USA Today predicts a 65-97 record for the KC Royals in 2020

USA Today released its 2020 record predictions for all 30 MLB teams. While the panelists aren’t high on the KC Royals, they’re also not unreasonably low.

As the MLB regular season approaches, websites are finalizing their predictions for the upcoming campaign. The KC Royals are coming off a 59-103 season which saw some progress, but plenty of growing pains and inconsistencies. Heading into yet another year of the rebuild, improvement is key.

USA Today, a major sports outlet, had a panel project records for each team around the league. You can read more on the list and take a look at the chart here. This is what that article had to say about the Royals:

"“Can the Royals scare up a couple more viable players in the manner Hunter Dozier and Jorge Soler stepped forward in ’19? That would make another inevitable losing campaign a little more palatable.”"

Overall, USA Today calls for a 65-97 record. That’s a six-win increase from 2019, which would be solid. Certainly not quite what some have been hoping for, though (many fans believe this year’s squad is capable of winning 70-plus games). On the other hand, others have also predicted yet another 100-loss season. The prediction is in the eye of the predictor.

If last year’s top performers can have similar success this year, along with those who struggled possibly finding their footing, things may look up. The return of Salvador Perez and *hopefully* a full, healthy season out of Adalberto Mondesi will both pay dividends on the field.

On the other hand, there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding this team. What if the free agent decisions on offense (Maikel Franco and Alex Gordon) don’t work out? Could the bullpen again be one of the worst in all of baseball? A lot of questions are left unanswered.

The staff here at Kings of Kauffman will soon put together a 2020 predictions article in which each of our writers lists what record they think the Royals will post on the year — along with some other tidbits. Keep an eye out for that as the offseason wraps up and spring training begins in the near future.

What do you think about USA Today’s prediction? Is a 65-win total too high? Too low? Let us know in the comments below!