Royals Lose to Twins, MLB Contenders Struggle

The Kansas City Royals lost 5-3 to the Minnesota Twins, missing early scoring opportunities and suffering from fielding errors, despite notable performances from Vinnie Pasquantino and rookie pitcher Ryan Bergert. The Royals remain 4.5 games back in the Wild Card race, with key contributions from John Rave and Salvador Perez, but continue to struggle with runners in scoring position. Elsewhere in MLB, the Texas Rangers are seeking offensive consistency and bullpen reliability, with Adolis García slumping and Joc Pederson improving, but failing to secure a closer at the trade deadline. The Chicago Cubs and New York Mets are also facing pitching issues and division competition, threatening their postseason chances. Across the league, contenders are grappling with late-season weaknesses and missed opportunities. These ongoing struggles could reshape the final playoff picture.