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There’s a certain element of gloominess around the Royals fanbase at the moment, after Kansas City was mathematically eliminated from postseason contention on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
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This has forced the Royals faithful to shift their focus elsewhere, whether it be in smaller 2025 storylines<\/a>, the 2026 offseason or perhaps the historic race that’s unfolding in their own divisional backyard at the moment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Major League Baseball is witnessing a battle for the ages right now, as the Cleveland Guardians are on the verge of pulling off what was once considered the unthinkable just months ago.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On July 6, the Detroit Tigers built a 15.5 game lead over the Guardians<\/a> and as recently as Aug. 25, that lead still looked insurmountable at 12.5 games<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aug. 25: Detroit holds a 12.5-game lead over Cleveland<\/p>\n Sept. 23: The Guardians beat the Tigers to tie them atop the AL Central \u2014 and now own the tiebreaker, too. <\/p>\n One of the great surges and collapses we\u2019ve ever seen, all over the course of less than a month.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 24, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n <\/p>\n But now nearly a month later, Cleveland sits tied with Detroit atop the Central record-wise, and due to owning the tiebreaker, they do in fact now hold the division’s first position.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For Royals fans though, they sit in somewhat of a catch 22 situation. Obviously they would rather be the one in this position, but now they’re forced to watch October from the sidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Everyone has their preferences, and even if it’s amongst a pair of division rivals, surely Royals fans will have one of the two teams in mind for whom they’d rather see nab the Central. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n And it appears that preference is starting to make itself known.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before the Royals laid claim to the division back in 2015, it was the Tigers who were the perennial champions of the Central, claiming the title in each of the four seasons prior (2011-2014).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Despite not laying claim to the division since, the Tigers-Royals rivalry seems as strong as ever and some fans and well-regarded Royals pundits have started to show there preference towards the Guardians amidst the Tigers’ slide in the standings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n https:\/\/t.co\/7n7VofiRzY<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/2ZDGYV5Y1O<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kev \u26be\ufe0f\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\udded (@RoyalReportKev) September 24, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n <\/p>\n Guardians win. Royals are mathematically out of it.<\/p>\n But if it means the Tigers spiral continues, I am here for it.<\/p>\n\n
Royals fans ready to declare allegiance amid historic Tigers-Guardians AL Central battle<\/h2>\n
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