The Tampa Bay Rays will be taking on the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. This AL matchup will get underway at 8:15 p.m. ET and fans looking to watch it can tune in to Fox Sports Kansas City.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
The Royals are just 13-28 SU and 17-23 ATS. They’ve lost 10.8 units for moneyline bettors and 9.4 units against the spread (ATS). Kansas City has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Rays have gone 17-22 SU this year and are 19-19 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 6.7 units for moneyline gamblers in the season’s early going and 1.2 units ATS. Tampa Bay’s covered the spread only once in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Royals games have had an over/under record of 16-22-2 so far in 2018. Tampa Bay has an over/under record of 20-16-2.
Anthony Banda will get the nod for Tampa Bay. The southpaw Banda is 0-0 with an ERA. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Royals will turn to righty Ian Kennedy (1-4, 4.61 ERA) to the mound. Kennedy has 39 strikeouts and 13 walks to his name, as well as a 1.49 WHIP. Kennedy only made one start against the Rays in 2017 (0-1, 23.63 ERA across 2.2 innings).
Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 4.8 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.45 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 8.25 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.80, along with a WHIP of 1.24.
Rays hitters have slashed .261/.333/.397 on their way to 4.2 runs scored per game this year, including 3.4 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Second baseman Daniel Robertson and first baseman C.J. Cron have led Tampa Bay’s hitters. Robertson is slashing .267/.421/.433 with 24 hits, nine RBIs and 16 runs scored, while Cron (.280/.329/.487) is up to 42 hits, eight homers, 23 RBIs and 20 runs scored.
Cron didn’t do as well batting against righty pitching on the road last season. Over 135 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .213/.244/.339 (compared to his total season line of .248/.305/.437).
For the home team, Kansas City’s pitching staff has allowed 5.7 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 5.33 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 7.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.70 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 6.4 K/9.
The Kansas City hitters are putting up 4.0 runs per outing, including 4.9 per game over its last 10 games and 4.2 per game over their last five. The team has hit .271/.321/.401 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that span.
The Royals’ batters have been led by right fielder Jorge Soler and third baseman Mike Moustakas. Soler is slashing .316/.419/.519 with five home runs, 18 RBIs and 19 runs scored, and the line for Moustakas stands at .294/.328/.546 with 10 homers, 29 RBIs and 25 runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .144/.245/.258, Soler seemed to enjoy hitting at home last season, slashing .213/.302/.404 over 53 plate appearances.
The Rays have lost 6.8 units and are 10-15 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 14 of those games, compared to 10 that’ve hit the under against lefty starters.
Tampa Bay Rays at Kansas City Royals Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Trends
The Royals have lost five of their last six games SU.
Tampa Bay has posted 20.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 23.2 over its last five.
The Rays have hit six home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit 10 over their last 10.
xxxxx
