Looking at the schedules of fellow contenders

The Royals are currently sitting in the second Wild Card spot, the final hope for the post-season. They have 13 games (plus the remainder of their August 31 game against Cleveland) to ensure they don't fall out of that spot. Last week I took a look at the schedule and pitching match-ups for the Royals for the rest of the season. Today, let's look at the schedule and potential pitching matchups for the teams they are contending against. Again, pitching matchups are tentative at best and subject to change due to injuries, rainouts, and manager whims.

First, let's look at the standings as of today. For the American League Central Division:

The Tigers will face the Twins seven more times, although Minnesota has played them tough, splitting twelve games against Detroit this year. Minnesota's rotation is still in flux, with a six-man rotation, although I went under the assumption that Tommy Milone, who has missed two starts with a neck injury (Anthony Swarzak makes a spot start for him today), will be shut down and they will go back to a five-man rotation.

The Royals have essentially two games to make up on the Tigers, with Detroit getting a friendly schedule down the stretch. Royals fans may want to look instead to the Wild Card, where the Royals are still clinging to a spot.

Let's focus on the Athletics and Mariners. If the Blue Jays and Indians get involved in this thing, the Royals are probably in deep trouble. Let's start with the sliding Oakland Athletics, losers of 22 of their last 33.

Yow, that's a cupcake schedule that could make Bill Snyder blush. The A's have reset their rotation a bit to ensure they have Sonny Gray pitching the last game if necessary, and Jon Lester ready to go in Game 163. But with ten games remaining against two last place clubs like the Rangers and Phillies, and with nine of their last thirteen games at home, the A's may not be sweating it out the last weekend.

Let's look at the Mariners.

The Angels have such a large lead that is unlikely they play many regulars that last weekend, and C.J. Wilson almost certainly won't make that start. However, the Mariners have a tough road with eleven road games and eleven games against teams fighting for a playoff spot. The big concern would be how seriously the Angels take their two series against the Mariners. While they may rest some starters, they also don't want to get too complacent before October. It is because of the Mariners schedule that Jeffrey Flanagan thinks the Royals still have a decent shot at the post-season.

How do things look to you? The Royals have seven games remaining against the White Sox who are playing young guys, but have to face the winning teams like the Tigers and Indians as well. Will the Royals be able to stay ahead of Seattle?