2024 Kansas City Royals Predictions with World Series Odds and Season Win Total Picks
The Kansas City Royals would finish the year ranked 29th in the league and finished 50 games below .500 with a 56-106 record. Their -183-run differential was the fourth worst in the league, while their 23 road wins was the second lowest behind only Colorado. The Royals allowed 859 runs, which was the second worst in the American League and ranked 28th in the league. Overall, it was a season to forget for Kansas City.
The offense was not the worst part of this team. However, they ranked only 24th in OPS, 26th in homeruns, 21st in hits, and 29th in walks. The only positive was their above average base running, in which their 163 stolen bases ranked third in the MLB as they successfully swiped 81% of their chances. Young star Bobby Witt Jr. led the club in every major category. He slashed .276/.319/.495 while tallying 30 homeruns, 96 RBIs, a .819 OPS, and stole 49 bases. Catcher Salvador Perez was the only other Royals player to hit more than 20 homeruns and record more than 60 RBIs (23 and 80).
The pitching rotation struggled tremendously. The Royals pitching staff ranked 28th in ERA, 27th in strikeouts, 23rd in WHIP, and 21st in walks. The bullpen, with no big names, posted a 5.23 ERA, which was the second worst mark in the MLB, and they allowed 85 homeruns, which was tied for the third most. Jordan Lyles, Brady Singer, and Zack Greinke were the only starters to make more than 20 starts, and the three combined for an abysmal 5.62 ERA. Not one Royals pitcher, who was on the roster throughout the whole season, produced a sub 3.00 ERA.
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Kansas City Royals Key Additions/Losses
Greinke, P Brad Keller, and INF Matt Duffy all hit the free agent market after the season ended. Additionally, the Royals designated multiple players for assignment, clearing up more and more room on their 40-man roster.
Luckily for the young Royals, the front office was active throughout the offseason, making a flurry of impactful moves both now and for the future. Their first big move was when they acquired Kyle Wright and Nick Anderson from the Atlanta Braves. Wright may not pitch until next season. However, the once 20 game winner is still in his twenties. They followed that move with the signings of multiple veterans, including OF Hunter Renfroe, SP Michael Wacha, SP Seth Lugo, RP Chris Stratton, RP Will Smith, INF Mike Brosseau, UTL Garrett Hampson, UTL Adam Frazier, and acquired RP John Schreiber from the Boston Red Sox. Suddenly the Royals have depth everywhere.
Kansas City Royals Prospect Outlook
With many prospects breaking out over the last two seasons, the Royals farm system doesn’t project to have much value on the season unless it is used to bring in talent via trades. UTL Nick Loftin who ranks fifth in the Royals prospect rankings along with 8th ranked prospect in Tyler Gentry (OF) are listed on the 40-man roster.
3B Maikel Garcia, 2B Michael Massey, OF MJ Melendez, and OF Nelson Velazquez are all 25 years old or younger. Don’t forget Bobby Witt Jr. is also just 23 years old. There is plenty of young talent that will impact the roster.
Kansas City Royals X-Factors
Bobby Witt Jr.- After an incredible showing last season, the Royals offensive production seems to be centered around their young shortstop. The return of Vinnie Pasquantino and the addition of Hunter Renfroe should provide extra protection for both Witt and Salvador Perez. Witt heads into the season with the 7th best odds to claim the AL MVP and rightfully so after the year he had last time out.
Pitching- The rotation is going to look completely different, as it should, thanks to the offseason additions. Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha will head the rotation, with budding star Cole Ragans behind them. Brady Singer and Jordan Lyles will both drop in the rotation after terrible numbers last year, but the Royals hope the pressure is off those two arms thanks to the reinforcements. Will Smith, John Schreiber, Chris Stratton, and Nick Anderson should boost the bullpen as well.
Kansas City Royals Expectations
This club is in a wait and see position. They were busy in the offseason, but we have yet to see them go all in. They are going to evaluate how Ragans and Singer do as well as some of their young bats and decide whether or not they have the core they want to build around. If they perform well, we may see them make a trade or two to improve both the lineup and the rotation, but the Royals still have a long way to go.
Kansas City Royals Notable Odds:
World Series Champions- +15000
Pennant Winners- +7000
Division Winners- +1000
AL MVP- Bobby Witt Jr.- +2000
AL Cy Young- Cole Ragans- +2500
Kansas City Royals Prediction
The Royals projected win total currently sits at 73.5 wins, which is asking for an 18-game improvement from a season ago. That is an exponentially high expectation for a lineup with unproven names and a mild rotation. The team did improve over the offseason, and they have one of the best players in the sport. However, even in the weaker division, I don’t see this team winning 74 games. If they come out hot and make some moves, that could change things, but I expect them to hover around 70 games and I believe a few of their offseason acquisitions will be flipped for future capital.
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