MLB Betting Online: Hope springs eternal in Major League Baseball. Your favorite team made a key offseason move, the prized prospect is ready for his breakout season or the injuries from last year have all healed. Whatever the circumstance, everyone is tied for first at this point.
Winning a World Series is a difficult task, but repeating is even more difficult. The Royals will try to repeat that feat in 2016 after beating the New York Mets to capture the 2015 World Series. Despite winning the past two American League pennants, the Royals are not getting much love nationally. At +759, KC is below the Boston Red Sox as a favorite to represent the junior circuit for a third straight season.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
+1607 to win 2016 World Series
+759 to win AL Pennant
The Royals brought back left fielder Alex Gordon on a reasonable four-year, $72 million pact, and return their core players, including first baseman Eric Hosmer, catcher Salvador Perez, center fielder Lorenzo Cain, shortstop Alcides Escobar, third baseman Mike Moustakas and designated hitter Kendrys Morales for another run in 2016.
They are, however, without two key 2015 rental players who helped end the 30-year World Series drought.
Right-hander Johnny Cueto and second baseman Ben Zobrist, who were acquired in July trades, signed elsewhere as free agents. Cueto went to the San Francisco Giants, while Zobrist landed with the Chicago Cubs.
The club’s most glaring weakness was its rotation, which tallied the fewest innings in the AL. general manager Dayton Moore addressed that shortcoming by signing Ian Kennedy, who eats innings like it’s his job. The veteran righty has eclipsed the 200-innings pitched plateau in three of the past five campaigns.
The acquisition of Cueto at last year’s deadline was an all-in move for the Royals and it paid off. Though Cueto wasn’t the dominant starter Kansas City envisioned he would be, going just 4-7 with a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts down the stretch. Those numbers lessened the blow of his departure.
Questions still surround the rotation. Edinson Volquez was everything the Royals could have hoped for in his first year, emerging as the club’s ace, and a repeat of his 2015 campaign is needed at the top of the staff.
If Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy rebound after sub-par seasons, the rotation could be a bright spot to go along with a lineup that is eager for another run.
Everyone in the bullpen moves up a notch with closer Greg Holland out for the year after Tommy John surgery in October. Wade Davis is accustomed to the role and has been one of baseball’s most dominant relievers the last two seasons.
The lineup is set with few openings. However, second base will be up for grabs with veteran Omar Infante and Christian Colon, a 2010 first-round pick who had a big hit in Game 5 of the World Series, competing for the starting job.
Key Additions: SP Ian Kennedy, RP Joakim Soria.
Key Losses: SP Johnny Cueto, INF/OF Ben Zobrist, RP Greg Holland (injury), OF Alex Rios.
Kansas City doesn’t have the same depth as previous season, but there’s reason to hope for more postseason magic with luck on the health front. According to manager Ned Yost, there’s no lack of motivation, either. “We want to win another World Championship,” Yost said. “We were 90 feet away from going for a three-peat this year. We’ve basically got the same crew. They’re motivated and excited to get going.”
Prediction: 90-72
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