The Kansas City Royals are headed for a rough finish in 2026, but the path back to relevance may not be nearly as steep as it looks.
With fewer than 10 games left, Kansas City is on track to land as the third-worst team in the American League. The club will barely clear 70 wins and is set to miss the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 seasons. That kind of season stings, especially after the Royals reached the playoffs in 2024 and still managed 82 wins in 2025, just four fewer than the year before.
Even so, this does not look like a team that has to start over from scratch. Bobby Witt Jr. remains one of baseball’s best players, and the Royals have built some real offensive support around him.
Jac Caglianone has begun to put the pieces together and flash the talent that made him such a coveted pick. Carter Jensen is putting together one of the best rookie seasons in Royals history.
Maikel Garcia and Vinny Pasquantino are still part of the picture, too, even with both players dealing with injuries this season.
The bigger reason for optimism may be the division itself. The AL Central has been so soft this year that Kansas City was not officially eliminated from playoff contention until September 16, despite sitting almost 20 games under .500. The playoff chase was effectively over long before that date, but the late elimination still says plenty about how little separation there has been in the division.
And there is not much in the rest of the AL Central that screams a quick turnaround. The Cleveland Guardians do not spend heavily to patch holes.
The Detroit Tigers lost one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Minnesota Twins added at the deadline and still faded because of their own issues.
The Chicago White Sox still need to add around their young core, and there has not been much evidence that they will.
Kansas City does not need a massive overhaul to get back into the mix. A few additions here and there could be enough to push the Royals back toward contention, especially with the young talent already in place and Witt anchoring the lineup.
If the development keeps moving in the right direction, 2027 could be the year the Royals climb back to the top of the division.
In Other News...
Noah Camerons Turnaround Just Changed The Royals Rotation Conversation
Noah Camerons second big league season has turned into one of the more encouraging developments in the Royals rotation picture. After a rough opening stretch, the left-hander found a different rhythm once he started calling his own pitches, and the change has paid off in a major way. His August run was strong enough to earn American League Pitcher of the Month honors, and it gave Kansas City a fresher, clearer view of what he can be when everything clicks.
For a staff still sorting out who can help carry the workload moving forward, Cameron has moved himself into the conversation as a real option rather than just an intriguing arm. He has already set career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts, and the bigger question now is how the Royals choose to build around that progress. The turnaround has changed the tone around him, and it may have changed the rotation discussion along with it. [Read more 🡒]
Jac Caglianone Returns With Royals Fans Watching One Lingering Concern
Jac Caglianone was back in the lineup against the Pirates after sitting out the previous game because of a cut on his hand, the result of punching a dugout wall. The Royals have plenty invested in his development, and the episode added an avoidable detour to what has otherwise been a strong overall season, even if his recent work at the plate has been uneven.
Caglianone called the incident selfish and immature, saying he wants to learn from it, which is the right instinct for a player trying to settle in and keep his focus on the bigger picture. For Kansas City, the larger concern now is less about the one-game absence than whether the lessons from it carry over into the daily grind, especially with his bat still searching for the consistency the Royals need. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Massey Is Giving The Royals A Reason To Believe
Michael Massey has quietly given the Royals another reason to feel better about the shape of their infield and the direction of his bat. The second baseman is putting together the most productive season of his major league career, setting personal bests in doubles and hits while continuing to look like a steady presence on both sides of the ball.
Since returning from a concussion in late August, Massey has kept producing at the plate, including a recent home run against the Pirates, and he has backed it up with strong work defensively. His 12 outs above average at second base have only added to the value, leaving Kansas City with a player whose ceiling still feels worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]