Royals Surge to Second in AL Central Standings

The Kansas City Royals have surged to become Major League Baseball's hottest team since Easter, winning 16 of their last 18 games and rising to second place in the AL Central. This marks a dramatic turnaround from an earlier 8-14 start, giving them one of the league's top records. Key starters such as Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and Kris Bubic have driven the team's success with consistently strong pitching, while the bullpen has maintained reliability. Offensively, the Royals have improved their base-stealing efficiency, with players like Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia compensating for a lack of home run power. Their aggressive baserunning and dominant pitching have put them in playoff contention and prompted consideration as buyers at the trade deadline. Manager Matt Quatraro and analysts attribute the success to strategic adjustments and effective execution by the team.