1996 Kansas City Royals season

The 1996 Kansas City Royals season was the 28th season for the franchise, and their 24th at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals finished fifth in the American League Central with a record of 75 wins and 86 losses and missed the postseason for the 11th consecutive season.

Offseason

• October 22, 1995: Doug Linton was signed as a free agent by the Royals.
• December 19, 1995: Brent Mayne was traded by the Royals to the New York Mets for Al Shirley (minors).
• December 21, 1995: Wally Joyner and Aaron Dorlarque (minors) were traded by the Royals to the San Diego Padres for Bip Roberts and Bryan Wolff (minors).
• January 31, 1996: Tim Belcher was signed as a free agent by the Royals.

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || April 1 || @ Orioles || colspan=5 |Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for April 2 || 0–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 2 || @ Orioles || 2–4 || Mussina || Appier (0–1) || Myers || 46,818 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 3 || @ Orioles || 1–7 || Wells || Gubicza (0–1) || — || 40,068 || 0–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 4 || @ Orioles || 3–5 || Rhodes || Pichardo (0–1) || Myers || 38,753 || 0–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 5 || Red Sox || 5–4 <small>(12)</small> || Clark (1–0) || Pennington || — || 39,526 || 1–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 6 || Red Sox || 7–3 || Pichardo (1–1) || Belinda || — || 17,339 || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 7 || Red Sox || 1–3 || Moyer || Gubicza (0–2) || Slocumb || 13,183 || 2–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 9 || @ Yankees || 3–7 || Pettitte || Haney (0–1) || — || 56,329 || 2–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 11 || @ Yankees || 3–5 || Key || Belcher (0–1) || Howe || 17,519 || 2–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 9 || April 12 || @ Brewers || 4–1 || Appier (1–1) || Bones || Montgomery (1) || 7,113 || 3–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 13 || @ Brewers || 3–2 || Gubicza (1–2) || Sparks || Montgomery (2) || 9,224 || 4–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 14 || @ Brewers || 2–5 || McDonald || Haney (0–2) || Miranda || 19,131 || 4–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 15 || White Sox || 10–11 || Karchner || Pichardo (1–2) || Hernandez || 12,653 || 4–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 16 || White Sox || 6–5 || Belcher (1–1) || Bere || Montgomery (3) || 12,399 || 5–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 17 || White Sox || 1–3 || Fernandez || Appier (1–2) || Hernandez || 13,350 || 5–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 18 || Brewers || 2–8 || Sparks || Gubicza (1–3) || — || 13,153 || 5–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 19 || Brewers || 2–8 || McDonald || Haney (0–3) || — || 15,321 || 5–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 20 || Brewers || 4–12 || Miranda || Jacome (0–1) || — || 17,220 || 5–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 21 || Brewers || 4–5 || Wickander || Pichardo (1–3) || Fetters || 14,666 || 5–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 22 || Yankees || 2–6 || Cone || Appier (1–3) || — || 14,763 || 5–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || April 23 || Yankees || 5–2 || Gubicza (2–3) || Key || Montgomery (4) || 12,536 || 6–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 24 || Orioles || 8–11 || Mercker || Haney (0–4) || — || 13,962 || 6–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || April 25 || Orioles || 2–3 || Rhodes || Valera (0–1) || Myers || 16,090 || 6–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || April 26 || @ Red Sox || 4–3 || Belcher (2–1) || Clemens || Montgomery (5) || 22,385 || 7–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || April 27 || @ Red Sox || 10–0 || Appier (2–3) || Sele || — || 29,459 || 8–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || April 28 || @ Red Sox || 9–7 || Robinson (1–0) || Slocumb || Montgomery (6) || 32,491 || 9–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || April 29 || @ Twins || 6–11 || Hansell || Clark (1–1) || Bennett || 10,237 || 9–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || April 30 || @ Twins || 7–16 || Naulty || Magnante (0–1) || — || 10,503 || 9–18 |-

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 1 || @ Twins || 5–6 <small>(10)</small> || Stevens || Montgomery (0–1) || — || 11,975 || 9–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 3 || Athletics || 3–1 || Appier (3–3) || Reyes || Montgomery (7) || 14,452 || 10–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 4 || Athletics || 2–5 || Wojciechowski || Gubicza (2–4) || Groom || 15,987 || 10–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 5 || Athletics || 2–0 || Haney (1–4) || Prieto || — || 16,589 || 11–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 6 || @ Angels || 9–4 || Belcher (3–1) || Leftwich || Pichardo (1) || 14,447 || 12–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 7 || @ Angels || 5–3 || Valera (1–1) || Abbott || Montgomery (8) || 14,657 || 13–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 8 || @ Angels || 3–1 <small>(14)</small> || Pichardo (2–3) || Eichhorn || — || 16,210 || 14–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 9 || @ Angels || 8–2 || Gubicza (3–4) || Grimsley || — || 15,302 || 15–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 10 || @ Mariners || 14–10 || Valera (2–1) || Davis || — || 24,231 || 16–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 11 || @ Mariners || 1–11 || Wolcott || Belcher (3–2) || Carmona || 43,297 || 16–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 12 || @ Mariners || 5–8 || Johnson || Linton (0–1) || Charlton || 27,470 || 16–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 13 || @ Rangers || 6–7 || Cook || Montgomery (0–2) || Henneman || 22,981 || 16–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 14 || @ Rangers || 0–10 || Hill || Gubicza (3–5) || — || 28,999 || 16–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 15 || @ Rangers || 3–1 || Haney (2–4) || Pavlik || Montgomery (9) || 26,881 || 17–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 17 || Blue Jays || 4–2 || Belcher (4–2) || Guzman || Montgomery (10) || 20,079 || 18–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 18 || Blue Jays || 2–6 || Viola || Appier (3–4) || — || 18,116 || 18–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 19 || Blue Jays || 2–3 || Hanson || Gubicza (3–6) || Timlin || 15,039 || 18–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || May 20 || Blue Jays || 5–4 || Haney (3–4) || Hentgen || Montgomery (11) || 14,303 || 19–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || May 21 || @ Tigers || 7–1 || Linton (1–1) || Williams || Valera (1) || 24,372 || 20–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 22 || @ Tigers || 6–4 || Belcher (5–2) || Farrell || Montgomery (12) || 12,890 || 21–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || May 23 || Rangers || 4–2 || Appier (4–4) || Oliver || Montgomery (13) || 15,612 || 22–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 49 || May 24 || Rangers || 8–0 || Gubicza (4–6) || Witt || — || 13,696 || 23–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 25 || Rangers || 1–2 || Helling || Haney (3–5) || Henneman || 23,668 || 23–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || May 26 || Rangers || 4–6 || Hill || Linton (1–2) || Henneman || 22,665 || 23–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || May 27 || Tigers || 5–4 <small>(13)</small> || Montgomery (1–2) || Veres || — || 19,776 || 24–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || May 29 || Tigers || 4–5 || Gohr || Appier (4–5) || Walker || 13,712 || 24–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || May 31 || @ Blue Jays || 2–4 || Hentgen || Gubicza (4–7) || Timlin || 33,194 || 24–30 |-

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 1 || @ Blue Jays || 3–5 <small>(10)</small> || Crabtree || Montgomery (1–3) || — || 31,107 || 24–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 2 || @ Blue Jays || 7–5 || Belcher (6–2) || Janzen || Montgomery (14) || 32,253 || 25–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 3 || @ Athletics || 1–2 || Wasdin || Appier (4–6) || Taylor || 6,465 || 25–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 4 || @ Athletics || 3–8 || Wengert || Gubicza (4–8) || — || 11,524 || 25–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 5 || @ Athletics || 5–2 || Haney (4–5) || Johns || Montgomery (15) || 8,113 || 26–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 7 || Mariners || 9–5 || Valera (3–1) || Wolcott || — || 20,891 || 27–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 8 || Mariners || 12–8 || Appier (5–6) || Milacki || Montgomery (16) || 30,022 || 28–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 9 || Mariners || 2–3 || Hitchcock || Gubicza (4–9) || Charlton || 20,489 || 28–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 10 || Angels || 5–7 <small>(10)</small> || McElroy || Pugh (0–1) || Percival || 15,691 || 28–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 11 || Angels || 9–11 || McElroy || Valera (3–2) || Percival || 16,687 || 28–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 12 || Angels || 3–4 <small>(10)</small> || McElroy || Montgomery (1–4) || Percival || 15,428 || 28–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 13 || Orioles || 10–2 || Linton (2–2) || Mercker || — || 20,108 || 29–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 14 || Orioles || 1–6 || Mussina || Gubicza (4–10) || — || 28,502 || 29–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 15 || Orioles || 7–6 <small>(16)</small> || Magnante (1–1) || Krivda || — || 24,784 || 30–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 16 || Orioles || 5–13 || Coppinger || Jacome (0–2) || Mills || 19,437 || 30–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 17 || @ Brewers || 4–9 || Burrows || Appier (5–7) || — || 9,315 || 30–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 18 || @ Brewers || 1–9 || Karl || Linton (2–3) || Potts || 9,116 || 30–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 19 || @ Brewers || 8–4 <small>(10)</small> || Pichardo (3–3) || Mercedes || — || 13,431 || 31–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 21 || @ Orioles || 3–9 || Rhodes || Haney (4–6) || — || 47,644 || 31–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 74 || June 22 || @ Orioles || 3–5 || Erickson || Montgomery (1–5) || — || 47,534 || 31–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || June 23 || @ Orioles || 4–0 || Appier (6–7) || Krivda || — || 47,608 || 32–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || June 25 || Brewers || 3–5 || Bones || Gubicza (4–11) || Fetters || 14,448 || 32–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || June 26 || Brewers || 7–3 || Haney (5–6) || Givens || — || 14,560 || 33–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || June 27 || Brewers || 2–6 || McDonald || Belcher (6–3) || — || 17,670 || 33–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || June 28 || Twins || 6–2 || Appier (7–7) || Radke || — || 21,515 || 34–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || June 29 || Twins || 7–12 || Trombley || Linton (2–4) || — || 23,232 || 34–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || June 30 || Twins || 2–5 || Rodriguez || Gubicza (4–12) || Stevens || 28,246 || 34–47 |-

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 1 || @ Indians || 4–2 || Haney (6–6) || Nagy || — || 40,814 || 35–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 83 || July 2 || @ Indians || 2–3 || Poole || Belcher (6–4) || — || 42,283 || 35–48 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 3 || @ Indians || 4–6 || Tavarez || Magnante (1–2) || Shuey || 42,470 || 35–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 85 || July 4 || @ Twins || 5–3 || Linton (3–4) || Robertson || Montgomery (17) || 37,295 || 36–49 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || July 5 || @ Twins || 8–9 || Guardado || Montgomery (1–6) || — || 18,465 || 36–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 87 || July 6 || @ Twins || 8–5 || Haney (7–6) || Aguilera || Montgomery (18) || 18,699 || 37–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 88 || July 7 || @ Twins || 8–2 || Belcher (7–4) || Aldred || — || 14,251 || 38–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 89 || July 11 || White Sox || 3–2 || Haney (8–6) || Alvarez || — || 22,928 || 39–50 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 90 || July 12 || White Sox || 6–7 || Tapani || Belcher (7–5) || Hernandez || 18,458 || 39–51 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 91 || July 13 || White Sox || 1–3 || Fernandez || Rosado (0–1) || — || 25,363 || 39–52 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 14 || White Sox || 2–3 || Baldwin || Linton (3–5) || Hernandez || 17,024 || 39–53 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 93 || July 15 || Indians || 6–3 || Magnante (2–2) || Tavarez || Montgomery (19) || 22,294 || 40–53 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 94 || July 16 || Indians || 4–10 || McDowell || Haney (8–7) || — || 16,871 || 40–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 95 || July 17 || Indians || 3–2 || Belcher (8–5) || Hershiser || Montgomery (20) || 19,532 || 41–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 96 || July 18 || @ White Sox || 7–1 || Appier (8–7) || Fernandez || Pichardo (2) || 17,657 || 42–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 97 || July 19 || @ White Sox || 7–4 <small>(10)</small> || Montgomery (2–6) || Hernandez || — || 19,604 || 43–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 98 || July 20 || @ White Sox || 7–5 || Linton (4–5) || Keyser || Montgomery (21) || 32,282 || 44–54 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 99 || July 21 || @ White Sox || 3–6 || Alvarez || Haney (8–8) || Hernandez || 21,253 || 44–55 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 100 || July 22 || @ Red Sox || 5–2 || Belcher (9–5) || Gordon || — || 28,109 || 45–55 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 101 || July 23 || @ Red Sox || 7–5 || Appier (9–7) || Sele || — || 23,711 || 46–55 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 102 || July 24 || @ Red Sox || 2–12 || Moyer || Linton (4–6) || — || 33,381 || 46–56 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 103 || July 25 || @ Yankees || 7–0 || Rosado (1–1) || Hutton || — || 23,475 || 47–56 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 104 || July 26 || @ Yankees || 1–15 || Key || Haney (8–9) || — || 23,782 || 47–57 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 105 || July 27 || @ Yankees || 4–5 || Rogers || Belcher (9–6) || Wetteland || 42,044 || 47–58 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 106 || July 28 || @ Yankees || 2–3 || Wetteland || Jacome (0–3) || — || 35,658 || 47–59 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 107 || July 30 || Red Sox || 7–0 || Rosado (2–1) || Eshelman || — || 17,166 || 48–59 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 108 || July 31 || Red Sox || 3–5 || Wakefield || Haney (8–10) || Slocumb || 17,527 || 48–60 |-

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 109 || August 1 || Red Sox || 9–4 || Belcher (10–6) || Clemens || — || 18,934 || 49–60 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 110 || August 2 || Yankees || 4–3 <small>(10)</small> || Montgomery (3–6) || Rivera || — || 28,618 || 50–60 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 111 || August 3 || Yankees || 11–4 || Linton (5–6) || Weathers || — || 29,355 || 51–60 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 112 || August 4 || Yankees || 3–5 || Pettitte || Rosado (2–2) || — || 24,624 || 51–61 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 113 || August 5 || Yankees || 2–5 || Key || Pichardo (3–4) || Wetteland || 22,865 || 51–62 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 114 || August 6 || Athletics || 9–2 || Belcher (11–6) || Wasdin || — || 14,028 || 52–62 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 115 || August 7 || Athletics || 7–0 || Appier (10–7) || Prieto || — || 15,517 || 53–62 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 116 || August 8 || Athletics || 1–2 || Wengert || Linton (5–7) || Taylor || 19,197 || 53–63 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 117 || August 9 || @ Angels || 5–3 || Rosado (3–2) || Langston || Montgomery (22) || 35,977 || 54–63 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 118 || August 10 || @ Angels || 18–3 || Haney (9–10) || Abbott || — || 21,657 || 55–63 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 119 || August 11 || @ Angels || 5–6 || Springer || Belcher (11–7) || — || 18,591 || 55–64 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 120 || August 12 || @ Mariners || 10–4 || Appier (11–7) || Moyer || Huisman (1) || 43,476 || 56–64 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 121 || August 13 || @ Mariners || 5–9 || Mulholland || Linton (5–8) || Johnson || 21,961 || 56–65 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 122 || August 14 || @ Mariners || 3–1 || Rosado (4–2) || Wolcott || Montgomery (23) || 23,709 || 57–65 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 123 || August 16 || @ Rangers || 3–5 || Burkett || Haney (9–11) || Henneman || 32,053 || 57–66 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 124 || August 17 || @ Rangers || 4–1 || Belcher (12–7) || Hill || — || 41,855 || 58–66 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 125 || August 18 || @ Rangers || 3–10 || Gross || Appier (11–8) || — || 30,480 || 58–67 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 126 || August 19 || Blue Jays || 1–2 || Spoljaric || Rosado (4–3) || Timlin || 16,862 || 58–68 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 127 || August 20 || Blue Jays || 5–6 <small>(14)</small> || Timlin || Huisman (0–1) || — || 14,568 || 58–69 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 128 || August 21 || Blue Jays || 2–6 || Guzman || Haney (9–12) || — || 12,238 || 58–70 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 129 || August 22 || Tigers || 3–10 || Thompson || Belcher (12–8) || — || 14,699 || 58–71 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 130 || August 23 || Tigers || 2–3 || Sager || Appier (11–9) || Olson || 15,603 || 58–72 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 131 || August 24 || Tigers || 9–2 || Rosado (5–3) || Olivares || — || 28,011 || 59–72 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 132 || August 25 || Tigers || 4–7 || Van Poppel || Linton (5–9) || Myers || 15,123 || 59–73 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 133 || August 27 || Rangers || 4–3 <small>(10)</small> || Montgomery (4–6) || Russell || — || 12,907 || 60–73 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 134 || August 28 || Rangers || 4–3 <small>(12)</small> || Huisman (1–1) || Gross || — || 12,695 || 61–73 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 135 || August 29 || @ Tigers || 1–4 || Eischen || Appier (11–10) || Lima || 7,882 || 61–74 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 136 || August 30 || @ Tigers || 0–4 || Van Poppel || Rosado (5–4) || — || 16,498 || 61–75 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 137 || August 31 || @ Tigers || 3–1 || Linton (6–9) || Lira || Montgomery (24) || 16,270 || 62–75 |-

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 138 || September 1 || @ Tigers || 3–2 <small>(13)</small> || Huisman (2–1) || Myers || Jacome (1) || 17,647 || 63–75 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 139 || September 2 || @ Blue Jays || 2–0 || Belcher (13–8) || Hanson || — || 28,177 || 64–75 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 140 || September 3 || @ Blue Jays || 5–2 || Appier (12–10) || Hentgen || — || 25,729 || 65–75 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 141 || September 4 || @ Blue Jays || 0–6 || Williams || Rosado (5–5) || — || 25,827 || 65–76 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 142 || September 6 || @ Athletics || 1–7 || Adams || Haney (9–13) || — || 14,404 || 65–77 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 143 || September 7 || @ Athletics || 6–13 || Prieto || Belcher (13–9) || — || 13,175 || 65–78 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 144 || September 8 || @ Athletics || 7–8 <small>(10)</small> || Corsi || Pichardo (3–5) || — || 17,208 || 65–79 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 145 || September 10 || Mariners || 4–2 || Rosado (6–5) || Torres || Bluma (1) || 12,499 || 66–79 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 146 || September 11 || Mariners || 4–2 || Linton (7–9) || Moyer || Bluma (2) || 13,078 || 67–79 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 147 || September 12 || Mariners || 5–8 || Mulholland || Haney (9–14) || Charlton || 15,045 || 67–80 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 148 || September 13 || Angels || 8–2 || Belcher (14–9) || Abbott || — || 13,083 || 68–80 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 149 || September 14 || Angels || 8–5 || Appier (13–10) || Dickson || — || 17,174 || 69–80 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || September 15 || Angels || colspan=5 |Cancelled (rain) || 69–80 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 150 || September 16 || Twins || 6–5 || Rosado (7–5) || Radke || Bluma (3) || 16,843 || 70–80 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 151 || September 17 || Twins || 4–2 || Haney (10–14) || Aldred || Bluma (4) || 11,809 || 71–80 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 152 || September 18 || Twins || 4–7 || Miller || Belcher (14–10) || — || 11,588 || 71–81 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 153 || September 19 || @ Indians || 1–9 || Ogea || Appier (13–11) || — || 42,297 || 71–82 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 154 || September 20 || @ Indians || 6–4 || Bevil (1–0) || Nagy || Bluma (5) || 42,358 || 72–82 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 155 || September 21 || @ Indians || 4–13 || Hershiser || Rosado (7–6) || — || 42,339 || 72–83 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 156 || September 22 || @ Indians || 5–6 || McDowell || Jacome (0–4) || Mesa || 42,291 || 72–84 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 157 || September 24 || @ White Sox || 2–3 || Castillo || Belcher (14–11) || — || 14,348 || 72–85 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 158 || September 25 || @ White Sox || 8–2 || Appier (14–11) || Tapani || — || 15,911 || 73–85 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 159 || September 27 || Indians || 11–6 || Rosado (8–6) || Hershiser || — || 15,939 || 74–85 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 160 || September 28 || Indians || 4–5 || Mercker || Scanlan (0–1) || Mesa || 19,820 || 74–86 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 161 || September 29 || Indians || 4–1 || Belcher (15–11) || Ogea || Pichardo (3) || 14,556 || 75–86 |-

|- | Legend:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; = Win&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; = Loss&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; = Game Postponed<br>Bold = Royals team member

Detailed records

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Farm system

<small>LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Wilmington</small>

References

• 1996 Kansas City Royals at Baseball Reference
• 1996 Kansas City Royals at Baseball Almanac