Only one team in the American League Central was projected to make the playoffs at the beginning of the 2024 season. By October, the AL Central was the hottest division in baseball. The Guardians won the division, while the Royals and Tigers rode surprising seasons into the postseason.
This year, it may not come as much of a surprise when more teams from the AL Central remain competitive throughout the summer. The Guardians are looking to repeat as division champs, while the Royals have stated their goal is to unseat them atop the division. The Tigers are still young and hungry, while the Twins are looking to bounce back from a disappointing finish in 2024.
With all that in mind, why not get the division competition flowing right away in 2025? The Royals will host the Guardians for Opening Day on Thursday, looking to set the tone right away at Kauffman Stadium.
¡°New year, you get to start from scratch,¡± Royals outfielder MJ Melendez said. ¡°We¡¯re just looking to build on our year last year. [The Guardians] are obviously a great team, and it¡¯s good to start the season facing a team we¡¯re probably going to be competing against all season.¡±
Here¡¯s everything to get you ready for Thursday:
When is the game and how can I watch it?
First pitch in Kansas City is slated for 3:10 p.m. CT. The Royals have several ways to watch games this year, but the most familiar way will be on FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City, rebranded from Bally Sports KC last October. FanDuel Sports Network is available via cable or streaming, either through your TV provider or through a FanDuel subscription. Fans can also add on a live TV option to their Amazon Prime account this year. The game can also be heard on the radio on 96.5 FM The Fan.
For Cleveland fans, catch the game on CLEGUARDIANS.TV, the new direct-to-consumer blackout-free streaming service, or listen to it on WTAM 1100 (English) and Los Guardians (Spanish).
What are the lineups?
Guardians:
1. Steven Kwan, LF
2. Jos¨¦ Ram¨ªrez, 3B
3. Lane Thomas, CF
4. Carlos Santana, 1B
5. Kyle Manzardo, DH
6. Jhonkensy Noel, RF
7. Bo Naylor, C
8. Gabriel Arias, 2B
9. Brayan Rocchio, SS
Royals:
1. Jonathan India, 3B
2. Bobby Witt Jr., SS
3. Vinnie Pasquantino, DH
4. Salvador Perez, C
5. Michael Massey, 2B
6. Hunter Renfroe, RF
7. MJ Melendez, LF
8. Cavan Biggio, 1B
9. Kyle Isbel, CF
Who are the starting pitchers?
Guardians: Ben Lively
Tanner Bibee was set to make his first career Opening Day starter following a strong 2024 season, but he was scratched because of food poisoning. Lively, who went 13-10 with a 3.81 ERA in his first season with Cleveland last year, will get the nod.
Royals: Cole Ragans
Ragans will take the ball for the opener for the second consecutive year, fresh off an excellent 2024 season in which he finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting. The 27-year-old lefty posted a 3.14 ERA with 223 strikeouts across 32 starts and 186 1/3 innings last season, with a 1.143 WHIP, in his first full season with Kansas City. Ragans, as well as veterans Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, will once again anchor a Royals rotation that is looking to build upon its stellar ¡®24, when it ranked second in baseball with a 3.55 ERA.
How might the bullpens line up after the starter?
Guardians: In a perfect scenario, Lively will be followed by high-leverage relievers such as Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis and Tim Herrin, before closer Emmanuel Clase takes the mound in the ninth to finish things off.
Royals: The Royals finally have power in the back-end, with Lucas Erceg about to embark on his first full season with Kansas City and Hunter Harvey looking for a healthy season after his back injury held him out of the majority of the second half last year. And Carlos Estévez is the newcomer after signing a two-year deal with Kansas City this offseason. Those three will anchor the back-end of the ¡®pen, while Angel Zerpa and Sam Long figure to get high-leverage spots against lefties and John Schreiber against righties in the middle innings.
Any injuries of note?
Guardians: Bieber continues to take positive steps in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. He will open the season on the IL, as will lefty John Means -- who signed a one-year deal in February and is recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent last June while with Baltimore. Additionally, utility man and 2024 All-Star David Fry will miss the start of this season after undergoing right elbow surgery in November.
Royals: Pasquantino is dealing with a right hamstring strain, which happened Saturday in Arizona, but an intense few days of rehab and recovery have him ready for Opening Day. He went through another full workout at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday, fielding ground balls, hitting and running the bases. There were no setbacks, and the Royals felt confident enough in his recovery to put him on the Opening Day roster and have him serve as the designated hitter Thursday. Pitchers Alec Marsh (right shoulder soreness), Kyle Wright (right hamstring strain) and James McArthur (right elbow surgery) will begin the season on the IL.
Who¡¯s hot and who¡¯s not?
Guardians: Among other strong performances in Cactus League play, first baseman/DH Kyle Manzardo hit .306 (15-for-49) with three homers and a .917 OPS, while Logan Allen recorded a 1.89 ERA in six games (three starts) en route to winning Cleveland¡¯s fifth starter job. And although spring performances aren¡¯t predictors of regular-season outcomes, Luis Ortiz recorded an 11.66 ERA in 14 2/3 innings over five starts, with 14 strikeouts and 12 walks.
Royals: Daniel Lynch IV struck out 16 batters this spring, and most notably, he didn¡¯t walk a batter. That strike-throwing intent is what earned Lynch the final spot in the bullpen, so the Royals are hoping he sticks with it. Also, India made a great first impression with the Royals, with a 1.073 OPS in Cactus League play. Kansas City is sticking with reliever Chris Stratton because of his guaranteed contract, hoping he bounces back after posting a 5.55 ERA last season. But he¡¯ll have to keep proving his value because the Royals will likely be quicker to move on with him being a free agent at the end of the season.
Anything else fans might want to know?
? The AL Central is set to be competitive once again in 2025, with the Guardians, Royals, Tigers and Twins each expected to be in the mix for the division crown. Kansas City took the season series against Cleveland, 8-5, in 2024.
? This matchup will feature the reigning AL Manager of the Year in Stephen Vogt and runner-up in Matt Quatraro.
? The Guardians and Royals are squaring off on Opening Day for the third time in the past six seasons; before then, they last met in the season opener in 1991. Cleveland won, 2-0 in 2020 and Kansas City won, 3-1, in ¡®22.
? The Royals will wear their full powder blue uniforms on Opening Day, and then they¡¯re going to stick around, with the team wearing them for every Saturday home game this season.