The Tampa Bay Rays and the Kansas City Royals meet Wednesday 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 Drew Rasmussen for the start here, and Rasmussen is 6-5 with a 2.61 ERA and 67 strikeouts this season. In his career, Rasmussen is 2-1 with a 3.45 ERA and 15 strikeouts against the Royals. Michael Wacha will get the start for the Royals and is 4-6 with a 3.24 ERA and 65 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Rays, Wacha is 3-1 with a 3.41 ERA and 31 strikeouts.
Tampa Bay Rays Recap
The Tampa Bay Rays come into this game looking to build on their 5-1 win over the Royals from Tuesday’s matchup to sit at 44-35 on the year. After this series, the Rays will head on the road again for a series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Rays Looking For Another Series Win
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, 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 eight games at Kauffman Stadium.
- The road team has won each of the last five games between the Rays and Royals.
- The Rays have covered the run line in 10 of their last 11 road games.
- The Royals have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games at Kauffman Stadium.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Danny Jansen has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances against AL Central opponents.
- Drew Rasmussen has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last three appearances against AL opponents.
- Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rays’ last 17 games as favorites against AL opponents.
- Yandy Diaz has recorded a Double in three of his last four appearances at Kauffman Stadium against opponents that held a losing record.
- Drew Rasmussen has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances against AL opponents.
- Jonathan Aranda ranks 3rd amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.332) this season.
Kansas City Royals Recap
The Kansas City Royals come into this game looking to rebound from their loss at the hands of Tampa Bay on Tuesday, to drop to 38-41 on the year. After this series, the Royals will take on the Dodgers at home.
Royals Looking To Rebound
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 games as favorites against AL Central opponents following a road win.
- The underdogs have won each of the last four games between the Rays and Royals.
- The Royals have covered the run line in 15 of their last 16 games as underdogs following a loss.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five games as favorites against AL Central opponents following a road win.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Bobby Witt Jr. has hit a home run in three of the Royals’ last five home games against the Rays.
- Michael Wacha has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last five home appearances.
- Salvador Perez has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 13 appearances against AL East opponents.
- Maikel Garcia has recorded a Double in each of the Royals’ last three games against the Rays.
- Michael Wacha has recorded a win in six of his eight previous home appearances against former teams.
- Bobby Witt Jr. ranks T6th in the league in Steals (21) this season.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the Rays’ last eight road games against AL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Five of the Royals’ last six night games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
Royals vs Rays Prediction
I’m backing the Rays here. I think KC’s best chance at a W in this series came with Bubic against Bradley on Tuesday, and the Royals’ offense once again didn’t show up, and I don’t expect that to change here. The Rays are playing some solid baseball, and I think KC struggles here again. Give me Tampa Bay in this one.