Kansas City Royals outfielder Melky Cabrera reacts after a catch to end the inning against the Seattle Mariners. Photo: Reed Hoffmann/Associated PressPECOTA, Baseball Prospectus’ sophisticated computer model for forecasting on-field performance, is impressively accurate. But there’s still one team PECOTA can’t figure out: the Kansas City Royals, the unexplained mystery of the major leagues. Since their 86-win breakout in 2013, the Royals have won the second-most games in the American League, trailing only the Cleveland Indians. “Now it seems it’s much easier.”The same goes for defense, another Royals strength that still vexes baseball’s smartest minds.

Source: Wall Street Journal August 15, 2017 14:03 UTC