Bossier’s Seth Lugo & Royals at Risk of Missing MLB Post Season

It wasn't all that long ago that Louisiana's own Seth Lugo was looking like a Cy Young contender and the Kansas City Royals were a lock for the post season. Unfortunately, things have changed dramatically over the past few weeks. They're currently in the midst of a 7 game losing streak and have only won 2 games over their last 10. And even when they get a great performance from their pitchers, they're not scoring any runs.

For instance, last night against the Giants, Bossier City's Seth Lugo turned in a gem of a performance - 7 innings, 5 strike outs, 3 hits, 2 runs. Normally, if a starter turned in that kind of game, you would celebrate because you have a REALLY good shot at winning. But, with the way the Royals are playing right now - they ended up losing to the Giants 2-0. It's another hard luck loss in a long string of them.

What Do the Royals Need to Do to Get Into The Playoffs?

The short answer: Score some runs. As mentioned above, Seth Lugo and the rest of the pitching staff have been doing their job for the most part. However, if you look at the Royals over their last 7, they're just not scoring. In a 3 game series against the Giants, the only score 1 run. The lost 2-1, 9-0 and then 2-0. Before that, they got swept the Tigers where they also didn't score a lot of runs.

Short of scoring runs, they're going to need Seth Lugo and the rest of the pitching staff to step up. They're losing a lot and not scoring a lot of runs. So, the pitching staff is going to have to go out and throw at a high level.

Which they have been for the most part. As the season has worn on, on of the staff has has struggled a bit. Case and point - Seth Lugo.

At the All-Star Break, Seth Lugo was leading the majors in wins, innings and was #2 in ERA. Now, his ERA is up over 3 and he hasn't put up a lot of wins over the last month or so. Some of that isn't his fault, wins are a team stat...and when they don't score you any runs, it's hard to win. Even though he hasn't been as lights out in recent weeks, Seth is still having a career year. So, he's doing his job. The rest of the starters are doing their jobs. But the bats and bullpen need to wake up if they're going to make the post season.

Despite their recent cold snap, the Royals are still in contention. They're clinging to the final spot in the AL Wild Card. They have a game lead over the Minnesota Twins - who are also struggling mightily. They play two struggling teams to the end the year in the Washington Nationals & Atlanta Braves. So, it's not impossible to make the playoffs...but they need to win some games. According to Royals Fan Site Kings of Kauffman, their magic number to make the playoffs is 6 (a combination of wins, losses by other playoff teams while factoring in season tie-breakers, etc..).

There's 6 games left in the season for the Royals. If they win out, they're in. If they don't...well, it could get hairy depending on what the Tigers, Twins, Orioles and Mariners do.

Despite Struggling to the Finish Line, Seth Lugo is Posting a Career Year

I don't want to end this story on a down note. A lot of us have been following the Royals this year because we have a local on the team in former Parkway Panther & Centenary Gent Seth Lugo. And, despite a rough go over the last month or so, Seth is having a career year. 16 wins is a career high. 32 starts is a career high. 204.2 innings is a career high - and he'll get at least one more start this season I'd imagine. 178 strikeouts is a career high.

All in all, no matter what happens the rest of the week, we should be proud of Seth. Yeah, he faded a bit in the Cy Young race, but he still turned in one heck of a season. There is not a team in baseball that wouldn't take what Seth Lugo produced this year.