7 crazy stats from the Royals' record-breaking winning streak
In less than a month, the Kansas City Royals have gone from underdog to juggernaut. Two weeks from now, they could elevate their status to champion.
The Royals are riding some kind of momentum train, and we've got seven incredible stats mapping out their record-breaking run.
1. Unprecedented streak
Kansas City is the first American League team to win its first seven postseason games. The 1976 Cincinnati Reds and 2007 Colorado Rockies are the only other clubs to match the feat. No team has won eight straight.
2. So many heroes
Only one team in playoff history (the 1995 Atlanta Braves) has had more players come through with late-game heroics than these resilient Royals.
Billy Butler is 6th different @Royals player with a go-ahead RBI in 6th inning/later this postseason (Perez/Moustakas/Hosmer/Gordon/Escobar)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 15, 2014
Fun fact: Five of those six players (with the exception of Alcides Escobar) are products of the Royals' farm system.
3. Follow their lead
The layman scouting report on beating the Royals: don't fall behind, because their bullpen will bury you.
That strategy is easier said than done, evidenced by the Royals' remarkable run of 55 consecutive innings this postseason without trailing. Baltimore snapped the streak in the second inning of Game 3.
The Royals are now 74-1 (35-0 at home) this season, including the playoffs, when leading after seven innings.
4. Speaking of the vaunted pen ...
The regular season dominance of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland is immortalized on the leaderboard, where the trio occupy three of the top four spots for lowest ERA by a reliever.
Each have continued to punish hitters this fall, combining for 11 innings of one-run, five-hit ball in the American League Championship Series.
In Game 3, Kansas City relievers, including Jason Frasor, teamed up to match the record for most innings pitched by a bullpen in a playoff game without allowing a base-runner by throwing four perfect innings.
5. Getting back to that winning streak
Kansas City has now won eight in a row dating back to the regular season, and 10 of its last 11. But it doesn't end there.
The Royals' postseason dominance extends all the way back to 1985 and the franchise's only World Series title.
Royals have the 6th different 10-game postseason winning streak. MLB record is 12 straight (1927-1932 Yankees, 1998-1999 Yankees)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 15, 2014
6. Defending the streak
From Lorenzo Cain to Alex Gordon and Game 3 wizard Mike Moustakas, the Royals are proof a great bullpen and exceptional defense will take you far in baseball.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
The Royals had a major-league best 40 ESPN Web Gems during the regular season and are the unofficial leader in top defensive plays in the playoffs.
7. Winning their way to a World Series appearance
Despite all the incredible stats chronicling their remarkable run, only one number truly matters to these Royals: Four.
Their fourth win in the ALCS will secure the Royals a date in the World Series for the first time in 29 years. History is most certainly on their side.
Orioles are 34th team to fall behind 3-0 in a best-of-7 series. Only one to win the series: 2004 Red Sox (ALCS vs Yankees)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 15, 2014
The Royals will look to complete the four-game sweep of the Orioles on Wednesday. First pitch from Kauffman Stadium is scheduled for 4:07 p.m. ET.
- With h/t to ESPN Stats & Info and MLB.com