The Royals are on track to have a competitive season.
The Kansas City Royals are looking to return to the postseason after falling short in 2025. They were a postseason ball club in 2024, and Kansas City's outlook is promising heading into the new campaign. The Royals feature a young core of players to go along with reliable veterans. While we know Bobby Witt Jr. will lead the way, Kansas City is going to need a number of players to step up in 2026.
Today, we are going to take a look at three predictions that will shape the Royals' season. If these predictions come to fruition, Kansas City will probably end up in the postseason.
It is worth noting that Witt is not mentioned in these predictions, but that's because I completely expect him to play at an MVP-caliber level. He may even win the MVP this year. Fans know how talented Witt is, so these predictions will focus on other players on the roster.
Carlos Estevez Leads American League in Saves
The Royals have built a reliable bullpen, and closer Carlos Estevez will lead the relief core. The only problem is that Estevez struggled during spring training, pitching to a 7.20 ERA across five games pitched. There is no need to overreact to only five innings of work, however.
Estevez's velocity was a concern, as he was in the high-80's and low-90's at times. That is part of the process of building up, though.
The 33-year-old earned the second All-Star selection of his big league career in 2025. He also led the league in saves with 42. Look for Estevez to accomplish that feat once again. He is going to be fine despite his underwhelming spring training.
Royals Finish Top 5 in AL ERA
The Royals' lineup and bullpen are the team's strengths. However, will the starting rotation surprise the MLB world and become one of the better units in the sport?
Well, Cole Ragans is still an ace despite his injury-plagued 2025 season. If he can stay healthy, he will likely have a big year.
Kris Bubic quietly enjoyed a strong All-Star season last year. Noah Cameron impressed across his 24 outings a season ago. Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo are veterans who understand what it requires to find success at the MLB level.
If Ragans pitches at a Cy Young level and if Bubic and Cameron both perform well, Kansas City will potentially only need average seasons from Wacha and Lugo to finish within the top five in American League ERA.
Defense, Defense, Defense
Defense gets overlooked in many sports, but it always seems to be an important characteristic of the best teams. That will hold true in 2026 if the Royals want to compete for a playoff spot.
In 2025, the Royals finished third in outs above average and eighth in defensive runs saved. While they still missed the postseason, Kansas City's defense kept the team in games.
The prediction here is that the Royals will have a top five defense in the American League.