By
ANNE ROGERS
MLB.COM
KANSAS CITY -- The Royals were one of the busiest teams this offseason revamping their roster in hopes of making a significant stride toward contending.
The team they’re chasing down in the division? The Twins.
That should make it a fun Opening Day matchup as the Twins look to repeat as the American League Central champions and the Royals hope to mesh their new veterans with a young homegrown core to turn around a 106-loss season in 2023.
Here’s everything you need to know about Opening Day:
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Opening Day is Thursday at 3:10 p.m. CT at Kauffman Stadium. Fans follow on MLB.TV and Gameday on MLB.com. The game will also be available to listen on Royals Radio Network or Treasure Island Baseball Network.
What are the likely lineups?
Twins: The fact that the Royals are putting a lefty on the mound for Opening Day means that the Twins’ lineup likely won’t be totally representative of how they should look for most of the season, considering manager Rocco Baldelli loves to platoon aggressively.
This also might not be fully representative of Minnesota’s lineup against southpaws, since there are other considerations likely to come into play, like the honor of being in the Opening Day lineup for a veteran.
Carlos Santana, 1B (S)
Byron Buxton, CF
Carlos Correa, SS
Royce Lewis, 3B
Kyle Farmer, 2B
Ryan Jeffers, C
Max Kepler, RF (L)
Manuel Margot, LF
Alex Kirilloff, DH (L)
Royals: The Royals believe their lineup will be improved with the return of Vinnie Pasquantino at first and the addition of Hunter Renfroe in the outfield, as well as the younger hitters getting another year of experience. Adam Frazier, as a lefty, likely starts the game at second base with Michael Massey beginning the season on the injured list.
Kansas City won’t have one set designated hitter this season, so Nelson Velázquez could find himself in the corner outfield with several hitters rotating in at DH.
Maikel Garcia, 3B
Bobby Witt Jr. SS
Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B (L)
Salvador Perez, C
MJ Melendez, LF (L)
Hunter Renfroe, RF
Adam Frazier, 2B (L)
Nelson Velázquez , DH
Kyle Isbel, CF (L)
Who are the starting pitchers?
Twins: Pablo López, RHP (11-8, 3.66 ERA in 2023)
It’s the second straight Opening Day nod for López, who figures to be fixed into this role for many years to come. Though he pitched to a 3.66 ERA last season, López was also durable, a workhorse and frequently flashed utter dominance. And, by the way, he was on the mound when the Twins snapped their 18-game playoff losing streak.
López’s elite underlying numbers suggested his ERA should have been much better, and his 234 strikeouts from a year ago ranked second in the AL by a whisker.
Royals: Cole Ragans, LHP (7-5, 3.47 ERA in 2023)
Ragans draws his first Opening Day start after wowing the Royals last year following the trade that sent him from Texas to Kansas City. The Royals selected Ragans for Opening Day over veteran additions Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, sending a message that Ragans has emerged as their budding ace.
Ragans posted a 2.64 ERA in 12 starts and dominated hitters in 2023, and now, he begins the quest to prove that status over a full year of starts as one of the leaders on the pitching staff.
How might the bullpens line up after the starter?
Twins: This … is a very good question, and the main issue that has blossomed this spring. Three of Minnesota’s top five relief options will open the season on the IL, headlined by closer Jhoan Duran, who figured to continue his run as one of the most dominant relievers in MLB.
With Caleb Thielbar and the newly acquired Justin Topa also opening on the shelf, the high-leverage opportunities should go to Brock Stewart and Griffin Jax (in some order), and the other late-and-close arms will likely be Steven Okert and Jay Jackson (again, in some order). As to what those orders will be, and how the Twins will bridge the innings to get there? Let’s find out.