While their odds of making the MLB playoffs still hover around 65 percent, the Kansas City Royals' postseason aspirations have taken a major hit this weekend with two straight losses to the Detroit Tigers at home. This allowed Detroit's lead in the AL Central to grow ever wider.
MLB playoff standings 2014: Tigers beat Royals again, widen AL Central lead
The Royals may have seen their AL Central title hopes crushed for good with yet another home loss against the Tigers.
Kyle Rivas
Although they performed significantly better than Friday night's 10-1 drubbing, Saturday's 3-2 loss hurt just as bad, especially with their ace -- the aptly-named "Big Game" James Shields -- on the mound. But Kansas City was simply unable to overcome reigning Cy Young winner Max Scherzer's dominant seven-inning, one-run, six-strikeout performance. After their big boppers ran up the score on Friday, the Tigers' offense leaned on Torii Hunter's fourth-inning homer and two runs manufactured by center fielder Rajai Davis and pinch hitter Tyler Collins in the seventh.
The teams will meet for the last time this season on Sunday, with the Tigers running out Rick Porcello against the Royals' Jeremy Guthrie in Kauffman Stadium.
American League
| Division | Team | W-L | Pct | GB |
| ALW | Los Angeles Angels | 96-59 | .619 | --- |
| ALE | Baltimore Orioles | 93-61 | .604 | --- |
| ALC | Detroit Tigers | 86-68 | .558 | --- |
| WC1 | Oakland Athletics | 84-70 | .545 | +½ |
| WC2 | Kansas City Royals | 83-70 | .542 | --- |
| Seattle Mariners | 83-71 | .539 | ½ | |
| Cleveland Indians | 80-74 | .519 | 3½ | |
| New York Yankees | 79-75 | .513 | 4½ | |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 78-76 | .506 | 5½ |
National League
| Division | Team | W-L | Pct | GB |
| NLE | Washington Nationals | 90-64 | .584 | --- |
| NLW | Los Angeles Dodgers | 88-67 | .568 | --- |
| NLC | St. Louis Cardinals | 87-68 | .561 | --- |
| WC1 | San Francisco Giants | 84-70 | .545 | +1 |
| WC2 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 83-71 | .539 | --- |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 80-75 | .516 | 3½ | |
| Atlanta Braves | 76-78 | .494 | 7 |
Notables
- If Athletics fans never hear the name "Jerome Williams" ever again, it will be too soon:
- Thankfully for A's fans, the Houston Astros -- led by the underrated Jose Altuve -- are giving the Mariners a hard time, and setting some records along the way:
.@pinkpuka36 has defeated the Athletics 3 times this year ... with 3 different teams: http://t.co/D80rBTbKjL pic.twitter.com/rs9WH9rM8v
— MLB (@MLB) September 20, 2014 Watch this RBI single, hit no. 217 for @josealtuve27, most by a Venezuelan-born player in MLB history: http://t.co/BOpJjjXKrw #AltuveWatch
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 21, 2014 See More:
