The Kansas City Royals are in fourth place in the AL Central, despite having one of the strongest pitching staffs in baseball this season.

In 2024, Kansas City finished in second place in the AL Central with a record of 86-76, securing one of the Wild Card spots in the American League. They went on to defeat the Baltimore Orioles in two games during the Wild Card round, but lost to the eventual World Series runner-up, New York Yankees, in four games in the ALDS.

In the offseason, Kansas City prioritized retaining its starting pitchers, re-signing Seth Lugo, Michael Lorenzen and Michael Wacha. They also made outside additions to their team by signing Carlos Estevez to strengthen their bullpen.

Kansas City also made trades for outfielder Mark Canha and second baseman Jonathan India, who is a former top-five draft pick.

One of the bright spots for Kansas City has been the pitching, led by starting pitcher Kris Bubic, who boasts an ERA of 1.92 and allows only 1.07 walks and hits per inning pitched, which ranks among the best in the league.

Kansas City ranks inside the top five for ERA, and they rank inside the top 10 for walks and hits per inning pitched, walks allowed and home runs allowed. They also rank just outside the top 10 in hits allowed and batting average against.

While pitching is a strength for Kansas City, it is at the plate where the team has struggled this season.

The Royals’ offense is led by Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino. Outside of those three players, the offense has been a complicated watch throughout the season.

Kansas City only has 46 home runs this season, which places them in last place. They also have drawn the fewest number of walks this season.

The Royals also rank inside the bottom five in slugging percentage and on-base percentage, and they rank in the bottom three in runs scored. Even with the many struggles offensively, they rank just outside of the top 10 for hits and batting average.

Currently, Kansas City has Cole Ragans and Hunter Harvey on the injured list. Ragans is one of its best starting pitchers, and Harvey has been lights out in his limited innings this season out of the bullpen.

If the season ended today, Kansas City wouldn’t have a Wild Card spot in this year’s Postseason. The Royals will likely have to make a move at the trade deadline if they want to be viewed as contenders as October approaches.

Kansas City Royals Schedule & Tickets

• July 9: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
• July 11: vs. New York Mets
• July 12: vs. New York Mets
• July 13: vs. New York Mets
• July 18: at Miami Marlins
• July 19: at Miami Marlins
• July 20: at Miami Marlins
• July 21: at Chicago Cubs
• July 22: at Chicago Cubs
• July 23: at Chicago Cubs
• July 25: vs. Cleveland Guardians
• July 26: vs. Cleveland Guardians
• July 27: vs. Cleveland Guardians
• July 28: vs. Atlanta Braves
• July 29: vs. Atlanta Braves
• July 30: vs. Atlanta Braves
• August 1: at Toronto Blue Jays
• August 2: at Toronto Blue Jays
• August 3: at Toronto Blue Jays
• August 4: at Boston Red Sox
• August 5: at Boston Red Sox
• August 6: at Boston Red Sox
• August 8: at Minnesota Twins
• August 9: at Minnesota Twins
• August 10: at Minnesota Twins
• August 11: vs. Washington Nationals
• August 12: vs. Washington Nationals
• August 13: vs. Washington Nationals
• August 15: vs. Chicago White Sox
• August 16: vs. Chicago White Sox
• August 17: vs. Chicago White Sox
• August 18: vs. Texas Rangers
• August 19: vs. Texas Rangers
• August 20: vs. Texas Rangers
• August 21: vs. Texas Rangers
• August 22: at Detroit Tigers
• August 23: at Detroit Tigers
• August 24: at Detroit Tigers
• August 25: at Chicago White Sox
• August 26: at Chicago White Sox
• August 27: at Chicago White Sox
• August 29: vs. Detroit Tigers
• August 30: vs. Detroit Tigers
• August 31: vs. Detroit Tigers
• September 2: vs. Los Angeles Angels
• September 3: vs. Los Angeles Angels
• September 4: vs. Los Angeles Angels
• September 5: vs. Minnesota Twins
• September 6: vs. Minnesota Twins
• September 7: vs. Minnesota Twins
• September 8: at Cleveland Guardians
• September 9: at Cleveland Guardians
• September 10: at Cleveland Guardians
• September 11: at Cleveland Guardians
• September 12: at Philadelphia Phillies
• September 13: at Philadelphia Phillies
• September 14: at Philadelphia Phillies
• September 16: vs. Seattle Mariners
• September 17: vs. Seattle Mariners
• September 18: vs. Seattle Mariners
• September 19: vs. Toronto Blue Jays
• September 20: vs. Toronto Blue Jays
• September 21: vs. Toronto Blue Jays
• September 23: at Los Angeles Angels
• September 24: at Los Angeles Angels
• September 25: at Los Angeles Angels
• September 26: at Athletics
• September 27: at Athletics
• September 28: at Athletics

Kansas City Royals Odds

The Royals have +375 odds to make the postseason and -500 odds to miss out on October baseball entirely. Placing a bet on the Royals to make the World Series is a longshot bet as its odds are +3400, and its odds to win the World Series are +8000.

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With the Royals up 9-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Royals superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. came to the plate attempting to get the base hit he needed to complete the cycle.

However, Diamondbacks pitcher Humberto Castellanos threw a first-pitch sinker that got Witt’s hand, causing the Kaufmann crowd to roar boos and infuriate Salvador Perez. Witt took the hit and calmly walked to first base – he would cross home plate to score the Royals’ tenth run due to a sacrifice fly from the veteran catcher. Tensions rose when Royals pitcher John Schreiber hit Gabriel Moreno with a 92-mph sinker, the same pitch that Witt got hit by. Manager Torey Lovullo dashed to the field only to get ejected after flaring with the Royals’ dugout.

Lovullo wanted to get his point across to Perez: “If you think in your right mind that I was going to ask our team to hit the future of the MLB, you’re crazy,” the D-backs’ skipper said. “You lost control of the situation and you got it wrong.”

Lovullo added that he “wanted Perez to take it back to his dugout” and that “Bobby Witt Jr. is an unbelievable player.” Kansas City’s elite shortstop is batting .341 along with hitting 18 home runs and 69 RBIs.

“That’s why he’s the captain,” Witt said regarding Perez. “He’s got everyone’s back. I don’t know if I would want to mess with him.” Witt got a last shot to get the single he needed but the shortstop misjudged a good pitch that resulted in a fly-out.

Perez drenched Witt with Gatorade to celebrate a career night from the phenom despite falling short of hitting for the cycle. Monday’s game was Witt’s fourth consecutive game with three hits and is currently batting 12 for 15 since the All-Star break.