Kansas City Royals vs
Tampa Bay RaysPredictions & Preview

Rays Favored to Win Against Royals as Rasmussen Leads Pitching Duel at Home

The Kansas City Royals and Tampa Bay Rays are set to continue their three-game series on Wednesday, with the Rays favored to win with Drew Rasmussen (2.10 ERA) starting on the mound. The Royals, led by starting pitcher Noah Cameron (ERA: 0), are coming off a successful home series against Houston, while the Rays just swept the Padres. The game is scheduled for a 7:05 EST start time. For more information on our prediction for the Royals vs. Rays game, please see below.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Royals +154 | Rays -175
• Spread: Royals +1.5 (-135) | Rays -1.5 (+116)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 64%.

Kansas City vs Tampa Bay Stats

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals recently had a strong six-game win streak before finally dropping a game against the Astros. They are now ranked 3rd in the AL Central, trailing the Tigers by four games. Bobby Witt Jr. had a strong performance in the last game with an RBI double, leading the team in hits this season with 35. Jonathan India also contributed with an RBI, batting .213 with five RBIs. Vinnie Pasquantino leads the team in home runs and RBIs. With a strong team ERA of 3.39, the Royals have not yet named their starter for the next game. Overall, Kansas City is ranked 29th in offense, 6th in defense, and has a power ranking of 23, with a record of 15-15 this season.

Tampa Bay Rays Analysis

The Tampa Bay Rays are on a hot streak, winning their last five games on the road. They are just 2.5 games behind the division lead and are set to host the Kansas City Royals. Second baseman Brandon Lowe has been a key player for the Rays, with four home runs and 15 RBIs on the season. Junior Caminero leads the team in home runs with five. Yandy Diaz is their designated hitter, batting .241 with three home runs and 13 RBIs. Drew Rasmussen, a 29-year-old right-hander, will make his sixth start with a 1-1 record and a 2.10 ERA. The Rays have a power ranking of 11 and are #18 for offense, averaging 4.21 runs per game. They have a strong defense, giving up an average of 3.71 points per game. Kansas City recently went 1-2 against the Rays in their last three matchups.

Rays' Rasmussen Ready to Dominate Against Royals in Pitching Duel

Right-hander Rasmussen will be starting for the Rays tonight, having shown consistent strength throughout the season. Despite a challenging performance in his last outing, he yielded only two runs in his first four games, showcasing impressive shutout performances against the Braves and Pirates, with just one run allowed against the Yankees. With an ERA of 2.10, Rasmussen is well-equipped to contain the Kansas City offense, which has struggled to score in recent games. The Royals have yet to announce a starting pitcher, suggesting a bullpen game with multiple pitchers likely to take the mound. Without a top arm leading the charge, Kansas City may struggle to contain Tampa Bay's potent offense, which has been on a winning streak, triumphing in six of their last seven games. The Rays are favored to come out on top in this matchup.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]