MLB 2014 playoffs standings: Royals, Tigers both win, keep pace in AL Central

Postseason hopes in the balance, the Royals need every break they can get at this point in the season. Thankfully, playing against a struggling Rubby De La Rosa is about as big of one as they could ask for.

After going 0-5 against the Red Sox in their first handful of games against the defending champions, Kansas City worked over poor De La Rosa -- who has seen his ERA rise by .8 runs to 4.01 in the last six games --  for five runs on six hits in just five innings. The Red Sox were simply unable to get anything going offensively, mustering just one run in a 5-1 loss that wasn't even nearly that close.

The Tigers kept pace with a 5-4 win over Cleveland, thanks to a two-run home run by Alex Avila in the eighth inning. Detroit remains in first place by a half-game over Kansas City in the American League Central.

The two teams have three games left in Kansas City next week.

American League

National League

Notables

• After missing out last year, the Nationals have made their way back to the postseason, even without particularly strong performances by their two most highly touted players -- Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper. That's because the team has managed to pick up the slack at nearly every other position on the field, led by Ian Desmond, who is quietly cementing himself as one of the better offensive shortstops ever.

Ian Desmond the fourth shortstop in history to go 20/20 three straight years.

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) September 14, 2014

• If the Yankees want to make it to the playoffs next season, they may want to look into the strength and conditioning program of this enterprising youth in Baltimore.

Lifting weights is a great thing to do while watching a baseball game – even in person: http://t.co/8ro0NZY17x http://t.co/1iOFhqc9ND

— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 13, 2014