MLB 2024 playoff picture: Royals clinch postseason berth; Updated Bracket, Rankings | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

The Kansas City Royals' historic turnaround will include a playoff appearance after they secured an American League wild-card spot with the Minnesota Twins' loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

Kansas City limped to the finish line on a seven-game losing streak before getting back on track with a win over the Washington Nationals earlier this week.

Now the Royals have secured their first postseason berth since winning the 2016 World Series.

Here's a look at the current playoff matchups and lineup if the season ended today, as well as the current standings.

Projected MLB playoff series

• AL Wild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Kansas City Royals; No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Detroit Tigers
• NL Wild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks; No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 New York Mets
• First-round byes: No. 1 New York Yankees and No. 2 Cleveland Guardians (American League); No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers and No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies (National League)

1. New York Yankees (93-66); Won division and bye in first round
2. Baltimore Orioles (89-71, 4GB); secured the playoff spot
3. Boston Red Sox (80-79, 13GB)
4. Tampa Bay Rays (78-81, 15GB)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (74-85, 19GB)

1. Cleveland Guardians (92-67); Won division and bye in first round
2. Detroit Tigers (86-74, 6.5 GB; secured playoff spot
3. Kansas City Royals (85-75, 7.5 GB); secured the playoff spot
4. Minnesota Twins (82-78, 10GB)
5. Chicago White Sox (39-121, 53.5GB)

1. Houston Astros (86-73); Division decided
2. Seattle Mariners (82-77, 4GB)
3. Texas Rangers (75-84, 11GB)
4. Oakland Athletics (69-90, 17 GB)
5. Los Angeles Angels (63-96, 23GB)

1. Baltimore Orioles (89-71); Wild card won
2. Detroit Tigers (86-74); Wild card won
3. Kansas City Royals (85-75); Wild card won
4. Minnesota Twins (82-78, 3GB)
5. Seattle Mariners (82-77, 3GB)

1. Philadelphia Phillies (94-66); Won division and bye in first round
2. New York Mets (87-70, 5.5GB)
3. Atlanta Braves (87-71, 6GB)
4. Washington Nationals (69-90, 25GB)
5. Miami Marlins (59-100, 35GB)

1. Milwaukee Brewers (91-68); Division decided
2. Chicago Cubs (82-78, 9.5GB)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (81-78, 10GB)
4. Cincinnati Reds (76-84, 15.5GB)
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (74-85, 17GB)

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (95-64); Won division and bye in first round
2. San Diego Padres (91-68, 4GB); secured the playoff spot
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (88-71, 4GB)
4. San Francisco Giants (79-80, 16GB)
5. Colorado Rockies (61-98, 34GB)

1. San Diego Padres (91-68, +3 games); Wild card won
2. New York Mets (87-70)
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (88-71)
4. Atlanta Braves (86-71, 1GB)

After tying the franchise record with 106 losses last season, the Royals, by their usual standards, went on a massive spending spree in free agency to at least regain respectability.

Kansas City added $47 million to its 2024 payroll by signing Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Chris Stratton, Garrett Hampson, Will Smith and Hunter Renfroe. This does not include the 11-year, $289 million extension granted to Bobby Witt Jr. in February.

Lugo emerged as arguably the best free agent signing of any team last winter. The 34-year-old is on the short list of AL Cy Young candidates with a 3.03 ERA in a career-high 204.2 innings.

The rotation with Lugo, Wacha, Cole Ragans and Singer is very dangerous for opposing teams in a short series. The rotation as a whole ranks third in the MLB with 19.9 FanGraphs wins above replacement and second with a 3.57 ERA.

Witt will likely finish second to Aaron Judge in AL MVP voting. The 24-year-old superstar leads the MLB in batting average, slugging and owns a .332/.389/.591 slash line. He is the first player in franchise history to hit at least 30 home runs and 30 steals in a season.

Thanks to a great starting lineup and Witt's leadership of the offense, the Royals became only the 14th team in MLB history to have a winning record in a year after losing at least 100 games.

Kansas City becomes just the second team to make the playoffs this season after losing at least 100 games, joining the 2017 Minnesota Twins.

With a postseason spot secured, the Royals are still waiting to find out their opponent in the AL Wild Card Series. They will face either the Houston Astros or the Baltimore Orioles in a best-of-three series.