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The Kansas City Royals (33-19) and Tampa Bay Rays (25-27) play the 2nd game of a 3-game series Saturday. First pitch from Tropicana Field is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Royals vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Royals lead 1-0
Tampa Bay lost to Kansas City 8-1 Thursday with the Royals cashing as (-115) road favorites. The defeat for the Rays was their 5th in a row. LHP Tyler Alexander took the loss as he was pounded for 8 ER on 11 hits in 5 innings of bulk work.
It was the 7th straight win for the surprising Royals, who enter Saturday with the 3rd-best winning percentage (.635) in the American League behind the New York Yankees (.679) and Cleveland Guardians (.667). RHP Seth Lugo became the AL’s 1st 8-game winner with Thursday’s victory and received run support in part due to a 3-run HR from 2B Michael Massey.
Royals at Rays projected starters
RHP Brady Singer vs. RHP Aaron Civale
Singer (4-2, 2.70 ERA) makes his 11th start. He has a 1.11 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 9.7 K/9 in 56 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 9 K in 8-4 home victory over Oakland A’s Sunday
- Only Texas Rangers RHP Jon Gray has allowed more contact (36.4 hard %) than Singer (35.9%) among 40 qualified AL starting pitchers
Civale (2-4, 5.92 ERA) makes his 11th start. He has a 1.37 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 9.1 K/9 in 51 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 5 1/3 IP, 4 ER (5 R), 6 H, 4 BB, 3 K in 5-2 setback at Toronto Blue Jays Sunday
- Only Baltimore Orioles RHP Dean Kremer has a higher HR/9 (1.80) than Civale (1.74) among 83 MLB starting pitchers with at least 50 IP
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Royals at Rays odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:30 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Royals -102 (bet $102 to win $100) | Rays -116 (bet $116 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Royals -1.5 (+150) | Rays +1.5 (-182)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Royals at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Tampa Bay 4, Kansas City 3
Moneyline
BACK RAYS (-116).
The Royals could be without Massey, who exited Friday night’s game with back tightness. The 26-year-old is riding a 7-game on-base streak and has 3 HRs in his last 6 games, so if he’s out or playing hurt that certainly devalues Kansas City’s lineup.
If Civale is able to get his sweeper working effectively, the possibility is there for a decent outing. Plus, the Rays bullpen is better than their team ERA (4.57) indicates. Despite some of the team struggles this season, RHP Jason Adam enters with a 2.05 ERA. In the midst of this losing streak, expect manager Kevin Cash, pitching coach Kyle Snyder and Co. to get the Rays back on track.
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
There’s too much juice on the Rays +1.5 (-182).
Over/Under
BET UNDER 8 (-115).
OF Randy Arozarena and his .159 batting average have been a huge disappointment for this Rays lineup. With the Trop being a challenge at times for hitters (4th-lowest for runs produced via Park Factor), expect a lower scoring game Saturday.
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