The 2020 Kansas City Royals season was the 52nd season for the franchise, and their 48th at Kauffman Stadium. The 2020 season was the first under new owner John Sherman, whose purchase of the team was approved by MLB on November 21, 2019. It was also the first season under manager Mike Matheny, replacing Ned Yost after having a ten-season tenure. The team finished with a 26–34 win–loss record, landing them fourth place in the American League Central.
On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled. Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks. On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 24 Opening Day.
Offseason November 2, 2019: Alex Gordon (OF) elected free agency. November 5, 2019: Trevor Oaks (P) claimed off waivers by San Francisco. November 6, 2019: Jacob Barnes (P) released. November 20, 2019: Jorge Bonifacio (OF) (released 11/25), Nick Dini (C), Conner Greene (P), and Arnaldo Hernandez (P) designated for assignment. November 20, 2019: Foster Griffin (P), Carlos Hernandez (P), Nick Heath (OF), and Jeison Guzmán (SS) added to 40-man roster. December 2, 2019: Cheslor Cuthbert (1B/3B), Humberto Arteaga (INF), Jesse Hahn (P), and Erick Mejia (INF) elected free agency. December 12, 2019: Selected Stephen Woods from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Rule 5 draft. December 13, 2019: Signed free agent Jesse Hahn (P) to a major league contract. December 23, 2019: Traded Cristian Perez (INF) to the New York Yankees for Chance Adams (P). December 27, 2019: Finalized signing of free agent Maikel Franco. January 22, 2020: Signed free agent Alex Gordon (OF) and designated Heath Fillmyer (P) for assignment. March 25, 2020: Selected the contract of Trevor Rosenthal (P) and designated Eric Skoglund (P) for assignment.
Season standings
American League Central
American League Wild Card
Record against opponents
Game log
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1 || July 24 || @ Indians || 0–2 || Bieber (1–0) || Duffy (0–1) || Hand (1) || 0–1 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 || July 25 || @ Indians || 3–2 || Barlow (1–0) || Karinchak (0–1) || Holland (1) || 1–1 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || July 26 || @ Indians || 2–9 || Carrasco (1–0) || Bolaños (0–1) || — || 1–2 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 || July 27 || @ Tigers || 14–6 || Griffin (1–0) || Funkhouser (0–1) || — || 2–2 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || July 28 || @ Tigers || 3–4 || Alexander (1–0) || Zuber (0–1) || Jiménez (3) || 2–3 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 6 || July 29 || @ Tigers || 4–5 || Garcia (1–0) || Kennedy (0–1) || Jiménez (4) || 2–4 || L2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 || July 30 || @ Tigers || 5–3 || Holland (1–0) || Cisnero (1–1) || Rosenthal (1) || 3–4 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 8 || July 31 || White Sox || 2–3 || Keuchel (2–0) || Bubic (0–1) || Colomé (1) || 3–5 || L1
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 9 || August 1 || White Sox || 5–11 || Foster (1–0) || Bolaños (0–2) || Heuer (1) || 3–6 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 10 || August 2 || White Sox || 2–9 || Cease (1–1) || Barlow (1–1) || — || 3–7 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 11 || August 3 || @ Cubs || 0–2 || Mills (2–0) || Duffy (0–2) || Wick (2) || 3–8 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 12 || August 4 || @ Cubs || 4–5 || Hendricks (2–1) || Singer (0–1) || Ryan (1) || 3–9 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 13 || August 5 || Cubs || 1–6 || Darvish (2–1) || Bubic (0–2) || — || 3–10 || L6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 || August 6 || Cubs || 13–2 || Keller (1–0) || Chatwood (2–1) || — || 4–10 || W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 15 || August 7 || Twins || 3–2 || Holland (2–0) || Wisler (0–1) || Rosenthal (2) || 5–10 || W2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 || August 8 || Twins || 9–6 || Zuber (1–1) || Thorpe (0–1) || Rosenthal (3) || 6–10 || W3 |- style="background: #cfc;" | 17 || August 9 || Twins || 4–2 || Singer (11) || Berríos (12) || Barlow (1) || 710 || W4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 18 || August 11 || @ Reds || 5–6 || Sims (1–0) || Staumont (0–1) || — || 7–11 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 19 || August 12 || @ Reds || 5–4 || Keller (2–0) || Miley (0–2) || Rosenthal (4) || 8–11 || W1 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || August 14 || @ Twins || colspan="7" | Postponed (inclement weather). Rescheduled to August 15. |- style="background:#fbb;" | 20 || August 15 || @ Twins || 2–4 || Duffey (1–0) || Speier (0–1) || Rogers (5) || 8–12 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 21 || August 15 || @ Twins || 4–2 || Duffy (1–2) || Berríos (1–3) || Rosenthal (5) || 9–12 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 22 || August 16 || @ Twins || 2–4 || Dobnak (4–1) || Singer (1–2) || Romo (3) || 9–13 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 23 || August 17 || @ Twins || 1–4 || Smeltzer (2–0) || Bubic (0–3) || — || 9–14 || L2 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || August 18 || Reds || colspan="7" | Postponed (COVID-19). Rescheduled to August 19. |- style="background:#cfc;" | 24 || August 19 || Reds || 4–0 || Keller (3–0) || Castillo (0–3) || Rosenthal (6) || 10–14 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 25 || August 19 || Reds || 0–5 || Bauer (3–0) || Harvey (0–1) || — || 10–15 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 26 || August 21 || Twins || 7–2 || Duffy (2–2) || Odorizzi (0–1) || — || 11–15 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 27 || August 22 || Twins || 2–7 || Dobnak (5–1) || Singer (1–3) || — || 11–16 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 28 || August 23 || Twins || 4–5 || Clippard (1–0 || Bubic (0–4) || Rogers (6) || 11–17 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 29 || August 24 || @ Cardinals || 3–9 || Flaherty (2–0) || Keller (3–1) || — || 11–18 || L3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 30 || August 25 || @ Cardinals || 5–4 || Staumont (1–1) || Gant (0–1) || Rosenthal (7) || 12–18 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 31 || August 26 || @ Cardinals || 5–6 || Reyes (1–0) || Rosario (0–1) || — || 12–19 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 32 || August 28 || @ White Sox || 5–6 || Colomé (1–0) || Kennedy (0–2) || — || 12–20 || L2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 33 || August 29 || @ White Sox || 9–6 || Newberry (1–0) || Burdi (0–1) || Hahn (1) || 13–20 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 34 || August 30 || @ White Sox || 2–5 || Foster (3–0) || Zuber (1–2) || — || 13–21 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 35 || August 31 || Indians || 2–1 || Barlow (2–1) || Karinchak (0–2) || Holland (2) || 14–21 || W1
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 36 || September 1 || Indians || 1–10 || Plesac (2–1) || Harvey (0–2) || — || 14–22 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 37 || September 2 || Indians || 0–5 || McKenzie (2–0) || Junis (0–1) || — || 14–23 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 38 || September 3 || White Sox || 6–11 || Cease (5–2) || Duffy (2–3) || — || 14–24 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 39 || September 4 || White Sox || 4–7 || Heuer (2–0) || Singer (1–4) || Colomé (8) || 14–25 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 40 || September 5 || White Sox || 3–5 || Giolito (4–2) || Bubic (0–5) || Colomé (9) || 14–26 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 41 || September 6 || White Sox || 2–8 || Keuchel (6–2) || Harvey (0–3) || — || 14–27 || L6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 42 || September 7 || @ Indians || 2–5 || Plesac (3–1) || Keller (3–2) || Hand (12) || 14–28 || L7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 43 || September 8 || @ Indians || 8–5 || Holland (3–0) || Cimber (0–1) || Barlow (2) || 15–28 || W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 || September 9 || @ Indians || 3–0 || Duffy (3–3) || Carrasco (2–4) || Holland (3) || 16–28 || W2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 45 || September 10 || @ Indians || 11–1 || Singer (2–4) || Civale (3–5) || — || 17–28 || W3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 46 || September 11 || Pirates || 4–3 || Bubic (1–5) || Brault (0–3) || Holland (4) || 18–28 || W4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 47 || September 12 || Pirates || 7–4 || Zimmer (1–0) || Williams (1–7) || Holland (5) || 19–28 || W5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 48 || September 13 || Pirates || 11–0 || Keller (4–2) || Kuhl (1–2) || — || 20–28 || W6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 49 || September 15 || @ Tigers || 0–6 || Boyd (2–6) || Junis (0–2) || — || 20–29 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 50 || September 16 || @ Tigers || 4–0 || Singer (3–4) || Skubal (1–3) || — || 21–29 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 51 || September 18 || @ Brewers || 5–9 || Rasmussen (1–0) || Duffy (3–4) || — || 21–30 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 52 || September 19 || @ Brewers || 0–5 || Burnes (4–0) || Bubic (1–6) || — || 21–31 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb; | 53 || September 20 || @ Brewers || 3–5 || Lindblom (2–3) || Keller (4–3) || Hader (10) || 21–32 || L3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 54 || September 21 || Cardinals || 4–1 || Staumont (2–1) || Wainwright (5–2) || Holland (6) || 22–32 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 55 || September 22 || Cardinals || 0–5 || Gomber (1–1) || Singer (3–5) || — || 22–33 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 56 || September 23 || Cardinals || 12–3 || Duffy (4–4) || Martínez (0–3) || — || 23–33 || W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 57 || September 24 || Tigers || 8–7 || Hahn (1–0) || Alexander (2–3) || Newberry (1) || 24–33 || W2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 58 || September 25 || Tigers || 3–2 || Keller (5–3) || Turnbull (4–4) || Hahn (2) || 25–33 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 59 || September 26 || Tigers || 3–4 || Boyd (3–7) || Hernández (0–1) || Garcia (4) || 25–34 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 60 || September 27 || Tigers || 3–1 || Singer (4–5) || Skubal (1–4) || Hahn (3) || 26–34 || W1
|- style="text-align:center;" | Legend: = Win = Loss = PostponementBold = Royals team member
Roster 2020 Kansas City Royals Roster Pitchers Catchers
InfieldersOutfielders Manager
Coaches
Player stats
Batting Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Walks; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average PlayerGABRH2B3BHRRBISBBBAVGSLGWhit Merrifield6024838701209301212.282.440Maikel Franco602232362160838116.278.457Adalberto Mondesí5921933561136222411.256.416Nicky Lopez56169153480113018.201.266Alex Gordon50163153440411018.209.307Hunter Dozier44158293642612427.228.392Salvador Pérez371502250120113213.333.633Jorge Soler43149173480824019.228.443Ryan O'Hearn4211372260218018.195.301Ryan McBroom36818203061004.247.506Edward Olivares1862517112702.274.419Bubba Starling3559510101504.169.237Cam Gallagher25531015501306.283.434Franchy Cordero163878302714.211.447Brett Phillips183187011233.226.387Meibrys Viloria152114100002.190.238Erick Mejia81411100010.071.143Nick Heath151322100322.154.231Matt Reynolds31110000000.000.000Kelvin Gutiérrez4901000003.111.111Oscar Hernández4412000000.500.500Team totals6019882484859776823749172.244.402 Source:
Pitching Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts