The streaking Tampa Bay Rays are seeking their fifth consecutive victory as they play host to the Kansas City Royals at Tropicana Field. Fox Sports Kansas City will be showing this AL matchup and the game is slated to get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Kansas City (+170) is entering this game as the underdog against Tampa Bay (-180) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this game at 7.5 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total sit at +105 for the over and -125 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the runline odds standing at -130 for the Royals +1.5 runs and +110 for the Rays -1.5.
The Royals are 38-89 SU and are 59-67 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 34.3 units for moneyline gamblers and 18.6 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Rays, on the other hand, are 66-61 SU and 68-58 ATS. They’ve gained 9.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 11.4 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in six of those seven.
Rays games have an over/under record of 52-71-3 in 2018. The Royals have also been a good under bet with a total record of 54-65-7.
Southpaw Danny Duffy is the probable starter for Kansas City. 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 send righty Tyler Glasnow (1-3, 4.10 ERA) to the mound. Glasnow has 96 strikeouts and 40 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.29. Glasnow did not record a start against the Royals in 2017.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has given up 4.0 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has a 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.73 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.3 K/9.
The Tampa Bay hitters are putting up 4.1 runs per outing, including 2.9 per game over its last 10 games and 3.0 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .273/.344/.406 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Third baseman Matt Duffy and left fielder Mallex Smith have led the way for the Rays’ offense this year. Duffy is hitting .293/.350/.368 with four home runs, 33 RBIs and 42 runs scored, while Smith is batting .304 with 112 hits, 31 RBIs, 50 runs and 26 steals.
For the visitors, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.4 runs per game and its starters own a 5.32 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.39 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 5.18, along with a WHIP of 1.48.
The Royals offense has slashed .240/.303/.374 on its 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 outings (1-4 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez continue to lead Kansas City’s hitters. The speedy Merrifield is slashing .302/.371/.431 with nine home runs, 44 RBIs, 59 runs and 27 steals, while Perez is hitting .233/.270/.427 with 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 cashed in 40 of those games, compared to 40 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 6.3 units and are 22-15 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 12 of those games, compared to 24 which went under the total.
Kansas City Royals at Tampa Bay Rays Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
