Ragged Royals trudge into Tampa
Kansas City didn’t expect a cakewalk in its title defense. Still, Ned Yost never would have imagined piloting an out-of-contention club on Aug. 1.
The skipper sends Danny Duffy to the mound for tonight’s series opener vs. Tampa Bay, with a 7:10 p.m. ET first pitch at Tropicana Field. Handicappers at online sports book BetDSI fancy the hosts, winners of four in a row, here. Meanwhile, Yost’s troops enter as +120 underdogs. The over/under run total rests at seven.
One season removed from ambushing the Mets to capture the Fall Classic, the Royals suddenly can’t catch a break. The pride of Kauffman Stadium just endured a 7-19 July, which basically eliminated any far-flung playoff dreams. For now, Kansas City simply needs to rediscover how to post a competitive effort on the road, having gone 17-36 away from the Show-Me State.
The Rays couldn’t care less about accommodating a fallen champion. In fact, they’re hoping to finish the campaign with a flurry. Rookie Blake Snell on Sunday barely missed out on recording the squad’s 11th straight quality start. This evening, Chris Archer has a great opportunity to get the ball rolling all over again.
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Nonetheless, Duffy represents a bright spot in a year rife with frustration. The southpaw is undefeated in his past nine appearances, notching a sub-3.20 ERA during that span. He should be able to stifle Tampa Bay’s lineup, too, making for a tight affair in St. Petersburg.
MONDAY MLB FREE PICK: ROYALS +1.5