Royals eyeing history amid stunning turnaround

The Kansas City Royals spent the winter adding a host of new faces to their roster in hopes of recovering from the franchise-record 106-loss 2023 season.

Five months into the campaign, the Royals (75-58) have put together a stunning turnaround and are threatening to make baseball history.

The Cleveland Guardians (75-58) held a season-high nine-game lead in the AL Central on June 25, but after Kansas City won its third straight over its divisional foes on Tuesday, the teams are tied heading into the stretch run. It's the first time since April 13 that the Guardians haven't been in sole possession of first place.

With a strong bullpen, the Royals have won a stunning 25 contests in a row when they've allowed four runs or fewer, tying their franchise record. Based on when they last accomplished the feat, Kansas City fans are optimistic of winning their third championship in the fall.

The Royals finished in last place in the AL Central last year and missed the postseason for the eighth consecutive year. The team has only made the postseason twice since 1986, dropping a seven-game heartbreaker in the 2014 Fall Classic before bouncing back with a World Series title in 2015.

After their 95-win regular season in 2015, the Royals were even at 81-81 in 2016 and finished 80-82 in 2017. Kansas City has lost more than 100 games three times in the last six seasons, lost 97 times in 2022, 88 times in 2021 and went 26-34 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

The team didn't add any huge names over the offseason but made impactful moves on both offense (outfielder Hunter Renfroe) and in the starting rotation (Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo).

Wacha's had a strong year in the middle of the rotation at 11-6 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.

Lugo is having his best season at 34 years old. The former longtime New York Mets arm made his first All-Star team in July and has been one of the best starters in the junior circuit, going 14-8 with a 3.19 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across an AL-high 172 innings pitched. He's already set a career-high with 146 strikeouts.

Lugo has been joined at the top of the rotation by southpaw Cole Ragans, who was a first-time All-Star as well.

On offense, the team has been led by All-Star shortstop and AL MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr., as well as catcher/first baseman and franchise stalwart Salvador Perez, who made his ninth All-Star team this season.

Witt has been spectacular, slashing .346/.399/.614 with 27 home runs, 94 RBI and 27 stolen bases. Perez, meanwhile, continues to produce for the Royals, hitting .284 with 25 homers and 94 RBI.

If the Royals finish off a four-game road sweep in Cleveland on Wednesday, they'll take over first place with one month to go in the regular season.