With the high school season having ended recently, some Excelsior Springs baseball fans might be focusing on a ballclub based about 30 miles away: the Kansas City Royals.

The Royals were 36-26 entering Wednesday’s American League (AL) Central Division meeting with Cleveland at Progressive Field. They trailed Cleveland by five games for the division lead.

As Fox 4 reported recently, the Royals bolted to a 32-19 start – their best record through 51 games since 1976, when Kansas City won the AL West title and made the first of three straight AL playoff appearances. A 16-11 April sparked the team’s 2024 start.

Starting pitching has helped the Royals contend this season after a 56106 campaign in 2023. Right-hander Seth Lugo is leading Kansas City’s staff. Through 13 starts, he was 9-1 (three no

decisions), leading the AL in wins and tied with Philadelphia’s Ranger Suarez for the lead in wins in the major leagues. Lugo’s other stats included a 2.13 ERA and 71 strikeouts.

Other contributing pitche…