MLB Insider Calls the Royals More “Exciting” Than the Houston Astros – Reveals Why the Former Is a Team to Watch Out For

While most discussions are centered around the likes of the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers, or the Houston Astros’ issues, the league does spring out a few surprises. This season that surprise’s name happens to be the Kansas City Royals. This AL Central team is slowly becoming a favorite of every neutral and it’s for the right reasons. They’re unstoppable but more importantly, the Royals are “exciting.”

That’s something that has been missing from the league for quite some time. Ever since the Arizona Diamondbacks’ miraculous run, there hasn’t been an underdog worth rooting for in the league. It seems the Royals are making a run for that crown. With a 17-10 record, they’re currently second in AL Central. So is surprising that a top insider has picked them up over the Astros this season?

JM Baseball’s Trevor Plouffe and Steven Brault discussed the Royals’ rise in Baseball Today. When Plouffe asked Brault about who he’d pick over the Toronto Blue Jays or Royals, Brault said the Royals. “I like the exciting aspect more than I like the hope that the players who are supposed to do well do well aspect. It’s the same reason why even though I think the Astros are still going to make the playoffs, they’re not a team I’m really going to watch all that often. I’d rather watch the Royals because to me it’s exciting.” 

The reasons for Brault’s excitement were simple – the Royals are one of the lowest payrolled teams in baseball. Their roster isn’t filled with superstars but rather players who can be an important cog in the machinery. So it’s exciting to see how this underdog with underrated players can turn into a world-beating team. 

However, it doesn’t mean that the Royals are without flaws. There are elements in the team without which the underdogs could collapse. That’s something that the team needs to pay attention to.

Kansas City Royals rise – is it sustainable or is a fall imminent?

The improvement that the Royals have shown from last season is highly commendable. While currently, they are 17-10, at the same point last season they were 6-21. That’s a turnaround of 11 games, something that is extremely rare in baseball. However, all of this has primarily arrived due to their pitching. With a 3.01 ERA, the Royals’ pitchers currently sit at no.1 in the American League.

However, as Steven Brault pointed out – the team’s hitting lineup is highly top-heavy. With Salvador Perez, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Bobby Witt Jr. leading the charge the Royals look fantastic. But their injuries would create a massive hole in the squad. A hole that the Royals might not be able to fill.

Perhaps that’s why it’s better to wait and watch. While the Kansas City Royals are on an encouraging run, they have a long road still ahead of them. So with baseball awaiting another miracle, it’ll be interesting to see how these underdogs live up to the hype.