Royals fans, and perhaps fans all around baseball, are looking at the Royals' current eight-game road with keen interest.
They want to know: Are the Royals this year's sleeper team in the American League, much like the Orioles were last year?
Or are the Royals' young hitters still a year or so away from helping the team contend in the big-boy hitting American League Central? Actually, that's something even general manager Dayton Moore seemed to believe when he suggested in recent years that 2014 was the team's target date to seriously contend in the Central.
But expectations changed dramatically when Moore and Royals ownership went all-in this year and revamped the rotation with newcomers James Shields, Ervin Santana and Wade Davis, and also re-signed Jeremy Guthrie.
That 2014 target date was moved up a year, and the Royals are hoping to contend now.
Whether or not the Royals' offense can catch up to those lofty expectations could be revealed, at least partially, in an early-season, road-trip test that just concluded in Atlanta, and now moves on to Boston and Detroit.
The Royals survived the first stop in Atlanta by gaining a two-game split, thanks to a fantastic performance by Davis (seven shutout innings, five hits, seven strikeouts) and exceptional relief work by Kelvin Herrera (one scoreless inning) and closer Greg Holland, who struck out the side to close out a 1-0 win Wednesday.
The Royals are 8-6 and, so far, their formula for winning has been simple: Get great starting pitching, and then get even greater relief pitching.
Moore's revamped rotation has been nothing short of sensational, and Davis was no exception on Wednesday. He dominated the sizzling hot Braves and ended Atlanta's 10-game winning streak.
Davis, now 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA, has thrown 13 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings. And he hasn't lost since Sept. 21, 2011 – he was 3-0 last season with Tampa Bay while working out of the bullpen.
Just as impressive was the Royals' bullpen Wednesday. Hererra, who gave up three homers in one inning Tuesday night, came back strong this time.
And credit Royals manager Ned Yost for resisting the temptation to rest Herrera and his bruised ego after Tuesday's disaster.
As the Braves' television announcing crew alertly pointed out when Yost brought Herrera back into a tight game, "Ned learned under (former Braves manager) Bobby Cox, and that's what Bobby would have done. Get Herrera right back out there."
And Holland, who blew a save in Philadelphia and has struggled in the early season, was, in a word, unhittable.
Holland regained command of his 88-mph slider and 97-mph fastball and completely overmatched the Braves, mowing down the heart of the Braves' order in striking out Justin Upton, Evan Gattis and Dan Uggla.
Of course, if there is a concern, it is the toothless Royals' offense. And that might be a theme throughout the season.
The Royals, who finished 12th last year in runs scored, again have struggled to muster any offense. They have scored three runs or fewer in 10 of their 14 games.
Last year, the Royals scored three or fewer runs in 79 of their games.
The main culprit, as most Royals fans know, is the lack of pop in the offense. On Tuesday, the Royals watched helplessly (and perhaps in awe) as the Braves socked five home runs in a 6-3 win.
So far, the Royals have hit just five home runs all season – no team in the American League has hit fewer, and only the perpetually rebuilding Miami Marlins have hit fewer in all of baseball with three.
That lack of power is the main reason hitting coach Kevin Seitzer was fired last fall in favor of instructors Jack Maloof and Andre Davis – Yost was hoping a new hitting approach would produce more instant offense.
But the Royals of 2013 look offensively much like they did a year ago. No American League team hit fewer than the Royals' 131 homers last season, and no team drew fewer walks (404).
This year's team again has showed no power and no patience – they are next to last in the league this season in drawing walks with only 30.
The Royals did not draw a walk in either game in Atlanta.
And the core of the young Royals' hitters – Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, Sal Perez and Eric Hosmer – is hitting a combined .256 with zero home runs and 13 RBIs.
Of course, it is still ridiculously early in the season to make any definitive statements about the Royals' offense or their young hitters.
But Moore and Yost no doubt would like to see some marked improvement, especially during this show-me road trip against baseball's top teams.
There are plenty of curious onlookers.
