There have been 37 winner-take-all Game 5s in Division Series history since the best-of-five series was added to the postseason docket in 1995, when MLB expanded to allow a Wild Card team from each league. The 2024 postseason gifted us with two of them; the Dodgers bested the Padres in

KANSAS CITY – The flashbacks hit Aaron Judge as he strode through Kauffman Stadium’s visiting dugout during this American League Division Series, reminders of the hollowness that he and his teammates experienced on those same grounds 12 months ago. They had been in a glum daze as they scanned the

KANSAS CITY -- After being guided by veteran players in what was the first playoff run for many of the Royals’ young core of players, they now have a taste of what playing in October means -- and the heartbreak that comes with it. After falling short, 3-1, to the

KANSAS CITY -- Manager Matt Quatraro gathered his team in the clubhouse Thursday night and thanked the players for all the work they put in during the 2024 season, despite the disappointing ending after their 3-1 loss to the Yankees in Game 4 of the American League Division Series at

KANSAS CITY -- It was, by all accounts, a magical season in Kansas City. From 56 wins in 2023 to 86 and the postseason in ‘24. Bringing playoff baseball back to Kauffman Stadium for the first time since ‘15. The marvelous season of shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and an incredible

KANSAS CITY – Heading into this American League Division Series between the Yankees and the Royals, there was much talk about the open hostility between the two teams during a somewhat epic rivalry from 1976 through ‘80, when they battled in the playoffs four times in five years. It took

KANSAS CITY – In an effort befitting a $324 million ace in a clinching game, Gerrit Cole quieted the Royals’ bats for most of a brilliant seven-inning performance in leading the Yankees to a 3-1 victory in Thursday night’s Game 4 of the American League Division Series. But for just

The Yankees' famous right-field bleachers roll call made an appearance in Kansas City on Thursday -- but by the players themselves, rather than diehard pinstripe enthusiasts in the bleachers. It was a chaotic scene in the minutes following the Yankees' 3-1 victory over the Royals in Game 4 of the

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals brought postseason baseball back to Kauffman Stadium for the first time in nine years on Wednesday night, but they and their fans left disappointed after a 3-2 loss to the Yankees. Suddenly, the Royals find themselves on the brink of elimination … and the Yankees

After a full, long day of playoff baseball, the American League takes center stage on Thursday, with two teams facing elimination: The Guardians, who ruled their division this year only to see a Midwestern rival bum rush them at the season’s end, and the Royals, who have reached the World

NEW YORK -- Giancarlo Stanton stole the spotlight in Game 3 of this American League Division Series against the Royals on Wednesday night, when he clubbed the go-ahead solo homer in the eighth inning as part of a three-hit night that also included his first stolen base since 2020, leading

KANSAS CITY -- There was little panic in the Royals’ clubhouse following their 3-2 loss in Game 3 of the American League Division Series to the Yankees on Wednesday night. There was also focus on the game ahead and confidence with right-hander Michael Wacha taking the mound. “We’ve got confidence

KANSAS CITY -- It was some five decades ago that Reggie Jackson spoke of relishing the negative responses he generated on the road with his ballclub, famously remarking that “fans don’t boo nobodies." Jazz Chisholm Jr. knows exactly what Jackson meant, or as he put it after Wednesday’s 3-2 Yankees

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals came home to Kansas City for Game 3 of the American League Division Series and gave a sold-out Kauffman Stadium its first postseason game since 2015. It was loud, and it was intense. Former Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer threw out the first pitch. Super

KANSAS CITY -- Giancarlo Stanton has said he lives for the moments that only the postseason can provide, savoring its brighter spotlight and an opportunity to chase the championship that he hungers to deliver. The Yankees' slugger sure did a lot of living in Game 3 of the American League

What's it like being a sports fan in Kansas City? Well, part of the experience is having the superstar quarterback of your city's undefeated, defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs leaping for joy as your city's baseball team -- in the postseason for the first time since 2015 -- ties up

When we learned that the Yankees and Royals would be facing off in the best-of-five American League Division Series, we were excited to see some of the most high-powered sluggers alive – like, of course, Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr. and Juan Soto – get a chance to hit in

KANSAS CITY -- The storyline of the Royals’ season, rightfully, has been on the additions they made in the offseason to revamp the roster, spending $109.5 million on free agents and bringing in veteran voices to help a young club grow. The turnover led to a turnaround, getting the Royals

Four games! Four games! One of the many, many reasons it’s terrific that we’ll have no sweeps in any of the Division Series -- after having three of them in the Wild Card Series -- is that it sets up a glorious day like Wednesday, when we have four baseball

NEW YORK -- Gleyber Torres felt as though he were on the outside looking in during the first half of this Yankees season, watching his teammates enjoy success while he experienced frustration at the plate. He was happy that the team was winning, but as he said, “I feel like

KANSAS CITY -- When a team finishes a rebuild, you'll find any number of youngsters who came through the system and are ready to win. But look a little deeper at the roster, and you'll find plenty of players who have been there, and done that -- and they're just

The Royals think highly enough of second baseman Michael Massey to believe that he is a future All-Star. Manager Matt Quatraro calls Massey, 26, “a stalwart in our lineup.” Massey is having his moment to shine, as the Royals’ matchup with the Yankees continues in the American League Division Series.

NEW YORK -- At the age of 40, Yuli Gurriel has been the Royals’ starting first baseman in each of Kansas City’s four playoff games this season, yet it wasn’t long ago that there were reasons to question whether we would ever see the legendary Cuban hitter in the Majors

KANSAS CITY -- A forgotten man when he missed over three months in the middle of the season with a severe right lat strain, Clarke Schmidt is suddenly in the spotlight as he gets ready to pitch the most important game of the season for the Yankees to date.

By now, even people in outer space know that the two most valuable players in the American League this season were Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr., each of them having a season for the ages even if Judge fell short of hitting 60 homers for the second time in