, honestly, have been waiting for an opportunity to show people they've still got something. Obviously this season has been a step down for them, without Cole Ragans and with less Seth Lugo and Kris Bubic, and with a somewhat depleted lineup. Bobby Witt is having another marquee year, but it can't just be up to him, and seeing Jonathan India, Michael Massey, Hunter Renfroe and, most notably, Jac Caglianone, fail to meet expectations has been insulting. This was a team that seemed so pissed off by how the season ended last year, and they go back out here and basically prove the Yankees right? The rotation's depleted, the back half of the lineup's caved in and despite being competitive late, they're only 2 games over .500.
What's keeping this Royals team alive is the heart of the lineup. Maikel Garcia, Bobby Witt, Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez are all providing the offensive production needed to compete. Pasquatch has really caught up in the last few months, and has 29 homers and 94 RBIs, meaning he's got a good chance of passing both thresholds. Last year Pasquantino was the factor that propelled the Royals towards October, and he's in position to do it again. You also have Bobby Witt Jr. looking at the possibility of a 30-30 season, Salvy Perez on the heels of his sixth 25+ homer year, and the very wise acquisition of Mike Yastrzemski, who now has 7 homers and 14 RBIs after a month with this team. It could be awkward if the Giants somehow make the playoffs without him, but we'll see how likely that is this month.
Again, it's the pitching that worries me regarding this team's playoff hopes. Right now, without Lugo or Bailey Falter, their rotation consists of Michael Wacha, Noah Cameron, a slightly banged-up Michael Lorenzen, Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek. On one hand, this is why they traded for Bergert and Kolek, knowing that they'd need rotation depth. And honestly, they've added a lot. Bergert's got a 2.43 ERA and 31 Ks in 6 starts, and Kolek's first KC start went well, with only 1 earned run in 6 innings. It's not ideal, and the only ace-esque guy here is Wacha, who's arguably better as a 3 or 4 man in a rotation, but I suppose it'll do. But for a competitive team desperate for a playoff spot, is 'it'll do' enough?
The Royals are close. They made it last year, and they could sneak in this year if things fall their way. If it doesn't happen this year, with a revitalized rotation next year I feel a lot better about them. Either way, they're not exactly gonna lose much stock.
Coming Tonight: I think there are so many scrappy Cubs second year relief guys that it took me til the other day to learn that this guy's a rookie. And it makes what he's doing even crazier.
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