The 2015 Kansas City Royals season was the 47th for the franchise, and their 43rd at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals made their second consecutive World Series appearance in 2015, after winning the American League in 2014. They won the series for the first time since 1985. The team won their first AL Central title on September 24, 2015, the first time the Royals won their division since 1985. They opened the playoffs by defeating the Houston Astros in five games in the ALDS and then defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in six games in the ALCS. They defeated the New York Mets in five games in the World Series, the second World Series championship in franchise history. The 2015 Royals were the first team since the 1989 Oakland Athletics to win the World Series after having lost the series in the previous season. This would not happen again until the 2022 Houston Astros would accomplish this feat. This would be the last season the Royals would make the playoffs until 2024.
Offseason
October 30: Josh Willingham, James Shields, Raúl Ibañez, Luke Hochevar, Jason Frasor, Scott Downs, and Norichika Aoki become free agents. Hochevar and Frasor re-signed with the Royals. Downs signed with the Cleveland Indians. Aoki signed with the San Francisco Giants. Shields signed with the San Diego Padres. Willingham retired at age 34. Ibañez retired at age 42.
November 1: Billy Butler becomes a free agent. He would sign with the Oakland Athletics.
November 3: Promoted Paulo Orlando.
Week of November 5: Signed 4 players to a minor league contract, and invited 2 of them to spring training.
November 20: Received Reymond Fuentes from the San Diego Padres for Kyle Bartsch and promoted 2 other players.
November 24: Jayson Nix becomes a free agent while Juan Flores signs a minor league contract.
November 26: Received Ryan Jackson from the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash. Jackson would be sent to the minors.
November 28: Received Bryan Flynn and Reid Redman from the Miami Marlins for Aaron Crow. Signed Jason Frasor and also gave Ismaldo Rodriguez to a minor league contract.
December 2: Francisley Bueno becomes a free agent as Dany Geraldo signs a minor league contract.
December 8: Signed Gabriel Noriega to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
December 11: Received Jandel Gustave from the Boston Red Sox for cash.
December 14: Signed Angel Franco to a minor league contract.
Week of December 15: Signed 3 players to a minor league contract. Sent 3 players to the minors. Released Carlos Peguero. Signed Kendrys Morales, Alex Ríos, Kris Medlen, and Yohan Pino. Received Brian Broderick from the Los Angeles Angels for Johnny Giavotella.
December 28: Signed 3 players to a minor league contract.
December 29: Signed Edinson Vólquez.
January 4: Signed Ryan Madson to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
January 16: Signed 2 players to a minor league contract and invited them to spring training.
January 26: Invited 16 players to spring training and signed J. C. Boscán to a minor league contract and also invited him to spring training. Brian Bocock also signs a minor league contract.
Season standings
American League Central
American League Wild Card
Record against opponents
Detailed records
American League Opponent Home Away Total Pct. Runs scored Runs allowed AL East Baltimore Orioles 3–1 1–2 4–3 45 44 Boston Red Sox 1–2 2–2 3–4 29 44 New York Yankees 2–1 0–3 2–4 23 29 Tampa Bay Rays 4–0 2–1 6–1 44 24 Toronto Blue Jays 2–1 1–3 3–4 33 39 12–5 6–11 18–16 174 180 AL Central Chicago White Sox 6–3 6–4 12–7 81 74 Cleveland Indians 4–5 6–4 10–9 78 90 Detroit Tigers 6–4 4–5 10–9 107 66 Kansas City Royals – – – – – – Minnesota Twins 5–5 7–2 12–7 74 51 21–17 23–15 44–32 340 281 AL West Houston Astros 2–1 0–3 2–4 13 22 Los Angeles Angels 3–1 3–0 6–1 42 23 Oakland Athletics 2–1 3–0 5–1 23 18 Seattle Mariners 2–1 2–1 4–2 28 28 Texas Rangers 1–2 2–2 3–4 23 33 10–6 10–6 20–12 129 124
National League Opponent Home Away Total Pct. Runs scored Runs allowed Chicago Cubs 0–0 1–2 1–2 9 7 Cincinnati Reds 2–0 2–0 4–0 17 5 Milwaukee Brewers 2–0 2–0 4–0 28 11 Pittsburgh Pirates 2–1 0–0 2–1 15 12 St. Louis Cardinals 2–1 0–3 2–4 14 19 8–2 5–5 13–7 83 54
Game log
|-bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || April 6 || White Sox || 10–1 || Ventura (1–0) || Samardzija (0–1) || — || 40,085 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || April 8 || White Sox || 7–5 || Davis (1–0) || Putnam (0–1) || Holland (1) || 23,385 || 2–0 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || April 9 || White Sox || 4–1 || Vólquez (1–0) || Danks (0–1) || Holland (2) || 20,236 || 3–0 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || April 10 || @ Angels || 4–2 || Vargas (1–0) || Santiago (0–1) || Davis (1) || 44,489 || 4–0 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || April 11 || @ Angels || 6–4 || Guthrie (1–0) || Weaver (0–2) || Holland (3) || 44,154 || 5–0 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || April 12 || @ Angels || 9–2 || Ventura (2–0) || Wilson (1–1) || — || 37,060 || 6–0 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 7 || April 13 || @ Twins || 12–3 || Duffy (1–0) || May (0–1) || — || 40,123 || 7–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 15 || @ Twins || 1–3 || Gibson (1–1) || Vólquez (1–1) || Perkins (1) || 21,362 || 7–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 16 || @ Twins || 5–8 || Milone (2–0) || Vargas (1–1) || Perkins (2) || 17,449 || 7–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 10 || April 17 || Athletics || 6–4 || Davis (2–0) || Otero (0–1) || Holland (4) || 39,228 || 8–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 18 || Athletics || 0–5 || Hahn (1–1) || Ventura (2–1) || Chavez (1) || 33,151 || 8–3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 12 || April 19 || Athletics || 4–2 || Morales (1–0) || O'Flaherty (0–1) || Davis (2) || 36,755 || 9–3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || April 20 || Twins || 7–1 || Vólquez (2–1) || Gibson (1–2) || — || 20,393 || 10–3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 14 || April 21 || Twins || 6–5 || Young (1–0) || Fien (0–1) || Davis (3) || 20,990 || 11–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 22 || Twins || 0–3 || Pelfrey (1–0) || Guthrie (1–1) || Perkins (3) || 24,721 || 11–4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 16 || April 23 || @ White Sox || 3–2 (13) || Morales (2–0) || Petricka (0–1) || Davis (4) || 14,218 || 12–4 |- bgcolor="bbbbbb" | — || April 24 || @ White Sox || 2–2 (8) || colspan="3" | *Suspended (rain) (Resumed: April 26) || 20,350 || 12–4 |- bgcolor="bbbbbb" | — || April 25 || @ White Sox || colspan="6" | Postponed (rain) (Rescheduled: July 17) |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 26 || @ White Sox || 2–3* || Robertson (2–0) || Herrera (0–1) || — || 20,350 || 12–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 26 || @ White Sox || 3–5 || Danks (1–2) || Vólquez (2–2) || Robertson (3) || 23,317 || 12–6 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 19 || April 27 || @ Indians || 6–2 || Vargas (2–1) || Kluber (0–3) || — || 9,668 || 13–6 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 20 || April 28 || @ Indians || 11–5 || Finnegan (1–0) || Atchison (0–1) || — || 10,698 || 14–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 29 || @ Indians || 5–7 || Salazar (3–0) || Ventura (2–2) || Allen (4) || 10,284 || 14–7 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || April 30 || Tigers || 8–1 || Duffy (2–0) || Simón (4–1) || — || 28,405 || 15–7
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 23 || May 1 || Tigers || 4–1 || Young (2–0) || Lobstein (2–2) || Davis (5) || 38,186 || 16–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || May 2 || Tigers || 1–2 || Price (3–1) || Vólquez (2–3) || — || 38,692 || 16–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 3 || Tigers || 4–6 || Sánchez (2–3) || Guthrie (1–2) || Soria (10) || 38,326 || 16–9 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 26 || May 5 || Indians || 5–3 || Vargas (3–1) || Salazar (3–1) ||Davis (6) || 29,099 || 17–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 6 || Indians || 3–10 || Carrasco (4–2) || Duffy (2–1) || — || 23,316 || 17–10 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 28 || May 7 || Indians || 7–4 || Morales (3–0) || Kluber (0–5) || Holland (5) || 38,271 || 18–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 8 || @ Tigers || 5–6 || Soria (2–0) || Pino (0–1) || — || 39,434 || 18–11 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 30 || May 9 || @ Tigers || 6–2 || Guthrie (2–2) || Sánchez (2–4) || || 41,456 || 19–11 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 31 || May 10 || @ Tigers || 2–1 || Frasor (1–0) || Nesbitt (0–1) || Holland (6) || 29,852 || 20–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 11 || @ Rangers || 2–8 || Lewis (3–2) || Duffy (2–2) || — || 21,206 || 20–12 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 33 || May 12 || @ Rangers || 7–6 (10) || Holland (1–0) || Pimentel (0–1) || — || 23,659 || 21–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 13 || @ Rangers || 2–5 || Gallardo (3–5) || Ventura (2–3) || Feliz (6) || 26,258 || 21–13 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || May 14 || @ Rangers || 6–3 || Guthrie (3–2) || Detwiler (0–5) || Holland (7) || 33,818 || 22–13 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 36 || May 15 || Yankees || 12–1 || Young (3–0) || Pineda (5–1) || — || 34,584 || 23–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 16 || Yankees || 1–5 || Sabathia (2–5) || Duffy (2–3) || — || 31,871 || 23–14 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 38 || May 17 || Yankees || 6–0 || Vólquez (3–3) || Capuano (0–1) || — || 31,251 || 24–14 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 39 || May 19 || Reds || 3–0 || Ventura (3–3) || Cueto (3–4) || Davis (7) || 29,767 || 25–14 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 40 || May 20 || Reds || 7–1 || Guthrie (4–2) || Marquis (3–4) || — || 30,450 || 26–14 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 41 || May 22 || Cardinals || 5–0 || Young (4–0) || Lynn (3–4) || — || 37,379 || 27–14 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 42 || May 23 || Cardinals || 3–2 (6) || Vólquez (4–3) || Lackey (2–3) || — || 38,676 || 28–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 24 || Cardinals || 1–6 || Wacha (7–0) || Ventura (3–4) || — || 36,342 || 28–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 25 || @ Yankees || 1–14 || Eovaldi (4–1) || Guthrie (4–3) || — || 36,031 || 28–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 26 || @ Yankees || 1–5 || Warren (3–3) || Vargas (3–2) || — || 33,414 || 28–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 27 || @ Yankees || 2–4 || Pineda (6–2) || Young (4–1) || Miller (14) || 32,734 || 28–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 47 || May 29 || @ Cubs || 8–4 || Herrera (1–1) || Strop (1–3) || — || 34,273 || 29–18 |- bgcolor="bbbbbb" | || May 30 || @ Cubs ||colspan="6" | Postponed (rain): Makeup date on September 28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || May 31 || @ Cubs || 1–2 (11) || Rosscup (2–1) || Madson (0–1) || — || 37,766 || 29–19
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 2 || Indians || 1–2 || Carrasco (7–4) || Davis (2–1) || Allen (12) || 30,361 || 29–20 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 50 || June 3 || Indians || 4–2 || Vargas (4–2) || Kluber (3–6) || Holland (8) || 29,899 || 30–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || June 4 || Indians || 2–6 (8) || Bauer (5–2) || Young (4–2) || — || 29,552 || 30–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || June 5 || Rangers || 0–4 || Gonzalez (2–0) || Vólquez (4–4) || — || 38,159 || 30–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 6 || Rangers || 2–4 || Rodríguez (3–2) || Ventura (3–5) || Tolleson (7) || 37,924 || 30–23 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 54 || June 7 || Rangers || 4–3 || Davis (3–1) || Kela (4–2) || Holland (9) || 38,202 || 31–23 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 55 || June 8 || @ Twins || 3–1 || Vargas (5–2) || Hughes (4–6) || Holland (10) || 22,796 || 32–23 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 56 || June 9 || @ Twins || 2–0 || Young (5–2) || May (4–4) || Holland (11) || 22,497 || 33–23 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 57 || June 10 || @ Twins || 7–2 || Vólquez (5–4) || Gibson (4–4) || — || 28,434 || 34–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 12 || @ Cardinals || 0–4 || García (2–3) || Ventura (3–6) || — || 45,909 || 34–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 13 || @ Cardinals || 3–2 || Lyons (1–0) || Guthrie (4–4) || Rosenthal (21) || 45,981 || 34–25 |- bgcolor="bbbbbb" | - || June 14 || @ Cardinals ||colspan="6" | Postponed (rain): Rescheduled July 23 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 60 || June 15 || @ Brewers || 8–5 || Vólquez (6–4) || Lohse (3–8) || Davis (8) || 23,007 || 35–25 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 61 || June 16 || @ Brewers || 7–2 || Young (6–2) || Garza (4–8) || – || 27,740 || 36–25 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 62 || June 17 || Brewers || 10–2 || Blanton (1–0) || Fiers (3–7) || – || 33,420 || 37–25 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 63 || June 18 || Brewers || 3–2 || Guthrie (5–4) || Nelson (3–8) || Holland (12) || 36,318 || 38–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb"