The reward for the Royals for ousting Baltimore; a rematch with divisional rivals the 100-win Chicago White Sox. For the third year in a row, and fourth time in the last six, the divisional rivals will face off. The Royals will be looking to avenge their defeat to the White Sox 1-3 at the same stage last year, while the White Sox are looking to get back to the World Series after their final hurdle defeat in 2034.
The White Sox are a power machine with the most home runs and highest OPS in the American League. That is built around 30-HR bats 1B Ben Kaiser (2031 1st Round) and RF Juan Soreni (2025 International Amateur).
Pitching-wise, they rely on their bullpen, the best in the American League. Frank Marmolejo (2027 4th Round) recorded 41 saves and a 2.40 ERA over the season with Eric Romriell (2026 5th Round) and Nate Carannante (2032 7th Round) both recording sub-3.00 ERAs for the season. This is backed up by the Leagues best defence.
The regular series was close, with the White Sox taking it 7-6.
Game 1 in Chicago: Daniel Nava vs. Dan Nichols (2027 1st Round)
Chicago WINS 5-2
Nichols (W): 6.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R
Nava (L): 3.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R
Frank Marmolejo (SV): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Chicago HRs: Ben Kaiser, Juan Borja, Juan Cardiel
1-0 Chicago
Game 2 in Chicago: Mike Hoffer vs Ronnie Chapman (2035 Trade COL)
Kansas City WIN 14-6
Hoffer: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R
Chapman (L): 1.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (W): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R
Bobby Witt Jr. (POTG): 3-5, 2R HR, 4 RBI
Kansas City HRs: Enny Van Dyke, Witt Jr., Edgar Mir
1-1 Series Tied
Game 3 in Kansas City: Curt Bogans vs Andres Saldana (2033 Trade HOU)
Kansas City WIN 7-5
Bogans: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R
Saldana: 6.2 IP, 7 IP, 4 R
Chase Dollander (W)(BS): 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R
Marmolejo (BS)(L): 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R
Tim Storer (POTG): 2-4, 3-R HR, 3 RBI
Kansas City HRs: Jimmy Goodman (2nd), Storer (8th)
2-1 Kansas City
Game 4 in Kansas City: Eddie Baquerizo vs Tim Portscheller (2035 Trade MIA)
Kansas City WIN 7-3
Baquerizo (W): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R
Portscheller (L): 3.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R
Cade Townsend (SV): 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Tim Storer (POTG): 4-4, HR, 4 RBI
Kansas City HRs: Storer (3rd), Mir (5th)
3-1 Kansas City WINS
MVP: Tim Storer .400, 7 RBI, 4 R