KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Before the season, many so-called experts forecasted the Royals would be a sub-.500 club, finishing fourth in the American League Central, behind the defending champion Tigers and revamped White Sox and Indians clubs.
The Royals’ snapping a 29-year playoff drought in 2014 and their October run to Game 7 of the World Series was considered a fluke.
They lacked the starting pitching, especially after losing No. 1 starter James Shields to the Padres as a free agent, and the punch, only 95 home runs in 2014, to repeat. Take away tenured designated hitter Billy Butler, who went to the Athletics, and outfielder Nori Aoki, who is hitting .317 for the Giants this season, from that lineup and the forecast was not rosy from national prognosticators.
Yet, the Royals came determined to spring training to finish unfinished business and win the World Series. They won their first six games and 12 of their first 16. They have been in first place in the division except for a few days when they were no more than one game back.
It would be a surprise if the Royals do not make the playoffs this year and win their first division championship since 1985.
At the midpoint, they had the best record in the American League, 18 games above .500, and were on pace to win 96 games.
“It really doesn’t count after 81 games,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I wish it did, but we’ve still got 81 to go (actually 76 after the break).”
While the rotation is filled with questions marks and the Royals still lack a big bopper, they win with the best defense and bullpen in the majors.
Twins outfielder Torii Hunter said with left fielder Alex Gordon, center fielder Lorenzo Cain and shortstop Alcides Escobar, it is like the Royals have an “11-man defense.”
Gordon, however, suffered a severe groin injury in early July and is not expected to return until September.
Plus, Salvador Perez, who was voted to start the All-Star Game, is considered the best defensive catcher in the AL, while first baseman Eric Hosmer won a 2014 Gold Glove.
If the Royals have a lead late, the bullpen with closer Greg Holland and All-Star setups Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis, it likely will go in the ‘w’ column. Manager Ned Yost calls it “the blueprint we have.”
“It was successful for us last year,” Yost said. “”If we can get through five innings with those starters, then you have power arms out of the back of the pen. Then you can make it a six-inning game.”
The rotation has been beset with injuries with Yordano “Ace” Ventura, Jason Vargas and Danny Duffy all spending time on the disabled list. That was forced the Royals to give starts to Chris Young, who has been exceptional, in addition to Joe Blanton and Yohan Pino.
Only Jeremy Guthrie and Edinson Volquez did not miss a start before the All-Star break.
The Royals’ record is even more surprising considering Ventura and Duffy, the Royals’ No. 1 and 2 starters entering the season, combined for only seven victories in the first 87 games.
“I still feel like our rotation has a chance to be much stronger the second half,” general manager Dayton Moore said. “I still don’t believe this team has hit its stride.
“We have holes like everybody else, but every player on this team, in my mind, is capable of having a better second half. We’re going to continue to believe in our group. Offensively, every one of our players is capable of getting better.”