Royals Headed to MLB Postseason For First Time Since 2015

They didn’t get to celebrate a win at Truist Park in Atlanta on Friday night, but the Kansas City Royals did get to spray champagne at night’s end and enjoy an unprecedented accomplishment in Major League Baseball history.

With Minnesota’s 7-2 loss at Baltimore, the Royals officially clinched a Wild Card berth in the American League playoffs. It’s the first playoff appearance for the Royals since their World Series championship in 2015.

After tying a franchise record with 106 losses in 2023, the Royals are 85-75 after Friday night’s action. No team in baseball history had ever made the postseason in the season after losing that many games. The Royals are just the third team in MLB history to reach the playoffs in the season following a 100-loss campaign.

The Royals are behind Detroit by one game for the fifth seed in the American League. The number five seed will play Baltimore in the best-of-three Wild Card round, while the sixth seed will play at AL West champion Houston. The Wild Card rounds take place entirely at the home park of the higher seed, with games to be played next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.