KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Kansas City Royals didn’t have a postseason prayer. Until, that is, a praying mantis showed up in their dugout.
Since then, the defending World Series champions are playing like world beaters.
Perhaps the Royals can thank Billy Burns for their 9-1 run. He’s a spare outfielder, stuck on the bench almost all the time since being traded over from Oakland last month.
But Burns holds an important side job: He’s the caretaker of Rally Mantis Jr.
“I think the only reason I’m taking care of him is I actually care about him not dying,” Burns said. “So people are like, ‘You can take care of him.’ I spent one night researching, how to take care of him, so hopefully we can keep him alive.”