Less than 72 hours ago, the Royals had an opportunity to climb into first place in the AL Central. Now, the team is reeling at the loss of their fantastic first baseman. After leaving Thursday’s loss to the Astros following a collision at the bag, Pasquantino went for X-rays on his injured thumb. The results are not ideal.
If you’re doing the math at home, allow me to assist. The Wild Card round of the MLB Playoffs are scheduled to begin on October 1. That’s less than five weeks away.
It can not be overstated how crucial Pasquantino has been to Kansas City’s success so far in 2024. While Bobby Witt Jr. is far and away the team’s best player and a legitimate MVP candidate, someone has to drive him in when he gets on base. That someone has been Pasquantino, who entered play on Friday ranking fourth in baseball in RBI (97). We can debate the validity of “clutch” all day long, yet it’s interesting to note that Pasquantino was hitting .199 in his 298 plate appearances with the bases empty this season. With runners in scoring position? The 26-year-old was slashing .360/.374/.583 with a 150 wRC+.
The Royals are currently 15 games above .500 and their spot in the playoffs seems pretty secure. However, their path to catching the Guardians in their division just got a whole lot more difficult. Kansas City is +230 to wear the crown in the AL Central on the DraftKings Sportsbook. Minnesota is -150.
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
