Prediction for next year:
Offense makes strong improvements due to following factors...
- Gordon and Butler rebound
- Hosmer continues to hit for the entire season the way he did from June 1 on
- Better production out of leadoff spot (Gordon produced just a .320 OBP in that spot)
- Fewer holes in the lineup
This offsets a small step back in the starting pitching from the No. 2 spot (2013 Santana vs. 2014 Vargas). Vargas performs at slightly better than his career averages, pitching in KC and with that defense behind him, to post a 3.80 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Both numbers trump Santana, who has a fall-back year for the team that signs him. Shields and Guthrie are themselves.
The starting pitching also is improved at the 4 and 5 spots, with one of the young pitchers (Duffy, Ventura or Zimmer) providing a major upgrade over what was received out of those spots in 2013.
Overall: I'll call 91-71. It's aggressive, but I think the offense has improved more than many think and I think the starting pitching takes a smaller step back than many think.