The Tampa Bay Rays and the Kansas City Royals meet Wednesday in MLB action from Kauffman Stadium. Here’s a Kansas City Royals vs Tampa Bay Rays prediction. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
Over the weekend the Rays took on the Washington Nationals. Tampa Bay lost 8-1 in Saturday’s game, but otherwise won 3-1 Friday and 5-0 in the rubber match to take the series. On Tuesday versus the Royals, the Rays bagged a 5-1 win. Zack Littell finished with 5.0 clean frames in the starting role.
In the starter slot for the Rays on Wednesday it’ll be Ryan Pepiot. This year so far Pepiot is 4-4 with a 4.40 ERA in 14 starts. Pepiot has a 9-5 career record with a 3.54 ERA in 31 games (24 starts) overall.
Kansas City Royals Betting Preview
Over on the Royals’ side, they played the Cleveland Guardians in their last set. Kansas City did well in that one (outside of a loss 7-2 in game three), taking wins 2-1, 10-3 and 6-2. On Tuesday the Royals gave up two runs in the seventh inning. Starter Brady Singer had 5.0 innings with one earned run.
Michael Wacha will take the mound for the starting pitcher role on Wednesday. So far this season Wacha is 4-6 with a 3.91 ERA in 14 starts. Wacha is 92-60 with a 3.96 ERA over his 263 career games (242 starts).
Total Runs Facts
- Five of the last six games between the Rays and Royals at Kauffman Stadium have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Each of the Rays’ last three road games have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last four night games at Kauffman Stadium.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last three games between the Rays and Royals.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Bobby Witt Jr. has hit a home run in four of the Royals’ last five games against the Rays.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded a Double in four of the Royals’ last five night games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
- Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Royals’ last six home games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has scored at least one run in each of the Royals’ last seven Wednesday games at Kauffman Stadium.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Royals’ last six games against AL East opponents.
- Kyle Isbel has recorded at least one hit in each of his last eight home appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one Single in seven of the Royals’ last eight night games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Michael Wacha has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last six Wednesday appearances in night games.
- Bobby Witt Jr. ranks T4th in the league in Steals (22) this season.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in each of the Rays’ last three games at Kauffman Stadium against opponents that held a winning record.
- Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one RBI in five of the Rays’ last six games against AL opponents.
- Taylor Walls has scored a run in each of his last four appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
- Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one Single in 12 of the Rays’ last 13 night games.
- Isaac Paredes has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rays’ last 10 road games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Amed Rosario has recorded at least one total base in 13 of his last 14 road appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Kansas City Royals rank 2nd in the league for triples this season (23).
- The Kansas City Royals rank 3rd in the league for strikeouts against this season (611).
- The Tampa Bay Rays rank 29th in the league for home runs allowed this season (115).
- The Tampa Bay Rays rank T27th in the league for home runs this season (77).
Kansas City Royals vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction
I’ll lean toward the Royals. This should be a fun starter matchup, though. Wacha is just 0-1 in his last three starts but he’s been pitching well. In that trio Wacha has four earned runs in 15.2 total innings on 15 hits and four walks. As for Pepiot, he’s given up three earned in 8.2 innings over his last two outings.
On Tuesday the Royals lost momentum after a rain delay. KC never really found their groove again and had just six hits. I do like the Royals to get back to business on Thursday, however.