# Royals eye spoiler role in AL Central

> Royals target division leaders to spoil AL Central title race.
- Title: Royals eye spoiler role in AL Central · Chicago Sun-Times
- Summary: Royals target division leaders to spoil AL Central title race. Royals aim to spoil Guardians and White Sox seasons in final week of AL Central race.
- Keywords: royals, al central, white sox, guardians, carter jensen, miguel vargas, will venable, tristan peters, mlb, playoff race, news, local
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/09/22/facing-division-leaders-royals-eyeing-spoiler-role-in-final-week-carter-jensen-miguel-vargas-tristan-peters-will-venable-al-central-cleveland-guardians-chicago-white-sox
- Published: 2026-09-23T00:24:18.377+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: royals, al central, white sox, guardians, carter jensen, miguel vargas, will venable, tristan peters, mlb, playoff race, news, local
## Royals in AL Central last place
The Royals are 67-90 and one of the bigger disappointments in the American League after having winning seasons the last two years.
## Royals host White Sox and Guardians
The Royals host the White Sox and Guardians this week in series that will help determine the AL Central title.
## White Sox lead Royals 8-3
The White Sox are now 8-3 mark against the Royals this season after Tuesday night’s victory, whereas the Guardians are 5-5.
## Royals catcher Carter Jensen
Royals catcher Carter Jensen said, 'We want to ruin somebody’s season. We want to spoil it for somebody else.'

> We want to ruin somebody’s season. We want to spoil it for somebody else.
## Royals' recent performance
The Royals have played better since the All-Star break with young hitters like Carter Jensen (.843 OPS since the All-Star break) and Jac Caglianone powering an offense that has enabled them to go 29-31 since the break.
## Miguel Vargas named AL Player of the Week
Third baseman Miguel Vargas was named the AL Player of the Week on Monday after hitting .348/.500/.783 with three home runs from Sept. 14 to Sept. 20.
## Vargas' playoff mindset
Vargas said, 'We treat this as a playoff game. Whatever we did in the past five months wouldn’t mean anything if we don’t make it.'

> We treat this as a playoff game. Whatever we did in the past five months wouldn’t mean anything if we don’t make it.
## Tristan Peters recovery
All-Star outfielder Tristan Peters is at 'full availability' four days after a scary collision with a post on the outfield fence at Rate Field.
## Royals' pitching issues
The Royals have lost Opening Day starter (Cole Ragans) and closer (Carlos Estevez) to season-ending injuries but have emerged with young hitters.
## Royals' playoff hopes
The Royals can affect the AL Central race by playing the Guardians and White Sox, who are leading the division by a game but the Sox hold the season-series tiebreaker.
## Royals' manager Will Venable
Manager Will Venable said, 'Losing those pitchers, a few starting pitchers and bullpen pieces, it’s been kind of a revolving door. We’ve done a great job of not caring who all is here.'

> Losing those pitchers, a few starting pitchers and bullpen pieces, it’s been kind of a revolving door. We’ve done a great job of not caring who all is here.
## White Sox playoff chances
The White Sox can clinch no worse than an AL wild-card berth Wednesday with a victory against the Royals combined with a Rangers defeat.
## Key takeaway

Royals aim to spoil Guardians and White Sox seasons in final week of AL Central race.