Having seen off the winningest team in baseball in the Chicago White Sox, the Royals will face the AL West Champion Houston Astros (85-77) as they bid for a third World Series visit during Stewarts reign.
The Astros, like the Royals, have come through the Wild Card Series, needing all three games to eliminate the Toronto Blue Jays before taking four games to end the New York Yankees season. They are a better batting than pitching team, with a top four offense in most categories, including 3rd in HRs and Batting Average.
2028 1st Round Steve Metzger is the shining light of the offense, 35 HRs and 117 RBIs leading the team in both categories. LF Luis Rojas, acquired in 2031 from the Phillies, also hit 30+ HRs (32) while SS T.J. Pompey (2026 2nd Round) stole a league-leading 45 bases.
Paul Skenes (2034 Free Agent) leads the pitching rotation with a 3.86 ERA and 9.0 K/9. Khal Stephen (2034 Waivers LAD) took the closer role for most of the season, amassing 31 saves with a 1.80 ERA.
This will be third postseason match up between the teams, with the Royal leading 2-0, most recently winning 3-2 in the Division Series in 2031 on the way to the first World Series of the Stewart era. In what may be a first, the teams meet in the Championship Series with the Royals having swept the regular season match up, 7-0.
Game 1 in Houston: Daniel Nava vs. Paul Skenes (2034 Free Agent)
Houston WINS 4-2
Skenes (W): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R
Nava (L): 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R
Khal Stephen (SV): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R
Houston HRs: Luis Rojas 2R (3rd), Kevin Bryant (4th)
1-0 Houston
Game 2 in Houston: Mike Hoffer vs. Cauy Maring (2031 7th Round)
Houston WINS 10-1
Maring (W): 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R
Hoffer (L): 6.0 IP, 10 H, 5 R
Houston HRs: Joendry Vargas 3R (7th)
2-0 Houston
Game 3 in Kansas City: Curt Bogans vs. Julio Barrera (2031 5th Round)
Kansas WIN 5-1
Bogans (W): 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R
Barrera: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Brad Hovey (L): 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R
Chase Dollander (SV): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R
2-1 Houston
Game 4 in Kansas City: Eddie Baquerizo vs. Josh Hartle (2035 Trade LAA)
Houston WIN 12-2
Hartle (W): 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R
Baquerizo (L): 4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R
Houston HRs: Vargas 2R (9th), Rojas (9th), Chaz Roberts (9th), Bryant 2R (9th)
3-1 Houston
Game 5 in Kansas City: Nava vs Skenes
Houston WIN 9-1
Skenes (W): 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R
Nava (L): 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R
Rojas (POTG): 2-4, 2R HR, 2 RBI
Houston HRs: TJ Pompey 2R (5th), Rojas 2R (9th)
4-1 Houston WINS
Series MVP: Joendry Vargas .421, 8 RBI, 5 R
The Royals season comes to another frustrating end. After taking out the best team in baseball, the White Sox the Royals are outscored 36-11 in 5 games by the Astros.