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Before the season began, many fans were expecting the Kansas City Royals to fight for a division title. They had the pieces on paper to do so and were coming off a trying 2025 season.
However, nobody was prepared for them to come out as cold as they have. With their win against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, they hold a 23-37 record, a half-game out of last place in the AL Central.
They have already created quite a hole for themselves here, sitting 10.5 games behind the division-leading Cleveland Guardians. And if things don't change soon, that gap will get a lot bigger.
MORE: Royals have major non-Bobby Witt Jr. issue on offense
Sweeps and blown saves have pushed the Royals into a free fall
Last week was not a good one for the Royals. They couldn't get anything going in their three-game series against the New York Yankees, getting swept. They also couldn't do much against the Texas Rangers, getting swept by them as well.
Pitching has been a disaster, but so has the limited offense. With the state of struggle the team currently finds itself in, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter has bumped them down from No. 24 last week to No. 28 this week in his latest power rankings.
"With a 4.54 ERA as a team and 11 blown saves in 25 chances, the Royals simply do not have the pitching to prop up an offense that has been virtually non-existent aside from Bobby Witt Jr., who is off to another terrific start."
Close games have been an enemy for the Royals this season, as they can't figure out their high-leverage roles in the bullpen after Carlos Esteves' injury. It's tough for a team to perform when they know there's a chance that all that work could be for nothing in the ninth inning.
The Royals need to figure out how to close out games and do it fast, or they could be out of the postseason picture incredibly early.
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