Yankees Advance Amid Umpire Controversy Against Royals

The Kansas City Royals' elimination from the 2024 ALDS at the hands of the New York Yankees has raised significant concerns regarding umpiring decisions, as the Royals received only 43.2% favorable calls, ranking them 27th in the league. Although the Royals won Game 2, they lost the series 3-1, with three of the losses by a combined two runs, suggesting that questionable calls may have impacted their performance. Critically, analysis indicated that the missed calls potentially increased the Yankees' run expectancy by 1.48 runs over the series. Despite the controversy, the Royals also faced shortcomings in pitching and batting, highlighting that their defeat was not solely due to officiating issues. Meanwhile, the Yankees have relied on players like Gleyber Torres and Giancarlo Stanton to step up in pivotal moments, despite struggles from expected stars like Aaron Judge. As the postseason progresses, the need for improved umpiring standards in Major League Baseball has become a pressing topic of discussion.