The ALCS in the rearview mirror, the Royals gear up to face the Mets, this year’s “cool” story, much like KC was in 2014.

Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar was named the MVP of the American League Championship Series Friday night after the Royals clinched with a thrilling 4-3 win over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

The Royals fell short in the Fall Classic in 2014, but owner David Glass believes the pieces are in place to get the job done this year.

With Friday’s 4-3 win against the Blue Jays in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, the Royals have proven just how valuable having home-field advantage can be. It was their fifth straight postseason win at raucous Kauffman Stadium, one that sent them to the World Series.

The Royals are now on their way to the World Series (air time for Game 1 is 7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday on FOX, game time 8 p.m.) for the second straight season. Here’s a look at the five moves that made them the perennial powerhouse they are today.

The Royals are no strangers to winning pennants, but the old, nonchalant adage of “been there, done that” doesn’t apply here.
Winning pennants never, ever gets old, and when Kansas City secured the final out Friday night in Game 6 of the ALCS to beat Toronto, 4-3, there was no indication that the team was used to this, or unaffected by the chaos that had taken over every corner of Kauffman Stadium.

Yordano Ventura provided the kind of start Royals manager Ned Yost was hoping for in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Friday night, giving up just one run in 5 1/3 innings and exiting with a one-run lead over the Blue Jays at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City won, 4-3, to advance to the World Series for the second straight year.

Lorenzo Cain raced all the way home from first base on a single to right by Eric Hosmer, scoring the decisive run in the Royals’ incredible 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays on Friday in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Friday night, sending his team to the World Series.

Amid the postgame celebration that erupted after the Royals claimed their second straight American League pennant with a dramatic Game 6 win on Friday night against the Blue Jays, there appeared a visible reminder that this team’s mission is far from accomplished.

Here are top GIFs from the Royals’ 4-3 series-clinching win over the Blue Jays in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, courtesy of @MLBGIFs.

Left-hander Aaron Loup rejoined the Blue Jays on Friday morning and is available to pitch out of the bullpen for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.

Left-hander Aaron Loup rejoined the Blue Jays on Friday morning and is available to pitch out of the bullpen for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.

From a front-office perspective, a World Series trip is usually years in the making. And while the Mets made a few shrewd deals this year that helped put them over the top in the National League, most of the moves that got them to this point were made years ago.

Citi Field was quiet on Friday morning, save for a grounds crew that had begun the process of replacing the “NLCS” paint on the grass with a “World Series” version. But tucked inside the home clubhouse, manager Terry Collins was busy with his staff, discussing the Mets’ World Series rotation.

Citi Field was quiet on Friday morning, save for a grounds crew that had begun the process of replacing the “NLCS” paint on the grass with a “World Series” version. But tucked inside the home clubhouse, manager Terry Collins was busy with his staff, discussing the Mets’ World Series rotation.

Starting lineups for Game 6 of the ALCS between the Blue Jays and Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Starting lineups for Game 6 of the ALCS between the Blue Jays and Royals at Kauffman Stadium.