The American League Central is loaded in 2020, with three teams among the five best records in the AL, and among the top nine in all of baseball. That leaves the rest of the division — like the Kansas City Royals — playing a lot of opponents who sport winning records.

Through Thursday’s game with the Cleveland Indians, 37 of the Royals’ 45 games (82.2 percent) this season have been played vs. teams who currently have a winning record. They’re 13-24 in those games after defeating the Indians 11-1 Thursday night.

That trend all but comes to and end when the Pittsburgh Pirates come to town for the start of a three-game series beginning Friday. The Pirates are 14-27 and are one of five teams with fewer wins than the Royals, who are 17-28.

The Pirates will send left-hander Steven Brault (0-2, 4.37 ERA) to the mound. He has done much