MLB playoff standings 2014: Royals stumble, Tigers take AL Central lead

The Royals and Tigers remain in an virtual tie after Kansas City struggles against Allen Webster and the Boston Red Sox while Detroit cruises against the Cleveland.

by Nick Bond

Sep 13, 2014, 11:30 AM UTC

Duane Burleson

Outside of the aptly-named "Big Game" James Shields, there really isn't much going for the Royals in terms of significant September/October experience. With less than two dozen games left in the season, that weakness is starting to show. A fourth loss in five games on Friday night, 4-2 at home to the Red Sox, dropped the Royals out of first place, a half-game behind the Tigers.

There's still a lot of baseball to be played between the two teams -- another three-game series starts in Kansas City in just one week -- but losing two consecutive games to the Red Sox is precisely the kind of thing that the Royals must avoid as the season comes to an end. With the Tigers playing the Indians, Kansas City is hoping Cleveland plays like they are still in the running while the Royals attempt to fare better against Rubby De La Rosa on Saturday than they did against Clay Buchholz or Allen Webster in the first two games of their series at Kauffman Stadium.

American League

	Team	W-L	Pct	GB
ALW	Angels	92-55	.626	---
ALE	Orioles	88-59	.599	---
ALC	Tigers	81-66	.551	---
WC1	Athletics	81-66	.551	---
WC2	Royals	80-66	.551	---
WC2	Mariners	80-66	.548	---
	Blue Jays	76-70	.521	4
	Indians	76-70	.521	4
	Yankees	75-71	.514	5
	Rays	71-77	.480	10
	White Sox	66-80	.452	14
	Astros	65-82	.442	15½
	Red Sox	65-83	.439	16
	Twins	62-84	.425	18
	Rangers	55-92	.374	25½

National League

	Team	W-L	Pct	GB
NLE	Nationals	83-63	.568	---
NLW	Dodgers	83-64	.565	---
NLC	Cardinals	81-67	.547	---
WC1	Giants	82-65	.558	+4
WC2	Pirates	78-69	.531	---
	Brewers	77-71	.520	1½
	Braves	75-72	.510	3
	Marlins	71-75	.486	6½
	Mets	72-76	.486	6½
	Reds	70-78	.473	8½
	Padres	68-78	.466	9½
	Phillies	68-79	.463	10
	Cubs	64-83	.435	14
	Diamondbacks	59-88	.401	19
	Rockies	59-88	.401	19

Notables

After crushing the spirits of the Yankees' playoff hopes and warming the hearts of non-Yankees fans everywhere with wins in both parts of Friday's doubleheader, the Orioles have all but locked up a playoff berth. 11.5 games up on the Blue Jays -- who themselves are now a game ahead of the Yankees in the AL East -- with just fifteen games left in their regular season, they control their own destiny more than any other team in either league. While it's not surprising the Orioles organization is in this position, this particular team -- without Manny Machado and Matt Wieters, and now without Chris Davis -- playing this well as surprised many, The Sporting News' Jesse Spector included:

That the Orioles aren’t just winning the East, but are running away with it, is one of the most surprising things I’ve seen in baseball.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) September 12, 2014

Speaking of surprises, how shocking was it that the Nats lost today’s game against the Mets? “The Mets might be good next year” level shocking:

The @Nationals won their 12th straight road game vs Mets. The streak – which began on 6/30/13 – is longest for the #Nats vs any one team.
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) September 12, 2014