The Tigers have done a wonderful job of bringing the hammer down on the Royals when necessary, compiling a 13-6 record in the 19 head-to-head games the two teams played this season. But their inability to extend that lack of courtesy to the Minnesota Twins, with whom they're currently losing the season series (9-8 in favor of the Twins, so far), may end up proving to be their downfall as they now find themselves up only one game on the Royals with two to go.
2014 MLB playoff standings: Royals move to within 1 game of Tigers in AL Central
The Royals clinched their first playoff spot in nearly 30 years with a win over the White Sox, and have inched even closer to a possible AL Central title after the Tigers lost to the Twins.
Brian Kersey
Detroit was simply unable to keep up with the Twins' surprisingly competent bats -- Minnesota, despite its last-place record, is sixth in the majors in runs scored with 703 -- dropping what could have been the AL Central-clinching game 11-4. Rick Porcello gave up four runs in just 3⅔ innings, which forced the Tigers to compromise their bullpen by using six relievers.
The Royals, on the other hand, are fresh off of clinching their first playoff berth since the beginning of Reagan's second term, after easily dispatching the White Sox 3-1 in Chicago. Riding Jeremy Guthrie's seven scoreless innings, Kansas City sprinted out to a three-run lead in the first, kickstarted by a Norichika Aoki triple, and never looked back.
Kyle Lobstein will start for Detroit and Danny Duffy for Kansas City on Saturday in their games against the Twins and White Sox, respectively.
American League
National League
Notables
- Just how big a deal is it that the Royals and Pirates made the playoff in the same year? This big:
Earlier this year, a member of the Phillies organization outed prospect Ben Wetzler for having spoken to an agent. This led to the MLBPA keeping a close eye on the team and has led to a major move in the front office after a particularly abysmal season.
For the first time in MLB history, the Pirates and Royals are headed to the posteason in the same year.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 27, 2014 Phillies have fired assistant general manager Marti Wolever. He ran the team’s amateur drafts.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) September 26, 2014 Wolever, who spent 22 years with team, was involved in NCAA melodrama last spring. Phillies announced his firing at 6:45 p.m. on a Friday.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) September 26, 2014 See More:
