KC Royals: Five Reasons They Return To The World Series
By Alec Tilson
Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
4. Healthy Is Happy
You’re always battling some nagging injury and the aches of playing 162 games of physically demanding ball, but the Royals enter the postseason both well-rested and healthy. Relative to other teams, the Royals are at full strength, and that’s as important as any reason on this list.
They’ve played together, they’ve won together and every player knows his role.
The Royals lineup tonight will be a mirror image of the Opening Day lineup. Other than swapping second baseman Ben Zobrist for Omar Infante, it’s the same nine guys. Pitcher Yordano Ventura started Opening Day. He’ll start Game 1 tonight.
Kansas City has had good luck this season staving off the injury bug. And for a team fresh off a World Series run the season prior, that’s a dangerous thing. They’ve played together, they’ve won together and every player knows his role. There’s as much accountability up and down the Royals roster as there is on any Major League team this season.
They’ll be without starting pitcher Jason Vargas and relievers Greg Holland and Tim Collins, of course, but other than that they enter the postseason in good shape. That’s all you can ask for from your club.
Next: Reason #3: Home Brewing