Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (11), shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7), first baseman Salvador Perez (13) and second baseman Michael Massey (19) celebrate after a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Sept. 24, 2024. Geoff Burke Imagn Images

With six shutout innings and only 80 pitches thrown, Cole Ragans exited the Kansas City Royals' first playoff game in nearly a decade with a grimace on his face. His left calf had cramped up, and while he could have returned for the seventh inning of his start against the Baltimore Orioles,

The Kansas City Royals pitched a shutout to defeat the Baltimore Orioles, 1-0 in Tuesday’s American League Wild Card opener.