The 2016 Kansas City Royals season was the 48th season for the franchise, and their 44th at Kauffman Stadium. It was also the team's 11th season under the management of Dayton Moore. The Royals entered the season as the defending World Series champions, hoping to reach the World Series for the third consecutive season. Before the season, the team signed free agents Ian Kennedy (a starting pitcher) and Joakim Soria (a reliever) and re-signed star Alex Gordon. However, several players from the previous year's team departed in free agency, including right fielder Alex Rios, second baseman/outfielder Ben Zobrist, and pitchers Greg Holland, Ryan Madson, and Franklin Morales.
The 2016 Royals team was adversely affected by injuries to Gordon, center fielder Lorenzo Cain, closer Wade Davis, and third baseman Mike Moustakas. The team was eliminated from postseason contention with four games left in the season, becoming the fourth consecutive World Series winner to miss the playoffs the following year. However, the Royals were the most successful team in the league at challenging umpire calls via instant replay thanks to the work of replay coordinator Bill Duplissea. The Royals ended the season with an 81–81 record, finishing in third place in the Central Division.
Season standings
American League Central
American League division leaders
Record against opponents
Game log
|-bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || April 3 || Mets || 4–3 || Vólquez (1–0) || Harvey (0–1) || Davis (1) || 40,030 || 1–0 ||W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 5 || Mets || 0–2 || Syndergaard (1–0) || Young (0–1) || Familia (1) || 39,782 || 1–1 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || April 8 || Twins || 4–3 || Soria (1–0) || Jepsen (0–2) || Davis (2) || 27,166 || 2–1 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || April 9 || Twins || 7–0 || Kennedy (1–0) || Milone (0–1) || — || 31,001 || 3–1 || W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || April 10 || Twins || 4–3 || Davis (1–0) || May (0–1) || — || 35,317 || 4–1 || W3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 11 || @ Astros || 2–8 || McHugh (1–1) || Young (0–2) || — || 43,332 || 4–2 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 7 || April 12 || @ Astros || 3–2 || Medlen (1–0) || Fiers (0–1) || Davis (3) || 21,027 || 5–2 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 8 || April 13 || @ Astros || 4–2 || Hochevar (1–0) || Giles (0–1) || Soria (1) || 24,109 || 6–2 || W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || April 14 || @ Astros || 6–2 || Kennedy (2–0) || Fister (1–1) || Davis (4) || 21,203 || 7–2 || W3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 10 || April 15 || @ Athletics || 4–2 || Vólquez (1–0) || Hill (1–2) || Davis (5) || 19,451 || 8–2 || W4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 16 || @ Athletics || 3–5 || Gray (2–1) || Young (0–3) || Madson (3) || 25,564 || 8–3 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 17 || @ Athletics || 2–3 || Axford (2–0) || Soria (1–1) || Madson (4) || 29,668 || 8–4 || L2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || April 19 || Tigers || 8–6 || Ventura (1–0) || Greene (1–1) || Davis (6) || 26,889 || 9–4 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 20 || Tigers || 2–3 || Zimmermann (3–0) || Kennedy (2–1) || Rodríguez (4) || 28,928 || 9–5 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 15 || April 21 || Tigers || 4–0 || Vólquez (3–0) || Pelfrey (0–3) || — || 30,763 || 10–5 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 16 || April 22 || Orioles || 4–2 || Young (1–3) || Gallardo (1–1) || Davis (7) || 29,546 || 11–5 || W2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 23 || Orioles || 3–8 || Wilson (1–0) || Medlen (1–1) || — || 39,900 || 11–6 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 18 || April 24 || Orioles || 6–1 || Ventura (2–0) || Wright (1–2) || — || 34,748 || 12–6 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 25 || @ Angels || 1–6 || Richards (1–3)|| Kennedy (2–2) || — || 31,061 || 12–7 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 26 || @ Angels || 4–9 || Weaver (3–0) || Vólquez (3–1) || — || 34,428 || 12–8 || L2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 27 || @ Angels || 2–4 || Salas (1–1) || Young (1–4) || Smith (1) || 35,142 || 12–9 || L3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || April 29 || @ Mariners || 0–1 || Hernández (2–2) || Medlen (1–2) || Cishek (6) || 38,684 || 12–10 || L4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || April 30 || @ Mariners || 0–6 || Miley (2–2)|| Ventura (2–1) || — || 43,444 || 12–11 || L5
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 24 || May 1 || @ Mariners || 4–1 || Kennedy (3–2) || Walker (2–1) || Davis (8) || 37,053 || 13–11 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 2 || Nationals || 0–2 || Gonzalez (2–1) || Vólquez (3–2) || Papelbon (9) || 32,394 || 13–12 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 26 || May 3 || Nationals || 7–6 || Wang (1–0) || Papelbon (0–2) || — || 33,729 || 14–12 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 4 || Nationals || 2–13 || Strasburg (5–0) || Medlen (1–3) || — || 38,610 || 14–13 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 6 || @ Indians || 1–7 || Salazar (3–2) || Ventura (2–2) || — || 13,587 || 14–14 || L2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 29 || May 7 || @ Indians || 7–0 || Kennedy (4–2) || Anderson (0–2) || — || 17,302 || 15–14 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 8 || @ Indians || 4–5 || Tomlin (5–0) || Vólquez (3–3) || Allen (8) || 14,463 || 15–15 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 9 || @ Yankees || 3–6 || Yates (2–0) || Young (1–5) || — || 41,243 || 15–16 || L2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 10 || @ Yankees || 7–10 || Miller (2–0) || Herrera (0–1) || Chapman (1) || 39,128 || 15–17 || L3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 33 || May 11 || @ Yankees || 7–3 || Ventura (3–2) || Pineda (1–4) || — || 31,226 || 16–17 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 12 || @ Yankees || 3–7 || Eovaldi (3–2) || Kennedy (4–3) || — || 35,944 || 16–18 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || May 13 || Braves || 5–1 || Vólquez (4–3) || Teherán (0–4) || — || 33,132 || 17–18 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 14 || Braves || 0–5 || Foltynewicz (1–1) || Gee (0–1) || — || 36,541 || 17–19 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 37 || May 15 || Braves || 4–2 (13) || Wang (2–0) || O'Flaherty (0–3) || — || 33,861 || 18–19 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; style="background-color:#bbb;" | – || May 16 || Red Sox ||colspan="8" | Postponed (rain). Makeup date: May 18th. |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 38 || May 17 || Red Sox || 8–4 || Ventura (4–2) || Porcello (6–2) || — || 25,215 || 19–19 || W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 39 || May 18 || Red Sox || 3–2 || Flynn (1–0) || Wright (3–4) || Davis (9) || 33,613 || 20–19 || W3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 18 || Red Sox || 2–5 || Price (6–1) || Vólquez (4–4) || Kimbrel (11) || 23,739 || 20–20 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 41 || May 20 || @ White Sox || 4–1 || Gee (1–1) || Quintana (5–3) || Davis (10) || 24,020 || 21–20 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 42 || May 21 || @ White Sox || 2–1 || Soria (2–1) || González (0–1) || Davis (11) || 27,631 || 22–20 || W2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 22 || @ White Sox || 2–3 || Rodon (2–4) || Ventura (4–3) || Robertson (11) || 34,526 || 22–21 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 44 || May 23 || @ Twins || 10–4 || Moylan (1–0) || Nolasco (1–3) || — || 17,886 || 23–21 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || May 24 || @ Twins || 7–4 || Vólquez (5–4) || Santana (1–3) || Davis (12) || 23,541 || 24–21 || W2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 25 || @ Twins || 5–7 || Duffey (2–3) || Gee (1–2) || Jepsen (4) || 27,233 || 24–22 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; style="background-color:#bbb;" | – || May 26 || White Sox || colspan="8" | Postponed (rain). Makeup date: TBA. |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 47 || May 27 || White Sox || 7–5 || Moylan (2–0) || Albers (1–4) || Davis (13) || 28,508 || 25–22 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 48 || May 28 || White Sox || 8–7 || Wang (2–0) || Kahnle (0–1) || — || 31,598 || 26–22 || W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 49 || May 29 || White Sox || 5–4 || Young (2–5) || Jones (2–1) || Davis (14) || 36,624 || 27–22 || W3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 50 || May 30 || Rays || 6–2 || Herrera (1–1) || Ramírez (6–3) || — || 32,018 || 28–22 || W4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 51 || May 31 || Rays || 10–5 || Gee (2–2) || Smyly (2–7) || Davis (15) || 26,006 || 29–22 || W5
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 52 || June 1 || Rays || 6–3 || Duffy (1–0) || Archer (3–7) || Davis (16) || 30,554 || 30–22 || W6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 2 || @ Indians || 4–5 || Hunter (2–1) || Soria (2–2) || — || 11,131 || 30–23 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 3 || @ Indians || 1–6 || Salazar (6–3) || Vólquez (5–5) || — || 24,753 || 30–24 || L2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 4 || @ Indians || 1–7 || Tomlin (8–1) || Kennedy (4–4) || — || 23,258 || 30–25 || L3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 5 || @ Indians || 0–7 || Kluber (5–6) || Young (2–6) || — || 16,747 || 30–26 || L4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 6 || @ Orioles || 1–4 || Wright (3–3) || Duffy (1–1) || Britton (18) || 14,878 || 30–27 || L5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 7 || @ Orioles || 1–9 || Jiménez (3–6)|| Ventura (4–4) || || 28,110 || 30–28 || L6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 8 || @ Orioles || 0–4 || Tillman (8–1) || Vólquez (5–6) || Brach (2) || 19,178 || 30–29 || L7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 10 || @ White Sox || 7–5 || Sale (10–2)|| Kennedy (4–5) || Robertson (15) || 31,183 || 30-30 || L8 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 61 || June 11 || @ White Sox || 4–1 || Duffy (2–1) || Quintana (5–7) || — || 31,183 || 31-30 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 62 || June 12 || @ White Sox || 1–3 || Ventura (5–4) || Rodon (2–6) || Davis (17) || 30,363 || 32-30 || W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 63 || June 13 || Indians || 2–1 || Vólquez (6–6) || Carrasco (2–2) || — || 31,269 || 33–30 ||W3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 64 || June 14 || Indians || 3–2 || Soria (3–2) || Shaw (0–3) || — || 29,293 || 34–30 ||W4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 65 || June 15 || Indians || 9–4 || Kennedy (5–5) || Kluber (6–7) || — || 33,546 || 35–30 ||W5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 16 || Tigers || 4–10 || Verlander (7–5) || Hochevar (1–1) || — || 33,568 || 35–31 ||L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 67 || June 17 || Tigers || 10–3 || Ventura (6–4) || Fulmer (7–2) || — || 37,746 || 36–31 ||W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 68 || June 18 || Tigers || 16–5 || Vólquez (7–6) || Boyd (0–2) || — || 38,480 || 37–31 ||W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 69 || June 19 || Tigers || 2–1 (13)|| Wang (4–0) || Ryan (1–2) || — || 34,659 || 38–31 ||W3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 21 || @ Mets || 0–2 || Robles (1–3) || Kennedy (5–6) || Familia (23) || 40,122 || 38–32 ||L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 22 || @ Mets ||3–4|| Syndergaard (8–2) || Soria (3–3) || Familia (24) || 35,185 || 38–33 ||L2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || June 24 || Astros || 4–13 ||Keuchel (4–9) || Vólquez (7–7) || — || 36,195 || 38–34 ||L3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 25 || Astros || 5–13 ||Feliz (5–1) || Young (2–7) ||— || 38,880 || 38–35 ||L4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 74 || June 26 || Astros || 6–1 ||Kennedy (6–6) || Fister (8–4) || — || 36,450 || 39–35 ||W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 75 || June 27 || Cardinals || 6–2 ||Duffy (3–1) || Wainwright (6–5) || — || 31,355 || 40–35 ||W2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || June 28 || Cardinals || 4–8 || Wacha (4–7)|| Ventura (6–5) || — || 32,909 || 40–36 ||L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 77 || June 29 || @ Cardinals || 3–2 (12) || Wang (5–0) || Maness (0–2) || — || 44,840 || 41–36 ||W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 78 || June 30 || @ Cardinals || 4–2 || Gee (3–2) || Leake (5–6) || Davis (19) || 44,802 || 42–36 ||W2
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || July 1 || @ Phillies || 3–4 || Hellickson (6–6) || Kennedy (6–7) || Gómez (22) || 30,263 || 42–37 ||L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 80 || July 2 || @ Phillies || 6–2 || Duffy (4–1) || Nola (5–8) || — || 40,331 || 43–37 ||W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 3 || @ Phillies || 2–7 || Velasquez (7–2) || Ventura (6–6) || — || 20,473 || 43–38 ||L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 82 || July 4 || @ Blue Jays || 2–6 || Sanchez (9–1) || Vólquez (7–8) || — || 36,438 || 43–39 ||L2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 83 || July 5 || @ Blue Jays || 3–8 || Dickey (6–9) || Young (2–8) || — || 35,917 || 43–40 ||L3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 6 || @ Blue Jays || 2–4 || Stroman (7–4)||Herrera (1–2)||Osuna (17)||39,971||43–41||L4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 85 || July 7 || Mariners || 4–3 ||Pounders (1–0)||Cishek (2–5)||—||31,425||44–41||W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb"