The Kansas City Royals will be facing off against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City is in line to broadcast this AL matchup.
Kansas City Royals vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Kansas City (+170) is coming into this one as the underdog against Tampa Bay (-180) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this night game at 7.5 runs (-125 for the under and +105 for the over). The game’s current runline odds stand at -130 for picking the Royals +1.5 runs and +110 for the Rays -1.5 runs.
The Rays are 66-61 straight up (SU) and 68-58 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 9.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 11.4 units (ATS). The Royals are 38-89 SU and have gone 59-67 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 34.3 units for moneyline bettors and 18.6 units ATS.
Tampa Bay games have an over/under record of 52-71-3 in 2018. The Royals have also been a decent under bet with a total record of 54-65-7.
Left-hander Danny Duffy will get the nod for the visiting Royals. Duffy is 7-11 with a 4.90 ERA and 128 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 Tyler Glasnow (1-3, 4.10 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), who’s got 96 strikeouts and 40 walks this season. Glasnow did not record a start against the Royals in 2017.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has allowed 4.0 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have an ERA of 3.71, a WHIP of 1.18 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.3. The bullpen has a 3.73 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.3 K/9.
Tampa Bay’s hitters have put up 4.1 runs per contest, including 2.9 per game over its last 10 games and 3.0 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .273/.344/.406 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Third baseman Matt Duffy and left fielder Mallex Smith have led the Rays’ hitters this year. Duffy is slashing .293/.350/.368 with four home runs, 33 RBIs and 42 runs scored, while Smith’s line sits at .304/.374/.425 with 112 hits, 31 RBIs, 50 runs and 26 stolen bases.
In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.4 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.32 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.39 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 5.18, along with a WHIP of 1.48.
Royals hitters have slashed .240/.303/.374 on their way to 3.6 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.5 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez have paced Kansas City’s hitters. The speedy Merrifield is slashing .302/.371/.431 with nine home runs, 44 RBIs, 59 runs and 27 stolen bases, while Perez (.233/.270/.427) has produced 21 homers, 60 RBIs and 40 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 28.9 units and are 37-48 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 40 of those games, compared to 40 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 6.3 units and are 22-15 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over’s hit in 12 of those games, compared to 24 that’ve gone under.
Kansas City Royals vs. Tampa Bay Rays Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Trends
The over has cashed in only one of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
The Royals have dropped five of their last six games SU.
Tampa Bay has posted 19.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 21.0 over its last five.
The Royals have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
+++++
