Royals vs. Rays Prediction
Can the Tampa Bay Rays pick up a needed win over the Kansas City Royals when the two meet up tonight at 7:10PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
961 Kansas City Royals at 962 Tampa Bay Rays
Monday, August 20, 2018
7:10PM ET – Tropicana Field
TV: FSKC (KC); SUN (TB)
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Rays are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -190 to win. The Royals are listed with a money line of +170 to win, while the over/under total has been set at 8 runs. The public betting for this game currently has 54 percent going on Tampa Bay at home. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Royals still struggling for wins
The Royals have dropped four of their last six games coming into tonight’s contest, including two of three at the White Sox this weekend. Kansas City is 38-86 overall and 20-42 on the road. KC is putting up 3.70 runs per game on offense while allowing 5.45 per contest.
Jorge Lopez gets the start for the Royals this evening. He is making his second start for the Royals after being acquired from the Brewers. He is 0-2 this year through 11 appearances. Lopez has a 4.44 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Over 24.1 innings of work, he has 18 strikeouts and 15 walks.
Rays end tough stretch
The Rays ended a 9-game road trip on Sunday, making stops at Toronto, New York and Boston. Tampa was 5-4 during that tough trip. Tampa is now 63-61 overall and 34-24 at home. The Rays are putting up 4.13 runs per game on offense while allowing 4.05 per contest.
Hunter Wood gets the start for the Rays. It is the eighth start for the reliever, as Tampa likes to go with the reliever starting the game sometimes. Wood is 0-1 through 16 appearances with a 4.10 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Woods has pitched 26.1 innings this year and has 31 strikeouts and 14 walks.
MLB Betting Trends
Kansas City
The Royals are just 6-21 in their last 27 against AL East opponents and 11-44 in their last 55 against teams with a winning record.
Tampa
The Rays have won nine of their last 11 Monday games and 22 of their last 28 at home.
Prediction:
I like the Rays tonight. They have been working this reliever as a starter option for a while, so the team has finally grown accustomed to it. The pitching gets to face one of the worst hitting teams in baseball tonight and the Rays get to a face an average pitcher at best. Tampa needs the win more and looks like the better option on paper.
The Pick: Tampa Bay Rays -190