Perhaps the biggest surprise in the 2024 season has been the Kansas City Royals. Since 2015, Kansas City has not had a winning baseball betting odds season. That year, they won the World Series. But the Royals invested in getting more talent over the offseason. Thus, there has been a bit of a payoff both on the diamond and at the cashier’s cage. Wise Guys love the hidden value offered by the Royals I 2024. Of great concern is that after a blistering start, Kansas City came back down to earth. KC’s record was 14-19 since June 1.
2024 Kansas City Royals
2024 Kansas City All-Star Break Overview
At the onset of the All-Star break, the Kansas City Royals had a record of 49-43 and were 3rd in the American League Central Division. Offensively, Kansas City ranked 13th for runs scored, 13th for batting average, 14th for OPS, 17th for home runs, and 7th for stolen bases. While defensively, Kansas City ranked 10th for earned run average, 17th for WHIP, 2nd for strikeouts, 3rd for quality starts, 11th for fewest errors, and 22nd for bullpen ERA. Kansas City was +379 on the moneyline and +447 on the run line.
Still, the Royals have at least been watchable and a team that gamblers have considered as a play. Instead of their previous status as a team to be opposed.
2024 Kansas City Royals Manager
Manager Matt Quatraro will be in his second sports betting season at the helm in KC. Previously, he was a coach with the Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays.
2024 Kansas City Royals Key Players
LHP Cole Ragans is the number-one pitcher in the Kansas City rotation. Last year, he pitched for the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals with a combined record of 7-5 with a 3.47 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. So far this season, Ragans is 5-6 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.
LHP Will Smith was the Royals’ MLB odds closer. He saved 22 games in 27 opportunities with a record of 2-7 with a 4.40 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. He was with the Rangers last year. But Smith lost the closer role after going 0-3 with a 4.88 ERA and one save in two chances. James McArthur has 15 saves in 19 chances this year.
SS Bobby Witt produced 97 runs, 28 doubles, 30 home runs, 96 runs batted in with a .814 OPS in 2024. So far this season, Witt has 72 runs, 25 doubles, 15 home runs, 61 RBI, and a .936 OPS. Since winning the 2015 World Series, the Kansas City Royals have not had a winning season and have spent the past few years in a painful rebuild. The Royals are under new ownership, who has spent the past few years concentrating on getting a downtown stadium.
Kansas City is still rebuilding but is making a greater effort to spend money and develop its talent. Now, Kansas City is more appealing in the future market. But the Royals may attract some betting action with good value and enhanced prices as the season progresses.
Last season, the Royals had nothing to offer to gamblers except opposition. Kansas City was one of the most opposed teams in the betting window. That may soon change as the Royals had a solid offseason and have crept up the payroll rankings.