Historical Trend Indicates Royals Are Legitimate Playoff Team

The Royals are the one of the hottest teams in baseball, winners of seven straight by multiple runs with the third best run differential (+79) in all of MLB. Fans are starting to embrace the club as legitimate playoff contenders and one historical trend shows they're right to do so.

When Kansas City finished off a sweep of the Detroit Tigers, it finished off the Royals' second undefeated homestand this season. They became just the fifth team in the last 20 years to accomplish that feat, and every other team before them made the playoffs.

With the Royals sitting with a five-game lead in the AL Wild Card race, it's shaping up to be a special summer in Kansas City.

Historical Trend is Great News for Royals' Playoff Chances

It's hard to overstate how dramatic the Royals' improvement has been this season. They're on pace for the greatest single-season turnaround in MLB history and now sit at -170 to make the playoffs at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Bobby Witt Jr. is a top-three MVP candidate, both Cole Rogans and Seth Lugo are contending for the Cy Young, and Matt Quatraro is favored to win Manager of the Year (+195). Built on pitching, defense and speed, this team projects as one that'll remain in the hunt for the rest of the campaign.

If the Royals can stay healthy, I'll be stunned if they don't make the playoffs. They're 21-8 at home and trail only the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central. There is a lot of baseball left to be played, but the Royals have answered every test as we approach the 60-game mark.

Dominance at home is an indicator of a good baseball team. That feels obvious, but there's a reason every team in the last 20 years to have multiple perfect homestands made the playoffs.

Whether or not you believe, the roster does. Through the first two months of the season, Kansas City is one of the very best teams in the sport. It's been amazing to watch develop, and I'm now comfortable predicting a playoff run.

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