After a tough 10-inning loss to the Cleveland Indians to begin Monday, the Kansas City Royals sat two games behind the Tigers with just seven games remaining for both teams this season. Another loss in game two of Kansas City's doubleheader with the Indians and a Detroit win would put any hopes of a division title in severe jeopardy.
MLB playoffs standings 2014: Royals split doubleheader with Indians, gain on Tigers
The Royals split a doubleheader with the Indians on Monday night, but with Detroit’s loss in Chicago, the Royals again tightened up the race atop the AL Central.
Jason Miller
But left-hander Danny Duffy silenced Cleveland's bats over six innings and the Royals' dominant bullpen shut the door to earn Kansas City a 2-0 win. RBI singles from Eric Hosmer and Alcides Escobar scored all the runs the Royals needed, and with the Tigers falling to the White Sox by the same 2-0 scoreline, the Royals now sit only a game back in the AL Central. The win also allowed the Royals to build a two-game lead over the Mariners in the AL's Wild Card race.
American League
| Division | Team | W-L | Pct | GB |
| ALW | Los Angeles Angels | 96-61 | .611 | --- |
| ALE | Baltimore Orioles | 93-63 | .596 | --- |
| ALC | Detroit Tigers | 86-70 | .551 | --- |
| WC1 | Oakland Athletics | 86-70 | .551 | --- |
| WC2 | Kansas City Royals | 85-71 | .545 | --- |
| Seattle Mariners | 83-73 | .532 | 2 | |
| Cleveland Indians | 82-75 | .522 | 3½ | |
| New York Yankees | 81-75 | .519 | 4 | |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 79-77 | .506 | 6 |
National League
| Division | Team | W-L | Pct | GB |
| NLE | Washington Nationals | 91-64 | .587 | --- |
| NLW | Los Angeles Dodgers | 89-67 | .567 | --- |
| NLC | St. Louis Cardinals | 88-69 | .561 | --- |
| WC1 | San Francisco Giants | 85-71 | .545 | --- |
| WC2 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 85-71 | .545 | --- |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 80-76 | .513 | 5 |
Notables
- After the Atlanta Braves' offense struggled again in a 1-0 loss to the Pirates, Joe Sheehan provided some advice for the next Braves general manager:
As Craig Kimbrel pitches for a team that hasn't scored, I suggest for the third straight year: the #Braves should trade him for OBP.
— Joe Sheehan (@joe_sheehan) September 23, 2014 - Meanwhile, the Mariners' late-season push for the playoffs is going well:
Let's check in on the Seattle Mariners as they chase a playoff spot. pic.twitter.com/57LYYQDyci
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) September 23, 2014
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