J.J. Picollo has been busy the past few weeks trying to prepare the Kansas City Royals for a postseason run. 

Picollo, the team’s executive vice president and general manager, started making moves July 14 with the acquisition of relief pitcher Hunter Harvey from Washington. Then, on Monday, he helped the Royals secure right handed-pitcher Michael Lorenzen from Texas. 

On Tuesday, with the trade deadline approaching for Major League Baseball, Picollo and the Royals acquired another right-hander – Lucas Erceg from Oakland. They also acquired infielder Paul DeJong from the Chicago White Sox. 

The Royals gave up a combined five minor leaguers as part of the trades.

Kansas City remains in contention for an American League (AL) wild-card playoff spot – and perhaps an AL Central Division title – as Harvey, Lorenzen, Erceg and DeJong are worked into the lineup. After drubbing Detroit 7-1 Thursday at Comerica Park, the Royals were 61-49 and in second in the AL Central, trailing division leader Cleveland by six games. 

With Thursday’s victory, the Royals were 9-4 since the All-Star break. After sweeping the White Sox July 19-21, they lost two of three to Arizona July 22-24 and dropped two of three to the Chicago Cubs July 26-28. They then swept the White Sox again, this time in a three-game series that concluded Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field, before cruising past Detroit to start a four-game road series.

Offensively, Bobby Witt Jr. continues to power Kansas City. Through Thursday, the shortstop was batting .350 – first in the majors.