Major League Predictions
The Royals are predicted to have the best record in baseball once again, a 114-win season giving them a 15 win cushion over the Texas Rangers. No Royals appear in the top performers list, with no former Royals either for the first time in years.
The Dodgers are predicted to be back, and record the only other 100+ win season in baseball to take the NL West. J.J Tjepkema’s move back to LA sees him as the early favourite for the Cy Young Award, which would be a record-setting 8th.
Opening Day Lineup
There are few surprises in the players that make the opening day roster on the position player side for the Royals although perhaps there is in the line ups the Royals will put out. Tonguar Zimmerman is the only player not to have a starting role against either LHP or RHP, with Steve Katzin earning a place ahead of Chat Hart and Branson Huot the only possible controversial decisions.
Opening Day Roster Transactions
Tuesday, March 30th , 2049
Assigned C Arturo Ruano from Spring Training camp to Triple A Omaha.
Optioned 3B David de Anda to Triple A Omaha.
Optioned 2B Bernalldino Igrejas to Triple A Omaha.
Optioned 2B Branson Huot to Triple A Omaha.
Assigned CF Kevin Depke from Spring Training camp to Triple A Omaha.
Optioned 2B Chad Hart to Triple A Omaha.
Assigned CF Rodolfo Lara from Spring Training camp to High-A Quad Cities.
Optioned LF Ken Crome to Triple A Omaha.
Optioned LF Jorge Morales to Triple A Omaha.
Opening Day Pitching Battery
The Royals are going to open the season with a 6-man rotation. The quality of all six SP, along with their fragile status, means that Stewart will try this experiment, at least for the opening months. In the bullpen, there are no surprises in the selections as Pete Acors retains his place after his September call up and the rest of the bullpen is made up of returning players – Mike Krebs return will be the first difficult decision.
Opening Day Roster Transactions
Tuesday, March 30th , 2049
Optioned RP Ed Lauer to Triple A Omaha.
Optioned RP Zion Merkerson to Triple A Omaha.
Optioned RP Ken Logan to Triple A Omaha.
Optioned RP Jorge Zagal to Triple A Omaha.
Optioned RP Zaire McKines to Triple A Omaha.