The Kansas City Royals will face the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Fox Sports Kansas City is in line to broadcast this AL matchup and the game gets underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Kansas City (+225) is entering this one as the underdog against Tampa Bay (-245) 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 runline odds standing at Royals +1.5 runs (+100) and Rays -1.5 runs (-120).
The Royals are 38-87 SU and have gone 58-66 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 32.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline 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. The Rays, on the other hand, are 64-61 SU and 67-57 ATS. The team’s 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.
Tampa Bay games have 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.
Glenn Sparkman will get the nod for the visiting Royals. The right-handed 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 are putting the ball in the hands of lefty Blake Snell (14-5, 2.10 ERA), who has 149 strikeouts and 50 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.02. Snell only made one start against the Royals in 2017 (0-1, 7.20 ERA and two strikeouts across five innings).
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has given up 4.0 runs per game overall this season. The club’s 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 offense has put up 4.1 runs per contest, including 2.9 per game over its last 10 games and 2.2 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .217/.297/.338 over its last five contests 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 slashing .291/.348/.367 with four home runs, 32 RBIs and 42 runs scored, while Smith’s line sits at .301/.374/.423 with 108 hits, 29 RBIs, 48 runs and 26 stolen bases.
In the other dugout, 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 logged an ERA of 5.20, along with a WHIP of 1.48.
Royals hitters have slashed .240/.304/.373 on their 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).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez continue to lead Kansas City’s offense. The speedy Merrifield is hitting .303/.371/.424 with eight home runs, 43 RBIs, 58 runs and 27 stolen bases, while 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 hit in 14 of those games, compared to 24 that’ve gone under in such games. 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, compared to 45 that’ve cashed the under.
Kansas City Royals at Tampa Bay Rays MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Kansas City has recorded 12 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Tampa Bay has 13 XBH over its last five.
- The Royals have dropped three of their last four games SU.
- Kansas City has recorded 18.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 19.2 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.
