Kansas City Royals to put resiliency to test

HOUSTON -- Having first established an identity as a resilient, irrepressible bunch following their dramatic comeback win over the Oakland Athletics in the 2014 American League wild-card game, the Kansas City Royals will have that reputation put to the test on Monday at Minute Maid Park when they face elimination for the first time this postseason.

What made the Royals the darlings of the 2014 postseason was the indomitable spirit they displayed in rallying from a four-run deficit in their 9-8, 12-inning win over the Athletics. But what gets lost in the wash is the Royals' rampage through the remainder of the American League playoffs, with Kansas City winning eight consecutive games and not facing elimination again until Game 6 of the World Series. The Royals showcased their pluck in rallying from a three-run deficit to defeat the Houston Astros in Game 2 of this AL Division Series, but that win came at home. The Astros posted the best home record in the AL this season, and if the Royals hope to extend the series, they must win at Minute Maid Park.

"We have that mentality every day. We come in every day expecting to win," Royals left-hander Danny Duffy said. "None of us are ready to go home. What we have to do tomorrow is go out there and play to our strengths, pitch to our strengths. Nothing is going to be given to us."

The juxtaposition of roles was an early talking point of this series and nothing has changed. Now the Astros, a surprise postseason entry, are the upstarts with the Royals expected to make a run back to the World Series. Kansas City handled pressure before, but from a different perspective.

"Just leave everything out on the table tomorrow," Royals left fielder Alex Gordon said. "It is an early turnaround. It's a 12 o'clock game. Just got to play with everything you've got and take it back to Kansas City. We have won two straight before. It's a good team over there, and we look forward to the challenge."