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The Kansas City Royals are facing an uphill battle. From the outside, it seems like their playoff chances are all but finished. There aren\u2019t too many examples of a modern-day Major League Baseball team running the table.<\/p>\n
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But the Royals will have to do just that. KC entered Tuesday 6 \u00bd games<\/a> behind the Houston Astros for the final American League Wild Card spot with 12 games to play. The Royals would have to get on an epic hot streak to leapfrog at least three teams in the standings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Those aren\u2019t favorable odds.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, the Royals pride themselves on being a resilient team. Inside the clubhouse, players have echoed the same sentiment: \u201cWe\u2019ve got to find a way.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On Tuesday, general manager J.J. Picollo championed a similar message. He called the remaining schedule a critical stretch for the organization.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThese next 12 games are really important for this franchise,\u201d Picollo said. \u201cWe need to play well and we need to approach it like a playoff series because we are in a do-or-die situation. So, we need to (not only) win series but (also) sweep some series, too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals welcomed the Seattle Mariners to Kauffman Stadium for a three-game series beginning Tuesday. A few weeks ago, the series was deemed uber-important for playoff consideration. Now, it\u2019s taken a turn toward survival.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If the Royals want to make an improbable run, it starts with sweeping the red-hot Mariners. It\u2019s a difficult task considering the Mariners (82-68) have won nine consecutive games to overtake the Astros in the AL West.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n KC turned to veteran right-hander Michael Wacha on Tuesday. He returned from the seven-day concussion injured list. He missed time after sustaining a concussion<\/a> during an off-field accident.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wacha has led the Royals\u2019 rotation all season. Now, he\u2019s tasked with setting the tone for the final homestand<\/a> against the Mariners and the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays this weekend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been done before,\u201d Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. \u201cThere\u2019s been plenty of teams that have run the table or had a really good last couple of weeks. You\u2019ve got an opportunity right here with a team that\u2019s in first place. And you\u2019ve got to start winning. You gotta keep doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So which teams have run the table in recent memory? Well, look no further than the 2007 Colorado Rockies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n