Inside the AL playoff race: Royals excited to be playing meaningful games

The Royals opened a pivotal 20-game stretch of their season Friday and the players and coaches wore shirts in the clubhouse that spoke about their focus.

Those shirts were Royal blue and simply said “Today.”

Royals manager Matt Quatraro, as he’s done all season, said Friday his focus remained on taking it one game at a time. But he acknowledged that it was great for the team to be in the playoff race.

The Royals started Monday 3 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central race and the teams are playing a doubleheader to kick off a four-game series. The Royals are 4 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox in the wild-card race.

August is often referred to the dog days of summer, but Quatraro said the Royals remain refreshed.

“These guys work at this all year long to train for this. And it’s exciting to be playing meaningful games at this time of year,” Quatraro said. “So that definitely helps. And I can honestly say, I don’t think these guys view this as the dog days. This is the exciting time of the year. You’ve worked really hard to put yourself in a position to play games that mean something.”

Here is a closer look at the American League Central and AL Wild Card races (playoff chances are from Baseball Prospectus).

ROYALS

Record: 72-58

Last 10 games: 7-3

Games back in division race: 3 (Second in AL Central)

Percentage chance of being a wild card: 65.3%

Percentage chance of winning AL Central: 6.9%

This week’s games: at Guardians (Monday to Wednesday), at Astros (Thursday to Sunday)

Stat of note: The Royals are 20-0 since the All-Star break when allowing five runs or fewer. They are 0-13 when allowed at least six runs in that span.

MINNESOTA TWINS

Record: 72-58

Last 10 games: 5-5

Games back in division race: 3 (Second in the Central)

Percentage chance of being a wild card: 69.6%

Percentage chance of winning AL Central: 21.7%

This week’s games: vs. Braves (Monday to Wednesday), vs. Blue Jays (Friday to Sunday)

Stat of note: Twins players are not happy with start times that begin before 7 p.m. at Target Field. “The first at-bat in our 6:40, 6:10 games, it’s so hard to see,” outfielder Trevor Larnach told the Star Tribune. “I don’t think people understand. I really don’t think TV does it justice at all. I know my parents get frustrated watching me swing and miss, strikeout and whatnot, but it’s hard to see.”

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS

Record: 75-55 (First in the AL Central)

Last 10 games: 4-6

Percentage chance of being a wild card: 26.9%

Percentage chance of winning AL Central: 71.4%

This week’s games: vs. Royals (Monday to Wednesday), vs. Pirates (Friday to Sunday)

Stat of note: The Guardians are 2-4 against the Royals this year with seven games to be played in the season series

BOSTON RED SOX

Record: 67-62

Last 10 games: 4-6

Games back in wild-card race: 4 1/2

Percentage chance of being a wild card: 27.3%

This week’s games: Blue Jays (Monday to Thursday), at Tigers (Friday to Sunday)

Stat of note: Boston has scored 24 runs in its last seven games, including eight while being swept in a three-game series at home by Arizona this past weekend

SEATTLE MARINERS

Record: 66-65

Last 10 games: 3-7

Games back in wild-card race: 6 1/2

Percentage chance of being a wild card: 6.2%

This week’s games: vs. Rays (Monday to Wednesday), at Angles (Friday to Sunday)

Stat of note: The Mariners have a 19-26 record since the start of July

TAMPA BAY RAYS

Record: 65-65

Last 10 games: 6-4

Games back in wild-card race: 7

Percentage chance of being a wild card: 1.4%

This week’s games: at Mariners (Monday to Wednesday), vs. Padres (Friday to Sunday)

Stat of note: The Rays have a 25-15 record in interleague games