Royals' Losing Streak Jeopardizes Playoff Hopes

The Kansas City Royals are struggling to maintain their playoff position, having lost six consecutive games and falling to an 82-73 record. Their offensive struggles have been notable, scoring only 13 runs over the current losing streak and going 8-for-52 with runners in scoring position. The Royals' most recent losses came against the San Francisco Giants, including a 9-0 rout on Saturday where they managed just five hits. Giants pitchers Blake Snell and Landen Roupp played key roles in silencing the Royals' bats, with Snell striking out nine over six shutout innings and Roupp earning his first major league win. The Royals are now just a half-game ahead of the Minnesota Twins for the second AL Wild Card spot and one game ahead of the Detroit Tigers. The team's recent performance has drastically reduced their postseason hopes, which seemed secure just a few weeks ago.