The Playoff Push

Including today, there are just 52 days left in the 2023 season and the Royals are gearing up for a playoff push.

46 games. That’s all that stands between the Kansas City Royals and the final game of the 2024 season. In most seasons, the end of the season is the sweet relief of no longer feeling compelled to watch a bad baseball team. This season, though, is different. This season, the dream is that the end of the season just brings more baseball. It won’t be easy, but the Royals are currently 1.5 games up for the third Wild Card, a half-game behind the second Wild Card, four games out of first place and just 4.5 games behind the best record in the league. Everything they want is in front of them.

I’ll admit to finding myself frustrated at the number of times I’ve heard or read that we’re about to find out if the Royals are for real or not. The season started with 25 of the first 38 games against playoff teams from 2023. That was the test. If they could get through that, they might have a shot. They were 22-16. Then we were going to find out if they were for real after playing all those first place teams. They were 41-32 after that. Then it was a gut check after a tough finish before the break. They’re 12-7 since the break. Now we have to wait to find out again apparently, probably because the answer people got each time isn’t what they expected.