MLB Standings
The Royals are a ‘best in baseball’ 94-64 with just four October regular season games to play. They will finish with the best record in the AL, with the Rangers (84-74) just about having wrapped up the West and the Red Sox (85-73) looking to hold off the Yankees (83-75) in the East. The East’s runner-up will earn a Wild Card alongside the White Sox (86-73) with the Mariners (80-78) and the Astros (79-80) fighting for the final spot.
Over in the NL, the Brewers (93-66) have the best record but haven’t sown up the division yet although the Cubs (90-69) trail by 3 games; both teams have locked up post-season berths. The Phillies (90-69) are the run-away winners of the East while the Padres (90-69) and the Giants (90-69) are locked in a battle for the title but both teams will make the playoffs. The defending Champion Rockies are locked in a three-way tie with the Pirates and the Cardinals at 84-74 for the final wild card spot.
Kansas City Results
The Royals are 40-20 since the All Star Break after an 18-8 September that saw them wrap up a third AL Central title in a row (equalling the record of the 1976-78 squad) and secure a fourth consecutive postseason berth (a Royals record).
They won six of eight series, including sweeping all AL series. They opened the month taking both games in Chicago to take the series 2-1, and home a home series against the same opponents by the same score. In their two final home divisional series they beat the Twins 2-1, before sweeping the Guardians, the first win (21 September) securing them a Wild Card place.
They had two series against AL opponents, both on the road; they beat the Astros 3-1 and then the Red Sox 2-1. National League opposition gave the Royals their two series losses as they travelled to Pittsburgh and lose 2-3, before the Giants came to KC and won two games to take the Series. The Royals weren’t too sore though, as they smashed 19 runs in the final game of the series to win their 3rd consecutive pennant at home. They finished the month taking both games in Washington in a series they will complete on October 1st.
Kansas City Team Statistics
A couple of players will be hoping they have got a slump out of the way with both
Jonathan Gerew (27 wRC+) and
Tim Storer (31 wRC+) having difficult months. Both struggled with Strikeouts, Gerew over 10% up on his career average and Storer 5%. They will hope to turn that around heading into the post season.
Bobby Witt Jr. (171 wRC+) did not have that problem as he slugged a .611 for the month to take his WAR above 5 for another season. It has been an incredible second half for a player who had a 0.2 WAR contribution at the end of June.
Mike Hoffer showed off his potential, a Pitcher and Rookie of the Month winning performance across 5 starts in which he struck out over 35% of batters he faced across 33 innings.
The bullpen was up and down and with
T.J. Brock and
Jake Early on rehab assignments in AAA the postseason roster of arms will involve some interesting decisions.
Around the League
Transactions
Thursday, September 2nd , 2032
Philadelphia Phillies: Signed CF Jamie Wolf to a 5-year contract extension worth a total of $72,900,000.
Saturday, September 4th , 2032
Chicago Cubs: Signed 3B P.J. Moutzouridis to a 4-year contract extension worth a total of $47,000,000.
Thursday, September 9th , 2032
Boston Red Sox: Failed to sign 1st round draft pick Chris Powers. Received additional pick compensation.
Tampa Bay Rays: Failed to sign supplemental 1st round draft pick Joe Taylor. Received supplemental pick compensation.
Cleveland Guardians: Failed to sign 3rd round draft pick Dusty Balkin. Received additional pick compensation.
Minnesota Twins: Failed to sign 1st round draft pick Mat Pokorski. Received additional pick compensation.
Texas Rangers: Failed to sign 1st round draft pick Amari Raeford. Received additional pick compensation.
Houston Astros: Failed to sign 1st round draft pick Alex Rush. Received additional pick compensation.
Houston Astros: Failed to sign 3rd round draft pick Mike Ettienne. Received additional pick compensation.
St. Louis Cardinals: Failed to sign 2nd round draft pick Juan Medina. Received additional pick compensation.
San Francisco Giants: Failed to sign 3rd round draft pick Bobby Thieke. Received additional pick compensation.
Tuesday, September 14th , 2032
Philadelphia Phillies: Signed 1B Justyn-Henry Malloy to a 2-year contract extension worth a total of $23,400,000.
Injuries
Wednesday, September 1st , 2032
Pittsburgh Pirates: RP Frank Caraballo was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: sore elbow. He's expected to miss about 5-6 weeks.
Thursday, September 2nd , 2032
Atlanta Braves: 1B Yordan Alvarez diagnosed with a strained hamstring, will miss 5-6 weeks.
Friday, September 3rd , 2032
Cleveland Guardians: RP Sammy Peralta diagnosed with radial nerve compression, will miss 8 months.
Miami Marlins: SP Eury Perez diagnosed with shoulder inflammation, will miss 3-4 weeks.
Saturday, September 4th , 2032
Baltimore Orioles: CF Kristian Robinson diagnosed with a strained oblique, will miss 6 weeks.
New York Mets: RP Jose Quijada was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: hamstring strain. He's expected to miss about 6-7 weeks.
Sunday, September 5th , 2032
New York Yankees: SP Gregg Groulx diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 13 months.
Monday, September 6th , 2032
Texas Rangers: 2B Cameron Cauley was injured in a collision at a base. The Diagnosis: torn thumb ligament. He's expected to miss about 5-6 weeks.
Wednesday, September 8th , 2032
Milwaukee Brewers: RP Connor Cooke diagnosed with a herniated disc, will miss 5 weeks.
Thursday, September 9th , 2032
Cincinnati Reds: CF Ismael Garza diagnosed with a sore elbow, will miss 4 weeks.
Friday, September 10th , 2032
Tampa Bay Rays: SP Andy Lusk was injured while throwing the ball. The Diagnosis: elbow inflammation. He's expected to miss about 5 weeks.
Sunday, September 12th , 2032
Atlanta Braves: Michael Harris II has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 5 weeks.
Wednesday, September 15th , 2032
Houston Astros: SP Dustin May diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, will miss 9-10 months.
Arizona Diamondbacks: LF David Rosa was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: strained groin. He's expected to miss about 6-7 weeks.
Friday, September 17th , 2032
Colorado Rockies: SP Jarod De san miguel diagnosed with bone chips in his elbow, will miss 4-5 months.
Saturday, September 18th , 2032
Chicago Cubs: RP Bryse Wilson diagnosed with an elbow strain, will miss 5 weeks.
Chicago White Sox: CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. was injured being hit by a pitch. The Diagnosis: fractured foot. He's expected to miss about 3-4 weeks.
Monday, September 20th , 2032
Seattle Mariners: Jake Sharbono has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 3-4 weeks.
Texas Rangers: RP Trevor Stephan was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: rotator cuff strain. He's expected to miss about 6-7 weeks.
Wednesday, September 22nd , 2032
Atlanta Braves: RF Ronald Acuna Jr. was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: torn hamstring. He's expected to miss about 4 weeks.
Thursday, September 23rd , 2032
Cleveland Guardians: 3B Spencer Steer diagnosed with a torn meniscus, will miss 3 months.
San Diego Padres: 2B Jacob Wilson diagnosed with a sprained ankle, will miss 4 weeks.
Friday, September 24th , 2032
Washington Nationals: SS Jett Williams diagnosed with a sore shoulder, will miss 5 weeks.
Saturday, September 25th , 2032
Toronto Blue Jays: Sean Hjelle has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 8 months.
Arizona Diamondbacks: 2B Jansel Luis was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: severe hip strain. He's expected to miss about 5 weeks.
Sunday, September 26th , 2032
Seattle Mariners: Will Taylor has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 8 weeks.
Minnesota Twins: SP Mike Crawford diagnosed with shoulder inflammation, will miss 5 months.
Chicago Cubs: RP Zack Thompson was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: oblique strain. He's expected to miss about 4 weeks.
Chicago White Sox: RP Romano Santiago Hubbard was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: strained shoulder. He's expected to miss about 4-5 weeks.
Monday, September 27th , 2032
San Francisco Giants: SP Randy Vasquez diagnosed with shoulder inflammation, will miss 8-9 weeks.
St. Louis Cardinals: 2B Alex Harrington was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: sprained knee. He's expected to miss about 6-7 weeks.
Wednesday, September 29th , 2032
San Francisco Giants: RP Eddie Jordan diagnosed with elbow inflammation, will miss 3 months.
Pittsburgh Pirates: 3B Antonio Anderson was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: strained hamstring. He's expected to miss about 2 months.
Thursday, September 30th , 2032
Colorado Rockies: Dylan Carlson has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 2-3 months.
Detroit Tigers: SS Christian Doty diagnosed with a knee sprain, is day-to-day for 3 weeks.
Pittsburgh Pirates: 1B Peyton Stovall was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: back tightness. He's expected to miss about 3 weeks.