The Kansas City Royals are making a road trip to Tropicana Field to take on the Tampa Bay Rays. Fox Sports Kansas City will be televising this AL matchup and the opening pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
The Rays are 63-61 straight up (SU) and 66-57 against the spread (ATS). The team’s gained 5.8 units for moneyline bettors and 10.4 units (ATS). The Royals have gone 38-86 SU this year and are 57-66 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 31.3 units for moneyline bettors and 19.6 units ATS.
Rays games have an over/under record of 52-68-3 in 2018. The Royals have also been a decent under bet with a total record of 53-63-7.
Jorge Lopez is getting the nod for the visiting Royals. The right-handed Lopez is 0-2 with a 4.44 ERA and 18 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rays this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Rays will put the ball in the right hand of Hunter Wood (0-1, 4.10 ERA), who has 31 strikeouts and 14 walks as well as a 1.67 WHIP. Wood did not record a start against the Royals in 2017.
Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.5 runs per game and its starters own a 5.35 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.38 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 5.23, along with a WHIP of 1.48.
The Royals offense has slashed .240/.304/.374 on its way to 3.7 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.6 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez continue to lead Kansas City’s offense. The speedy Merrifield is slashing .303/.372/.426 with eight home runs, 43 RBIs, 58 runs and 27 steals, while Perez has a .235 average with 21 homers, 60 RBIs and 40 runs scored.
For the home team, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have given up 4.0 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starters have a 3.77 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.79 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 8.2 K/9.
Tampa Bay’s hitters are putting up 4.1 runs per contest, including 3.3 per game over its last 10 games and 3.2 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .226/.306/.372 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.
The Rays’ batters have been led by third baseman Matt Duffy and outfielder Mallex Smith. Duffy is hitting .294/.351/.371 with four home runs, 32 RBIs and 42 runs scored, while Smith’s line sits at .298/.370/.421 with 106 hits, 29 RBIs, 48 runs and 26 steals.
The Royals have lost 26.9 units and are 35-48 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 39 of those games, as opposed to 39 that’ve gone under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 0.5 units and are 44-42 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 40 of those games, compared to 44 which went under the total.
Kansas City Royals at Tampa Bay Rays MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The under has cashed in six of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
Kansas City has posted 18.8 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 20.6 over its last five.
The Royals have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
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