As spring games begin, 4 storylines move to Royals' forefront https://www.mlb.com/news/stephen-kolek-begins-royals-rotation-competition SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Royals media relations director Nick Kappel posts it on social media every spring, early in the morning on the first day of baseball’s return: Beginning Friday with their Cactus League opener, the Royals are scheduled to play 194 games over the next 220 days of the spring #MLB