The Royals advance to their first postseason appearance since 2015

With the Twins losing to the Orioles tonight, the Royals won their first postseason appearance since defeating the New York Mets in the 2015 World Series.

The Royals are one game behind the Detroit Tigers but will win the head-to-head tiebreaker if they can catch them. The Royals are currently No. 6 and the Tigers are No. 5, with the Tigers hosting the Chicago White Sox this weekend.

The Wild Card Series is a best-of-three series that runs Tuesday through Thursday, with all games taking place at the higher seed’s venue. If the Royals finish as a No. 6 seed, they will travel to Houston to play the No. 3 seed Astros, who won the Western Division. Should the Royals secure the No. 5 seed, they would travel to Baltimore to play the No. 4 seed Orioles, who are the top wild-card team. All Wild Card games will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN or ESPN 2.

The winners advance to the American League Divisional Series for a best-of-five series with a 2-2-1 home format. The winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 game would play the No. 1 seed, currently the Yankees. The winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6 game would play the No. 2 seed, currently the Guardians. The complete postseason schedule can be found here.

The Royals become just the second team to make the playoffs a year after losing more than 100 games, joining the 2017 Twins. For the Royals, this is the tenth postseason in their history and their second appearance as a Wild Card team:

• 1976 American League Western Division winner – lost to the Yankees in the ALCS
• 1977 American League Western Division winner – lost to the Yankees in the ALCS
• 1978 American League Western Division winner – lost to the Yankees in the ALCS
• 1980 American League Western Division winner – lost to Phillies in the World Series
• 1981 American League Western Division Second Half Winner – lost to the Athletics in the ALDS*
• 1984 American League Western Division winner – lost to the Tigers in the ALCS
• 1985 American League Western Division Winner – Won the World Series over the Cardinals
• 2014 American League Wild Card – lost in the World Series to Giants
• 2015 American League Central Division Winner – Won the World Series over the Mets

*-Strike-shortened season