Recent history will not be on the Kansas City Royals’ side as they begin their quest for a second consecutive World Series title.
The Royals are seeking to become the first team since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees to win consecutive championships and the first since those same Yankees to win three straight league pennants.
And while most of the key figures from K.C’s last two World Series runs will return this season, making it back to baseball’s biggest stage will not be easy in a deep and competitive American League.
With Opening Day a mere 72 hours away, here’s how we see the AL shaking out this season.
AL East
1. Toronto Blue Jays (first place in 2015)
2. Boston Red Sox (fifth)
3. New York Yankees (second)
4. Tampa Bay Rays (fourth)
5. Baltimore Orioles (third)
Red Sox Nation will not accept another last-place finish, and after adding David Price and Craig Kimbrel to an already-solid core, Boston should challenge for the top spot in the tightly packed AL East. The Jays should, as well, on the heels of their first playoff appearance in more than two decades. The Yankees, Rays and Orioles all have areas of great strength (bullpen, rotation and power-hitting, respectively) but some pretty glaring weaknesses, too.
AL Central
1. Cleveland Indians (third place in 2015)
2. Kansas City Royals (first)
3. Chicago White Sox (fourth)
4. Detroit Tigers (fifth)
5. Minnesota Twins (second)
FanGraphs’ divisional projections have the Royals finishing last in the AL Central. We have a bit more faith in the defending champs, but we like the Indians to dethrone them this season. Cleveland boasts a deep, dangerous rotation and one of baseball’s brightest young stars in shortstop Francisco Lindor, last season’s AL Rookie of the Year runner-up.
AL West
1. Houston Astros (second place in 2015)
2. Texas Rangers (first)
3. Los Angeles Angels (third)
4. Seattle Mariners (fourth)
5. Oakland A’s (fifth)
Remember when the Astros lost 100 games in three consecutive seasons? Yeah, those days are over. Led by 2015 AL Cy Young Award-winner Dallas Keuchel, 2015 AL Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa and 2014 MLB batting champ Jose Altuve, Houston is a legitimate World Series contender this year. Don’t sleep on the Rangers, though, who won the division last season and return most everyone from that team.
AL Wild Card Picks
1. Kansas City Royals
2. Boston Red Sox
Prediction: The Red Sox will fall short of the top spot in the East but will win enough games to earn their first playoff bid since 2013, narrowly edging out the Rangers. Their reward will be a one-game date with K.C., which will finish a few games behind the Tribe in the Central.
AL Champion
Houston Astros
Keuchel, Correa & Co. should propel the ‘Stros to their first pennant since 2005.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports Images
