Royals still have plenty to play for in season's final games

HOUSTON -- The top of Thursday night’s first inning epitomized a Royals season that hasn’t gone as hoped. Nine straight balls to begin the game, including one that hit Jac Caglianone, loaded the bases. The next four pitches brought two ground balls to second base, producing three outs.

Kansas City wouldn’t get its first hit until Carter Jensen’s one-out single in the sixth. By then, the Astros had homered off Seth Lugo four times en route to a 6-2 win at Daikin Park.

At 67-86, the Royals are on the way to their first losing season since 2023, when they dropped 106 games. But as they finish the season, here are some things they have to play for over the final nine games.

Jensen makes himself known in ROY race

Jensen is finishing his first full season in the Majors so strongly that he might be included on some Rookie of the Year ballots. After going 2-for-3 with a walk on Thursday, he has reached base in 20 consecutive games and has produced an RBI in his last seven contests.

With 24 homers, Jensen is tied with Bob Hamelin (1994) for the Royals’ rookie home run record. Eighteen of Jensen’s home runs have come from the leadoff spot, matching the club record shared by Johnny Damon (1998) and Alex Gordon (2011).

Royals manager Matt Quatraro has been just as impressed with Jensen’s defensive strides.

“Framing and throwing have been his biggest areas of improvement,” Quatraro said. “He’s somewhere in the upper third of the catchers receiving-wise; he’s right in the middle of the pack throwing-wise. With what he had done in the Minor Leagues previously, those are huge growth moments for him.”

Spoiler’s role

Kansas City was officially eliminated from playoff contention on Wednesday, and the final road series of the season at Pittsburgh this weekend won’t have playoff ramifications. But next week’s homestand against the White Sox and Guardians certainly will.

Chicago and Cleveland (each 78-75) are tied atop the AL Central, and while one will win the division regardless, the Royals can keep the pressure on both teams. Kansas City could also put a big dent in the runner-up’s Wild Card hopes, considering the Rangers and Blue Jays (each 76-77) are two games behind the White Sox and Guardians, with the Orioles (75-78) three games back.

“These guys are pros,” Quatraro said. “They’re not gonna waver in their professionalism and will go out there and try to win every game.

“It was just a formality to be eliminated. I don’t think we had any illusions that we were gonna progress into the playoffs. These guys are not going to change the way they’ve been competing.”

Top thief?

Bobby Witt Jr. has led the American League in batting average, hits, doubles and triples all at some point during his five-year Major League career, and this season, he has a chance to add a stolen base crown. Witt has 42 steals and was tied for the AL lead before Tampa Bay’s Chandler Simpson passed him with a pair (44) on Thursday.

Considering Witt’s career-best 84 percent success rate on steals -- he’s been caught just eight times in his 50 attempts this season – he still has time to catch Simpson.

Seeing doubles

Kansas City has led the Majors in doubles five times, but the last time was in 1992, when the team racked up 284 doubles. The Royals have an MLB-best 273 heading into the season’s last 10 days, just ahead of the Red Sox and Rockies (272 each). The Nationals (270) and Brewers (268) aren’t far behind.

With Hall of Famer George Brett as a common denominator, the Royals previously topped the category in 1992, 1990, 1982, 1978 and 1977.

With Hall of Famer George Brett as a common denominator, the Royals previously topped the category in 1992, 1990, 1982, 1978 and 1977.