As one of the early surprises in baseball this season, everyone is curious about the Kansas City Royals' playoff chances in 2024. Should this team be taken seriously after losing 106 games last year? Keep in mind, the Royals haven't even made the playoffs since winning the World Series in 2015.
Are the royal family real in 2024?
Is this a Royals roster that can make the playoffs or is this a young team that is destined to fade down the stretch? Some other teams in the typically disappointing AL Central have had strong starts to the season. If nothing else, it's worth taking a closer look at the Kansas City Royals' chances of making the playoffs in 2024.
Let's take a deep dive into whether this team is real or not.
Stellar rotation
Even if lasting success no longer ends with the promotion, it still begins with it. Based on the first 45 games of the season, the Royals' rotation certainly appears to have staying power. Kansas City's rotation is top-five in ERA and top-10 in both WHIP and batting average against. The Royals are also tied for fourth in wins since their starting rotation, not to mention third in innings pitched, meaning their starters are going deep into games.
Young starters like Brady Singer and Alec Marsh have both taken a step forward after strong 2023 campaigns. Cole Ragans has also shown the potential to be a starter on the front lines. Just as important, the offseason addition of Seth Lugo in Kansas City turned out to be a stroke of genius, as he was one of the best pitchers in baseball. Michael Wacha also added quality depth in the back end of the rotation. The only remaining question is whether the Royals can survive the extended absence of one of these five starters.
Veteran leader
Veteran leadership is not always something that is present in rebuilding teams, but it is something the Royals have that will help them maintain their early success. They get that leadership from Salvador Perez, an eight-time All-Star and former World Series MVP. As a well-known player and the team's starting point guard, Perez has a lot of influence in the club, which is exactly what the Royals need right now.
The important thing is that Perez also produced with the bat. He looks like a lock to be an All-Star and likely be in the MVP discussion. The Royals certainly have other veterans on the roster, including Lugo, Wacha, Will Smith and Adam Frazier. However, Perez is the primary leader, which puts the Royals in good hands.
MVP candidate
In addition to Perez, Bobby Witt Jr. gives the Royals another legitimate MVP candidate. It's too early to classify Witt as one of the greatest shortstops in MLB history. But he's definitely setting himself on that path. If nothing else, Witt has proven to be one of the most dynamic players in the major leagues right now.
Witt has already hit 21 extra base hits in 45 games and is among the league leaders in both triples and stolen bases. He has a chance to hit .300 while also being top 10 in extra base hits, which is no easy feat. Naturally, Witt and Perez will need help from the rest of Kansas City's lineup. But Whitt is undoubtedly the kind of spark plug and catalyst that could give the Royals a chance to win every game they play and keep them in the playoffs all season long.
The best is yet to come
Even if some believe the royal family is destined to fade away after a fast start, there is also evidence that the best is yet to come. For starters, Kansas City's projected record is two games better than their actual record. They are also in a group between the Orioles and Yankees and the guardians of the top four teams in the American League. These four clubs are head and shoulders above the rest of the league, a sign that they are the four best teams in the AL.
With such a young roster, don't rule out the possibility that players like Witt, Singer, Marsh, and Ragans will continue to develop and improve throughout the season. Additionally, the longer they remain in contention, the more likely it is that the Royals will make aggressive trades to improve their roster in the short term. Even in a crowded AL Central stadium, there's a good chance the Royals are in it long term and will be a playoff contender in September.
