The Kansas City Royals (21-55) and Tampa Bay Rays (53-26) play the 3rd game of their 4-game series in Tampa Saturday. First pitch at Tropicana Field is slated for 4:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze Fanduel Sportsbook’s lines around the Royals vs. Rays and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tied 1-1
The Royals are 2-3 on their road trip. They are allowing their opponents to score 6.2 runs per game over their last 7. Kansas City is 11-27 on the road this season.
Tampa Bay is 2-2 during their 6-game homestead. They are 33-9 at Tropicana Field and score nearly 6 runs per game. The Rays face Jordan Lyles Saturday, who doesn’t have a win in 15 starts this season.
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Royals at Rays projected starters
RHP Jordan Lyles vs. RHP Yonny Chirinos
Lyles (0-11, 6.72 ERA) will make his 16th start. He has a 1.28 WHIP, 3 BB/9 and 6.5 K/9 in 85 2/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K in a 6-4 road loss vs. the Detroit Tigers Monday
- Last start vs Rays: Loss, 4 1/3 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 9 K in a 4-1 road loss on Aug 14, 2022, as a member of the Baltimore Orioles
Chirinos (3-2, 2.72 ERA) makes his 4th start and 11th appearance. He has a 1.02 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 4.2 K/9 in 43 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 4 2/3 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K in a 5-4 road loss vs. the San Diego Padres Sunday
- Career vs Royals: 2-0, 4.32 ERA (16 2/3 IP, 8 ER), 0.84 WHIP in 3 appearances
Royals at Rays odds
Provided by Fanduel Sportsbook’s ; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Royals +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Rays -270 (bet $270 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Royals +1.5 (+106) | Rays -1.5 (-128)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -102 | U: -120)
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Royals at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 7, Rays 1
Moneyline
PASS.
The Rays should have no problem getting over .500 on their homestand, but you should avoid this moneyline bet. It is not worth putting up nearly 3 units to win back 1. I’d look to the run line.
Run line/Against the spread
BET RAYS -1.5 (-128).
I don’t mind taking this bet with the odds being a little more reasonable. I would love to see the line move to -2.5 and give us plus odds on the Rays.
The Royals have won only 11 times in their 38 road games this season. You could say that Lyles is due for a win being 0-11 on the season, but he’s not going to get it against this Tampa Bay squad.
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Over/Under
UNDER 9 (-120) is my lean, but I’m likely to avoid this bet.
I know the Rays will hold up their end on this bet as they score 5.98 runs per game at home on the season. Lyles has allowed 4 or more earned runs in 5 of his last 7 starts.
Kansas City is where the problem lies. They are the lowest-scoring team in the major leagues on the road at 3.32 runs per game. Tampa Bay holds its opponents to just 3.64 runs per game at home.
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