Royals 2018 Season Preview
Ready to check out our 2018 Kansas City Royals predictions? The Royals are going to have their work cut out for them this season. The team is in total rebuild mode. Kansas City’s window of opportunity has closed, but now without a pennant. This year Kansas City will struggle to get above .500.
MLB Royals Predictions & Handicapping Insight
Kansas City unloaded last years roster. The team is without all their big names from years past. Seems to me, the Royals have no intentions on the team making a push for the playoffs this season. In the talented AL Central, Kansas City is going to finish at the bottom of the Central.
Royals fans are some of the most loyal in the business, but the way this years team looks on paper, don’t expect many sellout crowds after opening day.
2018 MLB Team Previews – Kansas City Royals
- American League Central +1400
- American League +5000
- World Series +50000
Key Additions:
- Cody Asche
- Clay Buchholz
- Lucas Duda
- Ryan Goins
- Justin Grimm
- Trevor Oaks
- Wily Peralta
The Royals have a ton of new additions this season. Clay Bucholz is going to be a possible help in the bullpen. Buchholz carried a 12.27 ERA last year. Lucas Duda could add some pop to the lineup. Duda had 30 home runs, but struggled at the plate with a .217 average.
Ryan Goins is another new piece. He hit .237 last year. He’s no superstar, but able to get it done.
Justin Grimm should help the bullpen. He’s no setup man of the year, but should help.
Key Losses:
- CF Lorenzo Cain
- 1B Eric Hosmer
- OF Melky Cabrera
- RHP Joakim Soria
- RHP Trevor Cahill
All of the losses for Kansas City were not listed because there were so many transactions made during the off season. All the big names are gone.
Royals Predictions: Projected Lineup:
- SS Alcides Escobar
- 2B Whit Merrifield
- RF Jorge Bonifacio
- C Salvador Perez
- DH Jorge Soler
- 1B Hunter Dozier
- 3B Cheslor Cuthbert
- LF Alex Gordon
- CF Paulo Orlando
The new look Royals roster does not have close to the pop it had last season. The teams leader and returning catcher is Salvador Perez. Perez is one of the best catchers in baseball, but is going to lack the pieces around him in order to be as successful as he has been in years past.
Whit Merrifield could arguably be the teams best player. Merrifield hit .288 last season with 19 home runs and 78 RBI’s. If he can improve on a few things, he could be in the all star game this year.
Royals Predictions: Projected Rotation:
- LH Danny Duffy
- RH Ian Kennedy
- RHP Nate Karns
- RHP Jason Hammel
- RHP Jakob Junis
Wow. Just glancing at the Royals lineup, Kansas City could have one of the worst pitching units in the majors. A least in the bottom ten of the MLB. Danny Duffy is the teams ace, but most of his best years are behind him. Duffy was 9-10 with a 3.81 ERA last season.
If Duffy’s can’t lower his ERA, the rest of the rotation is going to give up runs in the bunches. Ian Kennedy was 5-13 last season as a starter, and carried a whopping 5.38 ERA.
Royals Predictions: Projected Closer:
- RH Kelvin Herrera
Jason Hammel was a little better than Kennedy was last year. He went 8-13 with a 5.29 ERA.
Jake Junis was the rotations best pitcher last season. He was 9-3 with a 4.30 ERA. Junis could have a decent season, but the Royals lineup is going to struggle to generate runs for Kansas City this year. Kansas City is going to need all the run support they can get in 2018.
Kelvin Herrera is not the answer at closer. Herrera had 56 save opportunities and 26 saves last year, with a 4.25 ERA. This year things could get worse.
2018 Kansas City Royals Prediction:
The Royals are going to finish fourth in the AL Central this season. The team is terrible this year. The starting lineup has a bunch of nothing in it.
Most of the teams starters best years are past them. If the likes of Jorge Soler and Alex Gordon can play well, then fans can have a little hope
With last years lineup traded away, Kansas City is in rebuild mode. The Royals are cutting costs and might not make another Championship run until the next decade.
Kansas City starting rotation is laughable at best. They will give up more runs than any rotation in baseball this year. Other than Junis, the rest of the rotation has seen their best days.
Manager Ned Yost’s off season injury, could be the most intriguing story of the year. He is coming off a shattered Pelvis. Yost is surprisingly ready to go. His near death experience could be a motivating factor.
Good luck Kansas City fans this season is going to be filled with disappointment.
Don’t be expecting Kauffman to be packed like years past. This year is going to be a reminder of what the Royals have gone through a majority of their existence.
What do you think of our 2018 Kansas City Royals predictions? Comments are welcome below.
We’ll be providing 4* free MLB plays on the blog all season long, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free MLB Baseball picks!
Check out our Updated MLB Betting Odds.
Like This Pick? Cappers Picks Wants To Hear From You! Reply Below...