2014 Opening Day: A Look At The Kansas City Royals Roster

Kansas City Royals Celebration

Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Projected Record: 89-73
AL Central Place: 2nd (Wild Card)

Yes, you read that right. This will be the year that the Kansas City Royals finally rise from the pits of despair and make it to the promised land: the AL Playoffs.

With many great teams in the AL, it will be hard to earn a spot in the playoffs. The Detroit Tigers are likely to repeat as AL Central Champions, so it is going to be hard for the Royals to take the division. Other teams outside the division, such as the Yankees, Angels, and Rangers also look to be better than last year.

Don’t forget about the Red Sox, last year’s World Series champions. However, with two Wild Cards available in the new playoff format, attaining the 2nd wild card spot is a definite possibility.

The key this year for the Royals is to not have a long slump. Last May, the Royals went 8-20, cementing their place outside the playoffs. While they went 72-56 in the remainder of the season, that miserable month proved to be too big of a hole to climb out of, especially with a tough division rival like the Tigers.

Moore has done everything he could with the money he has to build this team up. If the Royals can avoid an abysmal streak like that this year, the great people of Kansas City will celebrate a Royals playoff berth for the first time since 1985.