KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The mission for the Royals' huge three-game series with the Tigers was to have won two of three and retaken the lead in the AL Central. Instead, a huge opportunity slipped away.
True, the Royals salvaged a feel-good win Sunday and avoided the sweep. But it still seems somewhat unlikely that the Royals can surpass Detroit in the final week, mainly because the Tigers have seven games at home (three with the White Sox, four with Minnesota).
And the Royals have a more immediate concern anyway: The Indians no doubt are viewing this four-game set (including the resumption of a suspended game) that starts tonight as an opportunity to vault over the Royals and into a wild-card spot.
If the Indians, who are just 3 1/2 games behind the Royals, get the sweep, they will do just that. And keep in mind how tough the Indians always seem to play the Royals. Cleveland was won eight of 15 this year, with win No. 9 pending as the Indians have a two-run lead in the bottom of the 10th of the suspended game.
89 COULD BE THE NUMBER
That said, the Royals could put themselves in great position for a wild-card spot by holding tough against the Tribe and managing two wins in the series, and then getting at least three wins against the White Sox to finish the regular season. That would put the Royals at 89 wins.
Oakland, with just a half-game lead over the Royals, has three games with the Angels to start the week. The Angels, by the way, still have something to play for, such as clinching the No. 1 overall seed. Oakland then finishes with four at Texas. One could certainly envision at least three losses in there somewhere for the A's, which would put them at 89 wins.
Seattle has four games at Toronto, which is all but eliminated, and then three with the Angels. Seattle would have to win six of seven to get to 89 wins -- possible, but not likely.
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In that scenario (if Detroit doesn't collapse), the Royals and A's would be your wild-card teams and the Royals would host a playoff game.
BILLY'S LAST HOME GAME
There was a lot of speculation, naturally, that Billy Butler may have played his last regular-season game as a Royal at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday.
Butler, the longest-tenured Royal, received several tremendous ovations from the sellout crowd.
There will be plenty of time in the offseason to discuss Butler's situation. The club has a $12.5 million option on him next year and almost certainly will pass at that figure.
But for now, it would appear that Butler will be an important resource for manager Ned Yost in the final week. Butler's playing time greatly diminished once Eric Hosmer got healthy earlier this month.
But that awful showing by Josh Willingham on Saturday (0 for 4, three strikeouts, eight runners left on base) may have finally convinced Yost that he needs to go with Butler in hopes that Butler gets on a hot streak. The two hits by Butler on Sunday likely have influenced Yost as well.
Yost even said after Sunday's game that he planned on using Butler "just about every game" from here on. Translation: Yost will use Butler every game.
HOSMER AVAILABLE IN SUSPENDED GAME
The Royals will resume the suspended game trailing by two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning tonight and will have Mike Moustakas, Erik Kratz and Alcides Escobar due up. And although the Royals didn't have Hosmer on the 25-man roster when the game was played, he is eligible to play in the game tonight.
It should be interesting to see if and when Yost uses Hosmer in that 10th inning.
DANNY'S SHOULDER
All eyes will be on left-hander Danny Duffy tonight as he makes his first start since walking off the mound at Yankee Stadium after throwing one pitch two weeks ago.
The shoulder inflammation is gone, Duffy said. And he also told me his velocity has been back to normal during his side sessions.
"The biggest thing will be to command all my pitches," he said. "I have to find a way. I've got a big responsibility. The playoffs are on the line. It's go time."
BIG GAME JAMES FAREWELL
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While it seems likely that Butler played his final regular-season home game as Royal at The K, it's almost 100 percent certain that James Shields did on Saturday.
Shields could be getting offers close to $100 million this off-season -- well out of the Royals' financial range.
I can tell you this much: The Royals' clubhouse won't be the same without him.
Shields has been every bit the player as advertised when the Royals acquired him -- a fiery competitor who showed this Royals team what it takes to win.
I thought about Shields' will to win again during his postgame comments Saturday, when he mentioned the offense not taking advantage of scoring opportunities (as well as his own responsibility for allowing two tie-breaking runs in the seventh inning). It's rare when Shields or any other pitcher speaks of his own offense, but the message from Big Game James was clear: Everyone needs to step up and do his job this final week.
You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.
