Tampa Bay Rays vs
Kansas City RoyalsPredictions & Preview

Kansas City Royals Poised to Upset Tampa Bay Rays in Second Game of Series

The Tampa Bay Rays (43-35) will be looking to secure their second consecutive road series win as they visit Kauffman Stadium to take on the Kansas City Royals (38-40) in the second game of their three-game series on Wednesday night at 7:40 PM ET. Drew Rasmussen, with a 6-5 record and a 2.61 ERA, will be on the mound for the Rays, while Michael Wacha, with a 4-6 record and a 3.24 ERA, will be starting for the Royals. Kansas City has a 7-3 record in their last 10 games against Tampa Bay. The Rays are the favorites to win, with the betting line opening at -123 and remaining steady. Please note that this preview was written before Tuesday's game.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Rays -123 | Royals +108
• Spread: Rays -1.5 (+130) | Royals +1.5 (-150)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 55%.

Tampa Bay vs Kansas City Stats

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays recently had their two-game winning streak snapped by the Tigers in the final of their last series. They are currently second in the AL East standings, trailing the New York Yankees by two games. The team will aim to close the gap with a win on Wednesday. The Rays average 4.76 runs per game, ranking sixth in the league, with a .256 batting average (also sixth in the league), a .323 on base percentage (10th), and a .404 slugging percentage (12th). Jonathan Aranda leads the team with a .325 batting average, while Junior Caminero leads in home runs (19) and RBI (50). Defensively, the Rays give up 3.86 runs per game (eighth in the league) with opponents batting .235 against them (11th). Their ERA is 3.59 (eighth), and their WHIP is 1.18 (fourth). In his last start, Rasmussen suffered a 4-1 loss to Baltimore after allowing four hits and two runs in 5.1 innings. The Rays hold a power ranking of 1 and are currently ranked 6th in offense (averaging 4.78 runs per game), 7th in defense (allowing an average of 3.79 runs per game against them), and have a season record of 43-35.

Kansas City Royals Analysis

The Kansas City Royals recently experienced a series loss to San Diego after sweeping Texas. They have struggled in their last six home series but hope to break the streak with a win on Wednesday. The team ranks 29th in offense, averaging 3.36 runs per game, with a .247 batting average. On the defensive side, they rank 4th, giving up an average of 3.63 runs per game. Maikel Garcia leads the team with a .312 batting average, while Vinnie Pasquantino leads in home runs and RBI. Pitcher Wacha is coming off a strong performance, giving up one run in six innings against Texas. Overall, the Royals have a power ranking of 26 and a record of 38-40, with Tampa Bay having won their last three matchups against them.

Kansas City Royals poised for victory against Tampa Bay Rays in upcoming matchup

The Kansas City Royals have shown strong performance in their recent games, winning four out of their last six. In comparison, the Tampa Bay Rays have won three out of their last five games. Kansas City's strength lies in their success against right-handed pitchers, making them favorable against Rasmussen, who has struggled in his recent starts. On the other hand, the Rays may face offensive challenges against Wacha, who has performed well, especially at home. Wacha has contained the Rays offensively in his recent starts against them. Therefore, it is recommended to consider betting on Kansas City on the money line for this matchup.

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