What oddsmakers say about the 2025 Royals season
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Optimism abounds for the Kansas City Royals heading into the 2025 season following their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade.
Here’s what oddsmakers say about the Royals’ expectations for record, standings, and awards in the upcoming Major League Baseball season.
Wins: Over/under 83.5 (DraftKings)
After a franchise record low for wins in 2023, the Royals bounced back with a 30-win improvement and an 86-76 record in 2024. Entering this season, Kansas City’s win total over/under is set at 83.5. If you want to be extremely optimistic, FanDuel is offering +9500 odds on the Royals to have the best record in baseball.
To make the playoffs: Yes +110, No -130 (DraftKings)
Odds for the Royals to make the playoffs are just under even money, with oddsmakers higher on the Royals to reach the playoffs in consecutive years than some analytics. According to FanGraphs, the Royals have a 42.5% chance of making the playoffs entering the season, while +110 odds provide implied odds of 47.6%.
To win the AL Central: +310 (FanDuel)
The Royals were in the thick of the AL Central playoff race last season until first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino broke his thumb in August. After entering last season with +950 odds to win the division, Kansas City is now +310 to win the AL Central.
Those odds have the Royals bunched with several others. The Minnesota Twins (+210) are the favorites entering this season and Kansas City trails the Detroit Tigers (+230) and Cleveland Guardians (+290).
American League winner: +1500 (FanDuel)
The Royals would’ve needed to win two more playoff series to win the American League last year, instead falling to the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series in four games. This year, their odds to do so are significantly better than the +7000 they saw entering play a year ago.
To win the World Series: +4000 (FanDuel)
A World Series title last season seemed like an extremely preposterous idea entering the season and was reflected in the odds with Kansas City opening play with better odds than only six teams. Now, Kansas City finds itself in the middle of the pack, with the 17th-best odds to win it all on the 40th anniversary of their 1985 title and 10th anniversary of their 2015 World Series crown.
AWARDS
Bobby Witt Jr. to win AL MVP: +450 (DraftKings)
Kansas City’s superstar 24-year-old shortstop is the favorite to win American League MVP at FanDuel, where his odds are +280. But if you’re trying to put some cash on the Royals’ phenom, you’d prefer to do so at DraftKings, where his +450 odds would provide a better payout.
Witt Jr. enters 2025 coming off back-to-back 30 home run, 30 stolen base seasons -- which are the only 30/30 seasons in Royals history. Last year, he was beat out for the award by New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge in a season where Witt Jr. was an All-Star for the first time and won the league’s batting title.
The face of the Royals franchise is also the favorite on DraftKings to lead the MLB in hits. He’s +10000 to lead the league in home runs with -135 odds to hit 30 home runs and +175 odds to hit 35 home runs.
Cole Ragans to win AL Cy Young: +1000 (DraftKings)
Ragans is one of three Royals pitchers available to bet on for the award following an 11-9 season with a 3.14 ERA in 2024. The left-hander will start for the Royals on Opening Day and has the third-best odds for the award according to DraftKings. Only Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (who won the award last season) and Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet are seen as more likely to win the award.
Right-handers Seth Lugo (+4500) and Michael Wacha (+20000) are also available to bet on but are much less likely to be candidates to win it.
Ragans struck out 223 batters during the 2024 season.
Jac Caglianone to win AL Rookie of the Year: +3500 (FanDuel)
The Royals drafted Florida star Jac Caglianone in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft. It’s unclear when -- or if -- he’ll make his MLB debut this season, but oddsmakers are factoring it in as a possibility for the slugger. The left-handed hitter hit 68 home runs over his last two seasons in college and hit .500 during Spring Training this season, but will start 2025 in Double-A with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Matt Quatraro to win AL Manager of the Year: +1300 (DraftKings)
Quatraro came close to winning the award last season but was beat out for it by Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt.
Editor’s note: This is not gambling advice. Please bet responsibly if wagering.
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