On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Royals series preview

Photo by Karen Hastings/MLB Photos via Getty ImagesThis is the Cubs’ fourth straight series against an American League team. So far, they are 5-4 in that stretch, and overall 19-11 vs. AL teams this year. They’ll continue that trek through the AL this weekend when they visit the White Sox on the South Side.

For more on the Royals, here’s Max Rieper, manager of our SB Nation Royals site Royals Review.

Two years ago, if you had told me the Royals would be just four games under .500 and 5½ games back of a playoff spot, I’d be doing backflips. But after last year’s surprising turnaround, that kind of underwhelming performance has left fans cold. The team went on an insane stretch where they won…