Kansas City Royals: Five bold predictions for 2019
By Cullen Jekel
Kansas City Royals Bold Predictions for 2019: Number Two
The Royals Lose Fewer Than 90 Games
At a minimum, this calls for a jump of 15 wins from 2018. Only three teams managed that between 2017 and 2018, and all three made the playoffs: the Boston Red Sox went from 93 to 108, the Oakland Athletics improved by 22 games from 75 wins to 97, and the Atlanta Braves jumped 18 wins from 72 to 90.
The Royals will make that type of jump for a couple of reasons. The first reason is because they set the bar so low with which to begin: 58 wins is not a lot. Neither, for that matter, is 73. Note that 73 wins is only slightly higher than what the Braves managed before their big jump.
The next reason is because the Royals played much better baseball after the All-Star break in 2018. Before the Midsummer Classic, Kansas City went a paltry 27-68. For a moment there, one wondered whether the Royals would even hit 50 wins in their 50th season.
But in the second half, the team played better, if not exactly good, baseball, going 31-36. After being outscored by 193 runs in the first half, the team was only outscored by two runs in the second half. The team’s winning percentage shot up from .284% to .463%.
Finally, outside of Cleveland, the American League Central is in a state of repair.
The Twins remain an enigma after going from 85 wins and a Wildcard berth in 2017 to 78 and missing the playoffs in 2018. As a result, the team parted ways with manager Paul Molitor.
The Tigers lost 98 games last year and has done exactly squat this year to improve the team. Nick Castellanos, arguably the team’s best hitter, wants out, and the organization is stuck with Miguel Cabrera’s declining play due to his albatross of a contract.
And despite the Chicago White Sox being linked to Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, the team has made minimal improvements to improve on their 100-loss season a year ago.
The Royals play 57 games against those three squads. Last year they went 29-28 in those games. Improve upon that record and not only does the team vacate the AL Central’s cellar, the Royals settle nicely into second place.