Royal Scrolls: Stealing Another Finale

India slugs from the 7th spot, Bergert flashes potential, playoff odds dwindle

Photo courtesy of AP/Robert F. Bukaty

Royal Scrolls is a recap of the week so far and a preview of the weekend ahead, along with news, nuggets and notes.

With their playoff chances shrinking and season teetering, the Royals (57-58) just don’t lose series finales.

It’s a wild anecdote in what’s been an up-and-down season, but after a 7-3 victory over Boston Wednesday night, they’re now 25-12 in series finales, according to David Lesky’s Inside the Crown. For a team that’s sub-.500, maybe that’s simply a small-ish 37-game fluke, but it’s enough to make you wonder how and why they’re so good in closing out series.

Unfortunately, far too many of those sets have started 0-2 for it to matter. And that was again the case this week.

The Red Sox emerged victorious fairly comfortably Monday and Tuesday with an aggregate score of 14-7. Then Michael Wacha took the bump (more on this later) and put a stop to the short skid with help from Jonathan India and Mike Yastrzemski, who flipped spots in the order to give the lineup a bit of a spark.

It’s probably too little, too late; it was well past time for a change at the leadoff spot as India’s struggled to acclimate to his new club in 2025. Part of the problem up until now, though, was who would replace him? Before adding Yaz, the best case for a new man at the top of the order would’ve been… Maikel Garcia? His bat feels too important in the middle of the order, protecting Vinnie Pasquantino while getting on base in front of Salvador Perez.

There simply wasn’t a good answer — but the Royals may have one now, at least against right-handed pitching, with Yaz and his career .323 OBP (.328 this season) taking over duties at the top.

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