Royals Given Golden AL Central Opportunity After Stunning Injury News
The Kansas City Royals may have gotten a big break as they chase their first division title since 2015.
By Cem Yolbulan
The Kansas City Royals got back on track with back-to-back wins over the Chicago White Sox to improve to a 4-4 record as they try and finish with a winning record for the first time since 2015. The year when the Royals won the World Series was also the last time they won the AL Central. They still have a tough path ahead of them as they are behind the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers in odds of winning the division, but they just received news that could give them hope in the division race.
The Cleveland Guardians, who started the season well with a 6-2 record, just got terrible news from their star pitcher Shane Bieber. He will reportedly have to undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and miss the remainder of the season.
AL Central News: Guardians Ace Shane Bieber Out for Season
Brutal news for Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber. He will need to undergo Tommy John surgery and is out for the season.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 6, 2024
This is a massive blow for the Guardians, who were hoping to take a step forward this season. Bieber had opened the season with two wins, 12 scoreless innings, and 20 strikeouts, making an early-season case for the Cy Young award. He looked as good as any starting pitcher out there in his two games.
However, unfortunately, the elbow pain that limited him to 21 starts last season returned and reportedly, the only option available is surgery.
As we all know now, a Tommy John surgery usually means a recovery time of over 12 months, meaning that Bieber will likely miss the start of next season as well. This could signify that we may have seen the last of Bieber in a Guardians uniform as he is going to be a free agent at the end of the season.
Losing their best player will certainly weaken the Guardians in the postseason chase. As unfortunate as it is for Cleveland, this is a golden opportunity for the Royals.
Kansas City still trails the Twins, Guardians, and Tigers in terms of AL Central odds on FanDuel Sportsbook, but this can shift significantly following the news. If you want to take advantage of these odds, head over to FanDuel now and get in on the action. Don't forget to claim your $200 sign-up bonus after you make your first winning wager.
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