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The Kansas City Royals secure a spot in the 2024 MLB playoffs

The Kansas City Royals' magic number is zero. For the first time since the 2015 World Series championship season, the Royals are in the postseason. An hour after losing the series opener to the Atlanta Braves 3-0, the Baltimore Orioles clinched the Royals' postseason ticket with a 7-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. This will be the 10th time in franchise history that the Royals have appeared in the postseason and the first since Major League Baseball expanded its format in 2022. The Royals will face either the Houston Astros or the Baltimore Orioles. Both potential opponents would bring back postseason memories for Royals fans. Kansas City defeated Baltimore in the 2014 American League Championship Series, while the Royals defeated the Astros in a thrilling five-game set in the opening round of the 2015 postseason. Major League Baseball's postseason formatMLB has expanded its postseason in 2022, meaning the Royals will participate in the 12-team format for the first time. The bracket-style postseason features six teams from the American League and the National League. The top two seeds in each league receive byes in the first round, while the winner of the third division plays the third wildcard and the top two wildcard teams compete. No matter who the Royals play in the opening round, all games will be on the road. All wildcard round games will be played at the home park of the higher seeded team. How did the Royals do on the road against Baltimore and Houston? Kansas City has lost both road series when traveling to Baltimore and Houston this season. The Royals lost two of three games to Baltimore early in the season. Surrounding a 4-1 win were two walk-off losses in a series played in the first three days of April. Kansas City visited Houston in late August and was swept in a four-game series that ended its momentum toward a potential division title. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino was injured in the first game of that series and has not played since. Pasquantino reportedly took batting practice this week.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –

The Kansas City Royals' magic number is zero.

For the first time since the 2015 World Series championship season, the Royals are in the postseason.

An hour after losing the series opener to the Atlanta Braves 3-0, the Baltimore Orioles secured the Royals' postseason ticket by defeating the Minnesota Twins 7-2.

This will be the 10th time in franchise history that the Royals have appeared in the postseason and the first since Major League Baseball expanded its format in 2022.

The Royals will face either the Houston Astros or the Baltimore Orioles.

Both potential opponents would bring back postseason memories for Royals fans.

Kansas City defeated Baltimore in the 2014 American League Championship Series, while the Royals defeated the Astros in a thrilling five-game set in the opening round of the 2015 postseason.

Royals catcher Salvador Pérez is the only player still on the roster from the 2014 and 2015 teams.

Major League Baseball postseason format

MLB has expanded its postseason in 2022, meaning the Royals will participate in the 12-team format for the first time.

Six teams from the American League and National League participate in the bracket-style postseason.

The top two teams in each league receive byes in the first round, while the winner of the third division plays the third wildcard and the top two wildcard teams compete against each other.

No matter who the Royals face in the opening round, all games will take place away from home.

All wildcard round games will be played at the home park of the higher seeded team.

How did the Royals fare on the road against Baltimore and Houston?

Kansas City lost both road series when traveling to Baltimore and Houston this season.

The Royals lost two of three games against Baltimore to start the season.

Surrounding the 4-1 win were two walk-off losses in a series played over the first three days of April.

Kansas City visited Houston in late August and was swept in a four-game series that ended its momentum toward a potential division title.

First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino was injured in the first game of that series and has not played since.

Pasquantino reportedly took batting practice this week.

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