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Matt Quatraro talks about how they\u2019ll handle catching duties<\/a> between Carter Jensen and Salvador Perez.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll go day to day with the catching, but Carter\u2019s going to catch,\u201d manager Matt Quatraro said. \u201cHe and Salvy are going to split \u2014 not evenly, 50-50, but game times, travel, the type of game one of them has to catch will dictate what happens the next day. And as far as hitting, [Jensen] will get DH reps as well. We think he\u2019s a really good hitter, so we\u2019re going to find ways to get him in the lineup.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n Sam McDowell writes about how the Royals can become a playoff team.<\/a><\/p>\n The Royals scored 84 fewer runs in 2025 than they did in 2024. A few of the above items already covered some ways they can close the gap.<\/p>\n But another? Their swing decisions.<\/p>\n It\u2019s among the items hitting coach Alec Zumwalt and general manager J.J. Picollo mention most frequently. But the Royals swung at the sixth-fewest strikes in baseball \u2014 including swinging at the sixth-fewest meatballs \u2014 yet they had the ninth-highest chase rate<\/p>\n They had the lowest walk rate in the American League.<\/p>\n Doing more damage at the plate starts with using the pitches on which you can inflict the damage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n Vahe Gregorian writes that the time is now for the Royals.<\/a><\/p>\n When I asked him in January about the Royals realizing along the way last year that they needed more veteran leadership, Picollo said he had put a lot of thought into that dynamic \u2014 especially when it comes to the young nucleus of Bobby Witt Jr., Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you are getting into Year 3, 4 and 5 in the major leagues, at some point it\u2019s your time,\u201d he said. \u201cRight now, Bobby, Vinnie, Maikel, it\u2019s your time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n Jaylon Thompson writes about how the last time the Royals were in Atlanta, they clinched a playoff spot.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt was a strange night because we had to wait for some results and we were inside,\u201d Royals manager Matt Quatraro recalled. \u201cAnd do we stay? You know, there was a rain delay in one of the other games.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n David Lesky gives seven bold predictions for the Royals this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n Would you believe that the Royals have had four seasons in their history where their offense walked at least 9 percent of the time? Of course you would. The only thing unbelievable about that is that you might have expected it to be fewer than four times. For what it\u2019s worth, the four times are 1973 (10.3%), 1975 (9.5%), 1972 (9.1%) and 1989 (9.0%). This group is one that I believe will join them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n ESPN ranks World Series contenders<\/a>, with the Royals coming in at #17.<\/p>\n Franchise temperature:<\/strong>\u00a057 degrees. This feels like a good temperature for the Royals, who went into a period of rapid cooling after their contending rosters from the mid-2010s broke up. To the credit of J.J. Picollo and his staff, the Royals have curbed that decline and managed to settle in tepid waters. With a contention-worthy 26-man roster heading into 2026, they hope to wade a little closer to the warm sands of the shoreline ahead.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n Did you notice the blue in the Royals uniforms is brighter<\/a>?<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The R&B group CitiLimitz will sing the national anthem<\/a> for the Royals home opener on Monday.<\/p>\n The Cubs sign infielder Nico Hoerner<\/a> to a six-year, $141 million deal.<\/p>\n The Orioles sign pitcher Shane Baz<\/a> to a five-year, $68 million deal.<\/p>\n Kevin Gausman sets a Blue Jays record with 11 Opening Day strikeouts<\/a>.<\/p>\n Five-time Gold Glover Jason Heyward officially retires<\/a>.<\/p>\n ABS isn\u2019t embarrassing umpires, its helping them.<\/a><\/p>\n Dodgers owner Mark Walter says baseball needs more parity<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Brewers say ending their agreement with FanDuel Sports cost them $20 million.<\/a><\/p>\n Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm sues his parents for mismanaging his money<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Former pitcher Mike LaCoss says Giants president Larry Baer is the most-hated in baseball<\/a>.<\/p>\n DraftKings will allow bettors to bet on historical games.<\/a><\/p>\n Tiger Woods is arrested on suspicion of DUI<\/a> after rolling over his car in a crash.<\/p>\n The WNBA\u2019s Connecticut Sun are sold and will relocate to Houston<\/a>.<\/p>\n A professional cornhole player and quadruple amputee is arrested for murder<\/a>.<\/p>\n CBS News shutters its radio news service<\/a> after a century of operation.<\/p>\n\n
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