The Tampa Bay Rays will play host to the Kansas City Royals at Tropicana Field. Fox Sports Kansas City is in line to broadcast this AL matchup and the game is slated to get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Tampa Bay (-245) is favored over Kansas City (+225) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this night game at 7.5 runs (-120 for the under and +100 for the over). Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds sitting at Royals +1.5 runs (+100) and Rays -1.5 runs (-120).
The Rays are 64-61 straight up (SU) and 67-57 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 7.6 units for moneyline bettors and 11.4 units (ATS). Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in six of those seven. On the other hand, the Royals are 38-87 SU and have gone 58-66 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 32.3 units for moneyline bettors and 18.6 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Rays games have had an over/under record of 52-69-3 in 2018. Kansas City has also been a decent under bet with a total record of 54-63-7.
The right-handed Glenn Sparkman will get the start for Kansas City. Sparkman is 0-1 with a 4.95 ERA and 17 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rays this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Rays will be sending lefty Blake Snell (14-5, 2.10 ERA) to the mound. Snell has 149 strikeouts and 50 walks to his credit, as well as a 1.02 WHIP. Snell only made one start against the Royals in 2017 (0-1, 7.20 ERA and two strikeouts across five innings).
Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starters have a 3.76 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.74 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.3 K/9.
The Tampa Bay hitters have put up 4.1 runs per contest, including 2.9 per game over its last 10 games and 2.2 per game over their last five. The team has hit .217/.297/.338 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that span.
The Rays’ offense has been led by third baseman Matt Duffy and left fielder Mallex Smith. Duffy is hitting .291/.348/.367 with four home runs, 32 RBIs and 42 runs scored, while Smith is batting .301 with 108 hits, 29 RBIs, 48 runs and 26 stolen bases.
For the visitors, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.4 runs per game and its starters own a 5.33 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.37 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.20, along with a WHIP of 1.48 and a K/9 of 7.30.
The Royals offense has slashed .240/.304/.373 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 3.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Kansas City’s offensive production has been sparked by second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez, who collectively have belted 29 home runs. The speedy Merrifield is slashing .303/.371/.424 with eight home runs, 43 RBIs, 58 runs and 27 steals. Perez (.235/.273/.433) has produced 21 homers, 60 RBIs and 40 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 4.4 units and are 22-18 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 14 of those games, compared to 24 that’ve hit the under against lefties. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 1.3 units and are 45-42 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 40 of those games, as opposed to 45 which went under the total.
Kansas City Royals vs. Tampa Bay Rays MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Kansas City has tallied 12 extra-base hits over its last five games. Tampa Bay has 13 XBH over its last five.
The Royals have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rays have hit seven over their last 10.
Tampa Bay has recorded 17.5 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 contests and 15.8 over its last five.
The Royals have lost three of their last four games SU.
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