[benp28]

Post-ASB Review

Entering the final two series of the season and Detroit were only a ½ game back from the Royals in the race for the AL Central pennant.

KC: @ Washington (mathematically not eliminated from NL East) then @ Miami (eliminated NL East)
DET: vs Milwaukee (NL Central Champs) then vs Houston (AL West Champs)

The Royals owned the tiebreak, 8-5, which they had secured with a home sweep at the start of September.

• 24/9 KC LOSE 3-12; DET LOSE 3-5. Detroit 0.5 game back
• 25/9 KC WIN 8-2; DET LOSE 0-7. Detroit 1.5 games back
• 26/9 KC WIN 8-1; DET DNP. Detroit 2 games back
• 27/9 KC LOSE 2-8; DET WIN 7-1. Detroit 1 game back
• 28/9 KC LOSE 4-6; DET LOSE 2-3 (10). Detroit 1 game back
• 29/9 KC LOSE 3-5; DET WIN 8-4. TIED, KC win tiebreak.

The Royals fall into the NL Central title, securing back-to-back pennants for the first time since 1984, 1985.

They finish 90-72, one game up on the Astros to secure a bye into ALDS.

Trades

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2031

• Traded 28-year old RHP Chase Burns to the Chicago Cubs, getting 23-year old minor league RHP Luis Escobar and $3,000,000 in cash in return.

Injuries

Friday, August 1st , 2031

• Nick Loftin has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 2-3 months.

Tuesday, August 19th , 2031

• SS Bobby Witt Jr. was injured in a collision at a base. The diagnosis is not yet known.

Saturday, August 23rd , 2031

• SS Bobby Witt Jr. diagnosed with a concussion, will miss 4 months.

Playoffs

AL Divisional Series

The AL Divisional Series will see the Royals take on AL West Champion Houston Astros (89-73). The Astros came through the Wild Card Series, sweeping the Seattle Mariners (who had ended the Royals hopes in 2030).

This will be the first post-season match up between the team since the Royals beat the Astros 3-2 in the 2015 Division Series on the way to the World Series.

Game 1 in Kansas City: Mason Barnett vs. Matt Brash (2030 Free Agent Signing) – 1st year as a starter

• Houston WINS 6-0
• Brash (W): 6.0 IP, 1H, 0R
• Barnett (L): 5.1 IP, 7H, 4R
• Curtis Mead: 3-5, HR, 2 RBI
• TJ Pompey: 2-5, 2-R HR
• 1-0 Houston

Game 2 in Kansas City: Cade Townsend vs. Kyle Hurt (2030 Free Agent Signing)

• Kansas City WINS 2-1
• Townsend: 7.0 IP, 3H, 1R
• Hurt: 7.0 IP, 3H, 1R
• Aiden May (W): 1.0 IP, 0H, 0R
• Spencer Strider (L): 1.2 IP, 2H, 1R
• Isaac Paredes: Run-scoring walk-off single
• 1-1 Series Tied

Game 3 in Houston: Marcos Paz vs. Brad LaPointe (2027 3rd Round)

• Houston WINS 10-4
• LaPointe (W): 8.2 IP, 6H, 4R
• Paz (L): 4.1 IP, 9H, 7R
• Chaz Roberts: 2-5, 2HR, 5RBI
• 2-1 Houston

Game 4 in Houston: Drew Beam vs. Cade Povich (2030 Trade Baltimore)

• Kansas City WINS 10-3
• Beam (W): 5.1 IP, 6H, 2R
• Povich (L): 2.1 IP, 7H, 7R
• Dominic Fletcher (POTG): 3-4, Double, 2 RBI, HBP
• 2-2 Series Tied

Game 5 in Kansas City: Barnett vs. Hurt

• Kansas City WINS 6-1
• Barnett (W): 6.1 IP, 3H, 1R
• Hurt (L): 4.2 IP, 8H, 5R
• Wyatt Langford: 3-4, 2 R, 1 RBI
• 3-2 KANSAS CITY WINS

Series MVP: Wyatt Langford .471, 5R


AL Championships Series

The Royals will face the Baltimore Orioles (97-65) in the AL Championship Series. The Orioles beat the Tigers 3-2 after earning a bye by winning an AL-high 97 games on the way to the AL East title. The Royals and Orioles last met in the 2029 Wild Card Series, the Orioles sweeping the Series. The Orioles took the regular season series 4-3 so it shapes up to be a tight series.

Game 1 in Baltimore: Townsend vs. Jack Mahoney (2026 Trade Pittsburgh)

• Kansas WINS 8-3
• Townsend (W): 6.1 IP, 9H, 3R
• Mahoney (L): 5.1 IP, 4H, 4R
• Jimmy Goodman: 1-5, 2-R HR
• 1-0 Kansas City

Game 2 in Baltimore: Paz vs. Sergio Narvaez (2031 Trade Washington)

• Baltimore WINS 8-5
• Narvaez: 5.1 IP, 4H, 3R
• Paz: 4.1 IP, 2H, 2R
• R.J. Dabovich (W): 1.1 IP, 0H, 0R
• Raimon Gomez (L): 0.2 IP, 4H, 3R
• Samuel Basallo (POTG): 1-3, 3-R HR
• 1-1 Series Tied

Game 3 in Kansas City: Beam vs. Jackson Baumeister (2023 2nd Round)

• Kansas WINS 6-4
• Beam: 5.1IP, 4H, 2R
• Baumeister: 4.0 IP, 4H, 4R
• Wen-Hui Pan (W)(BS): 1.2 IP, 2H, 2R
• Trace Bright (L): 1.2 IP, 3H, 2R
• May (SV): 1.0 IP, 1H, 0R
• Jonathan Gerew: 1-4, 3-R HR
• Billy Mumaugh: 1-4, 2-R HR
• 2-1 Kansas City

Game 4 in Kansas City: Barnett vs. Casey Legumina (2031 Minor League Free Agent)

• Kansas WINS 4-1
• Barnett (W): 5.1 IP, 3H, 0R
• Legumina (L): 5.0 IP, 8H, 2R
• May (SV): 1.1 IP, 0H, 0R
• Goodman: 3-3
• Jeremy Rogerson: 3-4
• Wyatt Langford: 2-4
• 3-1 Kansas City

Game 5 in Kansas: Townsend vs. Mahoney

• Kansas WINS 13-6
• Townsend: 4.0 IP, 5H, 4R
• Mahoney: 1.2 IP, 5H, 4R
• Lin (W): 1.0 IP, 1H, 0R
• Tyler Dean (L): 1.0 IP, 4H, 7R
• Tim Storer: 1-2, 2-R HR, 3 RBI
• Rogerson (POTG): 3-5, 2 RBI
• Isaac Paredes: 3-5, 2 RBI
• 4-1 KANSAS CITY WINS

Series MVP: Billy Mumaugh .409, 1H R, 4 R, 5 RBI

World Series

The Royals, in their first World Series since 2015, will face 2030 World Series finalists the Colorado Rockies (93-69). The Rockies are looking for their first World Series and are looking for redemption after falling at the final hurdle last year. It was a neighbourly, and extensive route to the World Series for the Rockies, beating the Diamondbacks (84-78) in five, before needing all seven games to oust the San Francisco Giants (87-75) in the Championship Series.

The teams have never faced off in the post-season, with the Royals taking the regular season series, 2-1.

Game 1 in Colorado: Barnett vs. Minjae Seo (2025 2nd Round)

• Colorado WINS 6-4
• Seo (W): 6.0 IP, 5H, 4R
• Barnett (L): 1.2 IP, 5H, 5R
• Joe Kohl (SV): 2.0 IP, 2H, 0R
• Jeremy Rogerson: 1-3, 2-R HR
• J.J. Wetherholt: 2-4, 3 RBI
• 1-0 Colorado

Game 2 in Colorado: Townsend vs. Parker Detmers (2028 Minor League Free Agent)

• Kansas WINS 6-2
• Townsend: 5.0 IP, 6H, 1R
• Detmers (L): 6.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R
• William Schmidt (W): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R
• Rogerson (POTG): 2-4, 2HR, 4 RBI
• 1-1 Series Tied

Game 3 in Kansas City: Paz vs. Chase Dollander (2023 1st Round)

• Colorado WINS 7-4
• Dollander: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R
• Paz: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R
• Nate Brooks (W): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R
• Schmidt (L)(BS): 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R
• Kohl (SV): 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R
• Yanquiel Fernandez (POTG): 2-4, 2-R HR, 3 RBI
• 2-1 Colorado

Game 4 in Kansas City: Beam vs. Braxton Garrett (2030 Trade San Francisco)

• Kansas City WIN 5-1
• Beam (W): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R
• Garrett (L): 4.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R
• Pan (SV): 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R
• 2-2 Series Tied

Game 5 in Kansas City: Barnett vs. Seo

• Colorado WIN 9-2
• Seo (W): 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R
• Barnett (L): 5.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R
• 3-2 Colorado

Game 6 in Colorado: Townsend vs. Detmers

• Colorado WIN 4-3
• Detmers (W): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R
• Townsend (L): 2.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R
• Kohl (SV): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R
• Billy Mumaugh: 1-4, 2-R HR
• Wetherholt: 1-3, 3-R HR
• 4-2 Colorado WINS WORLD SERIES

The Royals come up two games short as the Rockies win their first-ever World Series.



Owner Goals Review



Goal Deadline Progress
Reach the Playoffs 2031 Reached Playoffs
Extend Mason Barnett 2032 Too Expensive
Acquire a MVP 2031 Likely to be too expensive
Improve Fan Interest 2031 Fan Interest had improved to 78
Improve Intl. Amateur Finds 2032 Recent International Amateurs are starting to graduate Rookie Ball
Reach the World Series 2035 Achieved 4 years early

Minor Leagues



Post Season

Omaha Storm Chasers [AAA] lost in the First Round of the Playoffs.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals [AA] won the Championship (back-to-back).
Quad Cities River Bandits [A+] lost in the First Round of the Playoffs.
Columbia Fireflies [A] missed the Playoffs by 1 game.
Kansas City (ACL) Royals [R] missed the Playoffs by 10 games.
Kansas City (DSL) Royals Stewart [R] won the Championship (back-to-back).
Kansas City (DSL) Royals Glass [R] lost in the 2nd Round of the Playoffs.

Around the League

Major Injuries

• Arizona Diamondbacks: Liam Norris has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 12 months.
• Arizona Diamondbacks: SP Cristian Mena diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 12 months.
• Atlanta Braves: 3B Austin Riley was injured. The Diagnosis: Torn Meniscus. He's expected to miss about 6 months.
• Atlanta Braves: Austin Riley has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 4 months.
• Atlanta Braves: RP Jamie Arnold diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 13 months.
• Atlanta Braves: Trey Sweeney has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 3 months.
• Chicago Cubs: Kevin Alcantara has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 8 months.
• Chicago Cubs: RP Matt Scott diagnosed with ulnar nerve entrapment, will miss 4-5 months.
• Cleveland Guardians: Daniel Espino has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 12 months.
• Cleveland Guardians: Nick Margevicius has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 3 months.
• Colorado Rockies: CF Victor Mesa Jr. diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, will miss 9 months.
• Detroit Tigers: CL Mike Vasil diagnosed with a torn labrum, will miss 4 months.
• Detroit Tigers: RP Zebby Matthews diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, will miss 6-7 months.
• Detroit Tigers: SP Talon Haley diagnosed with a partially torn labrum, will miss 3 months.
• Detroit Tigers: Talon Haley has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 4 months.
• Houston Astros: RP Dustin May was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: strained forearm. He's expected to miss about 3 months.
• Kansas City Royals: SS Bobby Witt Jr. diagnosed with a concussion, will miss 4 months.
• Milwaukee Brewers: Anthony Volpe has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 9 months.
• Milwaukee Brewers: RF Robert Hassell III diagnosed with a broken kneecap, will miss 4 months.
• Minnesota Twins: RP Edgar Rucobo diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 11 months.
• New York Yankees: RP Gunnar Hoglund diagnosed with a torn labrum, will miss 4 months.
• New York Yankees: RP Johan Oviedo diagnosed with a partially torn labrum, will miss 3 months.
• New York Yankees: SP Federico Ramos diagnosed with bone chips in his elbow, will miss 3 months.
• Philadelphia Phillies: RP Cristopher Sanchez diagnosed with a torn labrum, will miss 4-5 months.
• Philadelphia Phillies: SP Jackson Jobe diagnosed with a stretched elbow ligament, will miss 9-10 months.
• Philadelphia Phillies: SP Ryan Reich diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 12 months.
• San Antonio Avalanche: 2B Luis Castro diagnosed with a broken bone in the elbow, will miss 4 months.
• San Antonio Avalanche: Chris Bruning has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 4-5 months.
• San Antonio Avalanche: RP Brock Burke diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 11-12 months.
• San Antonio Avalanche: SP Daniel Lynch diagnosed with a stretched elbow ligament, will miss 10 months.
• San Diego Padres: RP Jamie Russell diagnosed with bone chips in his elbow, will miss 5 months.
• San Diego Padres: SP Dylan Lesko diagnosed with ulnar nerve entrapment, will miss 3 months.
• San Francisco Giants: CL Cionel Perez diagnosed with a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 10 months.
• San Francisco Giants: RF Bryce Eldridge diagnosed with a torn groin muscle, will miss 3 months.
• San Francisco Giants: SP Shane Baz diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, will miss 8 months.
• Seattle Mariners: RP Osvaldo Bido diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 14 months.
• Texas Rangers: RP Cody Morris diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 10 months.
• Texas Rangers: SP Tyler Ivey diagnosed with a torn triceps, will miss 3 months.
• Toronto Blue Jays: SP Kevin Gahagan diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 14 months.
• Washington Nationals: SP David Vega diagnosed with radial nerve compression, will miss 7-8 months.

Extensions

• Chicago White Sox: Signed C Juan Cardiel to a 8-year contract extension worth a total of $131,980,000.
• San Francisco Giants: Signed CF Drew Burress to a 8-year contract extension worth a total of $166,600,000.
• St. Louis Cardinals: Signed 3B Danny De Andrade to a 5-year contract extension worth a total of $63,460,000.