The Royals advance to their seventh World Series appearance, looking for their first win after two losses in the Colin Stewart era. They will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in a World Series match up first.
The Dodgers (100-62) had the best offense and the second best defense in the National League, and beat the Royals 2-1 in the regular season series, giving them home advantage.
Their batting line up is led by their 2035 1st round draft pick, SS Vince Elkins, who averaged .308, hit 55 HRs, and had 149 RBIs. Rusty Kopp, two-time Platinum Stick at SS is their DH, and hit .297 while driving in 97 runs.
On the pitching side, their rotation is led by 2027 1st round Mike Spence, who struck out 204 with a 2.58 ERA. If there is an opportunity, it comes with the 5th-ranked bullpen where only closer Zach Woodall managed an ERA below 3.50, recording 18 saves in 45 appearances.
Game 1 in Los Angeles: Bogans vs. Mike Spence (2027 1st Round)
• Kansas City wins 8-7
• Bogans: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R
• Spence: 6 IP, 4 H, 4 R
• Jon Hall (W): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
• Zach Woodall (L)(BS): 1.0 IP, 4 H, 4R
• Banmei Kataoka SV): 1.0 IP 0 H, 0 R
• Kansas City HRs: Edgar Mir (1st Inning)
• Los Angeles HRs: Grady Emerson (1st Inning), Jaheem McCaster (2nd Inning), Juan Sosa (7th Inning, 2R)
• POTG: Mir (KC) 3-4, HR
Game 2 in Los Angeles: Chafin vs. Dave van der Molen (2028 2nd Round)
• Los Angeles wins 8-6
• Chafin: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R
• Van der Molen: 6.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R
• Kataoka (L): 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R
• Woodall (W): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R
• Kansas City HRs: Jon Basiliere (6th Inning), Mir (7th Inning, 3R)
• Los Angeles HRs: Vince Elkins (2nd Inning; 5th Inning), McCaster (2nd Inning, 2R), Ken Munden (9th Inning, 2R)
• 1-1 Series Tied
Game 3 in Kansas City: Kim vs. Josh Contreras (2030 1st Round)
• Kansas City wins 8-4
• Kim: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R
• Contreras (L): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R
• Jon Hall (W): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
• Kansas City HRs: Juan Soreni (1st Inning, 2R)
• Los Angeles HRs: Sosa (4th Inning)
• POTG: Soreni (KC): 1-4, HR, BB
• 2-1 Kansas City
Game 4 in Kansas City: Baquerizo vs. Josh Cook (2036 Trade DET)
• Los Angeles wins 7-6 (15)
• Baquerizo: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R
• Cook: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R
• Kataoka (BS): 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R
• Andy Newsome (W): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
• Hall (L): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R
• Los Angeles HRs: Elkins (8th Inning), Jon Conrad (15th Inning)
• POTG: Elkins (LAD) 5-6, HR
• 2-2 Series Tied
Game 5 in Kansas City: Bogans vs Spence
• Los Angeles wins 7-6
• Spence: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R
• Bogans: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R
• Jeremy Ervin (W): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R
• Chris Wagner (BS): 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R
• Heaton (L)(BS): 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R
• Jeff Schever (SV): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R
• POTG: Elkins (LAD): 2-4, BB
• 3-2 Los Angeles
Game 6 in Los Angeles: Chafin vs. van der Molen
• Los Angeles win 4-2
• Van der Molen: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R
• Chafin (L): 7.2 IP, 5 H, 4 H
• Chase Colar (W): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R
• Woodall (SV): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R
• Kansas City HRs: Sam Hart (4th Inning)
• Los Angeles HRs: Anderson (5th Inning, 2R)
• 4-2 LOS ANGELES WINS
Series MVP: Vince Elkins (LAD)
The Royals come up short in the World Series, with the Series turning in game 4. The Royals leds in the 9th before losing in 15 and didn’t win another game. There are several players out of contract this summer and there is definitely concern that this could be the window closing for the Royals. Bobby Witt Jr., it seems, will not earn a ring to end his career, which is the biggest disappointment of all.