Kansas City, Mo. ? The Kansas City Royals finished this season a long way from where they finished last season.

In time, location and record.

Instead of capping a World Series championship on a crisp November night in New York, the Royals ended their year with a 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians on a mild Sunday afternoon in early October.

It left them 81-81, their first non-winning season in four years.

“We were just one win away from having a winning season,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We had four cracks at it at the end of the year and just couldn’t get it. Offensively, we just couldn’t do it.”

The Tigers’ loss to the Braves coupled with the Red Sox’s loss to the Blue Jays gave Cleveland (94-67) homefield advantage in the divisional round. The newly minted AL Central champions open against Boston (93-69) on Thursday at Progressive field with Trevor Bauer slated to take the hill.