Kansas City Royals: Hottest Team In the American League

After being written off by most, the Kansas City Royals have been very strong through the month of August.  They currently have the best record in the American League for the month.

The Kansas City Royals were all but dead and buried.  Most pundits and media outlets had already written the eulogy for the defending World Series Champions.  However, if there is one thing we should all have learned about the Royals in the past couple of years, it is that this team doesn’t just roll over and play dead.  Right now, the Royals are the hottest team in the American League for the month of August, and are gaining in the playoff race.

The Royals are currently riding an eight game winning streak off the backs of a pair of division sweeps over the Tigers and Twins.  KC hasn’t lost a series since being swept by the Rangers at the end of July.  Currently, the Royals record for the month of August stands at 15-5, better than any other team in the American League.

This winning streak is coming at exactly the right time for the Kansas City Royals.  Momentum is huge in professional sports, and the Royals have it towards the end of the season.  What is truly impressive here is that the Royals are gaining solid ground both in the AL Central and Wild Card playoff races.

Back In The Playoff Hunt

As it sits, the Royals are currently eight games out of first place in the AL Central.  That might seem like a lot, but Kansas City has six games over two series left against the division leading Cleveland Indians.  If the Royals continue to stay hot, those will be two very important division series at the end of the season.

As for the Wild Card, the Royals suddenly find themselves just a few games back of the Baltimore Orioles for the second play-in spot.  Seeing the Orioles in striking distance could be a little added motivation for a team that has developed a little bit of a rivalry with the team form Camden Yards.  Certainly Royals fans on Twitter would love to be able to rub it in the face of NFL analyst Jason LaCanfora.

The Kansas City Royals don’t have an easy road ahead of them with their next three series coming against teams in the playoff hunt, but these are the teams they need to beat.  The Royals will have to continue playing at a high level against the Marlins, Red Sox, and Yankees.  Each series will be tough, but the Royals definitely have the juice to do well in each one.  It’s all about keeping momentum.

Next: Royals: Not Too Late For A Comeback?

I talked about not giving up on the Kansas City Royals not long ago, and the team is proving me right.  However, if the Royals can keep this streak moving, it will be tough for any team going up against them in the playoffs.  It has been a tough season, but could there be anything that embraces “Forever Royal” more than an epic comeback for a playoff run?