The Royals\u2019 postseason odds remain tenuous, but they are not dead yet and have been playing much better offensively lately. It helps a lot that Texas and Tampa Bay have fallen off post-All-Star break, leaving the number of teams that KC needs to jump over at just two. What I wanted to do was look at the teams they would like to pass and see how their schedules line up over the rest of the season, depending on the team, and see which might be easier or harder to catch based on that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Games remaining are from August 20th to the end of the season. I have classified teams as (1) contenders; (2) non-contenders, and (3) in-between (Texas, Tampa Bay, and St. Louis).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The toughest schedule belongs to the Cleveland Guardians.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
- \n
- Contenders – 16 games remaining<\/span><\/li>\n
- Non-contenders – 8<\/span><\/li>\n
- In between – 13<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\nThere are very few weak opponents left for Cleveland to try and fatten up on. Royals fans just watched our team beat up on some inferior opponents and close the gap on the Guardians. They don\u2019t really have a stretch like that any time coming down the stretch. In fact, after their current series, they play Texas, Tampa Bay, Seattle, Boston, Tampa again, and Kansas City before getting any bottom feeders. Detroit is still on the schedule twice too, so the path looks pretty daunting for the Guards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n- \n
- Contenders – 16 games remaining<\/span><\/li>\n
- Non-contenders – 13<\/span><\/li>\n
- In between – 6<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\nIt is a very similar breakdown to Cleveland, but with two fewer games and a lot more non-contenders rather than Tampa Bay and Texas. Still somewhat tough sledding, but not quite as treacherous. The weaker teams are sprinkled in nicely too, so no long stretches without a break from the higher difficulty. They have been playing well and have a chance to catch Houston but only have three games remaining at the Astros.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n- \n
- Contenders – 16 games remaining<\/span><\/li>\n
- Non-contenders – 16<\/span><\/li>\n
- In between – 3<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\nOnce again, 16 contenders, but an easier schedule each time as it shifts to more non-contenders. Boston gets to play Baltimore, followed by Pittsburgh next week, and they have two more series against the A\u2019s. That evenly balances out the tougher remaining series, including seven games against New York and three apiece against Toronto and Detroit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe Yankees are on the easier side.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n- \n
- Contenders – 16 games remaining<\/span><\/li>\n
- Non-contenders – 20<\/span><\/li>\n
- In between – 1<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\nNew York has one or two more games than everyone else, but they are not against the tougher teams. Yes, the seven games against Boston are also on their schedule, but so are the Nationals, White Sox twice, Baltimore twice, and Minnesota. It looked like they were plummeting only a little over a week ago. They have righted the ship, going 7-3 in their last 10, and now head into a mostly easier path for the rest of the way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nFinally, the Houston Astros.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n- \n
- Contenders – 10 games remaining<\/span><\/li>\n
- Non-contenders – 20<\/span><\/li>\n
- In between – 6<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe Astros have by far the lowest level of difficulty remaining – one more game with Detroit and then one three-game set each against the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Mariners. Other than that, it is a slew of games against the Angels, As, Braves, and Rockies. I was kind of hoping Seattle would run them down, but now I have a hard time believing it as Houston has already survived all of the tough stretches that they had to for the year, and they might get to coast to an AL West win.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n - Non-contenders – 20<\/span><\/li>\n
- Non-contenders – 20<\/span><\/li>\n
- Non-contenders – 16<\/span><\/li>\n
- Non-contenders – 13<\/span><\/li>\n
- Non-contenders – 8<\/span><\/li>\n