Colorado, meanwhile, is just as far out of the race but riding a little momentum. The Rockies rolled Kansas City 12-6 on Saturday and handed shortstop duties to debutant Cole Carrigg, a small jolt of energy for a club that's lost as much as anyone in the National League this year.
Kansas City had dropped 4 of its previous 5 heading in, with the only win a shutout of Minnesota sandwiched between losses. Colorado's own stretch was uglier for longer, but the Rockies flipped the switch right as the Royals arrived, winning consecutive games for the first time in weeks.
Both training rooms are crowded. Kansas City is still waiting on Cole Ragans (elbow surgery) and Kris Bubic to work back from long-term arm issues, while Colorado is without Jose Quintana, Chase Dollander and Kris Bryant for the foreseeable future. Neither club is getting reinforcements before rosters expand in September.
The six-run sixth was the whole ballgame — Kansas City managed exactly one run on the day and never threatened to answer. For a Royals team that's already selling off pieces and waiting on its best player to get healthy, it was the kind of afternoon that's become depressingly familiar in Denver this weekend.