SURPRISE, Ariz.
Remember PECOTA, the baseball projection system that forecasted the Royals to win 72 games in 2015?
The latest PECOTA projections were released Tuesday, and they show the Royals making modest gains in 2016: They expect the Royals to finish 76-86 and occupy the cellar in the American League Central. So, no, PECOTA — which is the official projection system of Baseball Prospectus — is not too bullish on the Royals’ chances to repeat as World Series champions this season.
The system predicts the Cleveland Indians to win the AL Central with a 92-70 record — the best mark in the American League.