The Tampa Bay Rays and the Kansas City Royals meet Tuesday in MLB action from Kauffman Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Royals vs Rays Prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Tampa Bay Rays will send out Taj Bradley for the start here, and Bradley is 4-5 with a 4.95 ERA and 73 strikeouts this season. In his career, Bradley is 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA and 8 strikeouts against the Royals. Kris Bubic will get the nod for Kansas City here and is 6-4 with a 2.12 ERA and 88 strikeouts this season. In his career, Bubic is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA and 4 strikeouts against the Rays.
Tampa Bay Rays Recap
The Tampa Bay Rays come into this game looking to rebound from a 9-3 loss at the hands of the Detroit Tigers last time out to sit at 43-35 on the year. After this series, the Rays will head on the road for a set against the Baltimore Orioles.
Rays Looking To Start Series Hot
Jonathan Aranda has 79 hits with a team-high 15 doubles, 8 home runs, and 41 RBIs. Brandon Lowe has 74 hits with 15 homers and 42 RBIs as well, while Junior Caminero has 75 hits with 16 doubles, a team-high 19 home runs, and 50 RBIs. Yandy Diaz has 83 hits with 15 doubles, 12 homers, and 44 RBIs, and Kameron Misner has 42 hits with 9 doubles, 5 homers, and 22 RBIs as well, while Christopher Morel has 59 strikeouts while Lowe has 73 strikeouts, and Misner has 69 K’s as well this season. Jose Caballero has 29 stolen bases while Taylor Walls has 9 stolen bases as well this season.
Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win
- The Royals have lost each of their last 10 games as home favorites.
- The Rays have won each of their last seven games following a home loss.
- The Royals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 11 games as home favorites.
- The Rays have covered the run line in each of their last seven road games following a loss.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Danny Jansen has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances against the Royals after not playing the previous day.
- Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one RBI in five of the Rays’ last six road games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rays’ last 11 games.
- Brandon Lowe has scored at least one run in each of the Rays’ last five games as underdogs.
- Jose Caballero ranks 1st in the league in Steals (29) this season.
Kansas City Royals Recap
The Kansas City Royals come into this game looking to rebound from their 3-2 loss at the hands of the Padres in Sunday’s series finale to sit at 38-40 on the year. After this series, the Royals will square off against the Dodgers at home.
Royals Drop Back-To-Back Games
Bobby Witt Jr. has a team-high 87 hits with 26 doubles and 21 stolen bases, along with 3 triples, 10 home runs, and 40 RBIs, while Vinnie Pasquantino has 79 hits with 7 doubles, a triple, 11 home runs, and 41 RBIs. Maikel Garcia added 87 hits with 19 doubles, 8 home runs, and 36 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases, and Salvador Perez also has 9 home runs and 41 RBIs, but also has 65 strikeouts so far this season.
Why the Kansas City Royals will win
- The Rays have lost each of their last five road games against AL Central opponents.
- The Royals have won five of their last six games against the Rays following a loss.
- The Royals have covered the run line in 11 of their last 12 games against AL East opponents following a road loss.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six road games against AL Central opponents that held a losing record.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Bobby Witt Jr. has hit a home run in each of the Royals’ last three games as favorites against the Rays.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded a Double in three of the Royals’ last four games against AL opponents.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one RBI in nine of the Royals’ last 10 games against the Rays.
- Maikel Garcia has scored at least one run in each of the Royals’ last four night games.
- Kris Bubic has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his last five appearances with the Royals as favorites.
- Salvador Perez has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances against AL East opponents.
- Kris Bubic has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances with the Royals as favorites against AL opponents.
- Kris Bubic ranks 5th amongst qualified players for Earned Run Average (2.12) this season.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the Rays’ last eight games as underdogs against AL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Five of the Royals’ last six games as favorites against the Rays have gone UNDER the total runs line.
Royals vs Rays Prediction
I’m backing the Royals here. I just don’t love the form that Taj Bradley is in. While I’ve been critical of the inconsistency of this Royals offense, I still think that Bubic has been one of the better options the Royals have had to this point. I think they get it done here. Give me Kansas City in this one.