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The Tampa Bay Rays (43-42) and Kansas City Royals (47-40) play the 2nd game of a 3-game set Wednesday. First pitch from Kauffman Stadium is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rays vs. Royals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tied 2-2
The Rays have won back-to-back games after taking down the Royals 5-1 Tuesday as +103 road underdogs. Rays 2B Brandon Lowe hit a solo shot, 3B Isaac Paredes doubled in a pair of runs, and RHP Zack Littell allowed 4 hits in 5 scoreless innings to pick up the win (his night was ended by a 2½-hour rain delay).
Kansas City failed to cash as a -111 home favorite in Tuesday’s loss. SS Bobby Witt Jr. homered in the 6th for the Royals’ lone run, while RHP Brady Singer allowed 1 ER in 5 innings and picked up the loss.
Rays at Royals projected starters
RHP Ryan Pepiot vs. RHP Michael Wacha
Pepiot (4-4, 4.40 ERA) makes his 15th start. He has a 1.09 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 10.4 K/9 in 71 2/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 5 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 8 K in 5-2 home loss against Seattle Mariners Wednesday
- Never faced Royals before
Wacha (4-6, 3.91 ERA) makes his 15th start. He has a 1.25 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 7.7 K/9 in 78 1/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 5 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 6 K in 2-1 home win against Cleveland Guardians Thursday
- 2024 vs. Rays: 0-1, 3.00 ERA (6 IP, 2 ER), 3 H, 1 BB, 7 K in 1 start, a 4-1 road loss May 26
- Career vs. Rays: 2-4, 5.54 ERA (37 1/3 IP, 23 ER), 1.26 WHIP, 7.7 K/9 in 7 starts
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
Rays at Royals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:48 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rays -115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Royals -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays -1.5 (+145) | Royals +1.5 (-175)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Rays at Royals picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 4, Royals 3
Moneyline
BET RAYS (-115).
Tampa Bay has won back-to-back games and 7 of its last 10. It has held opponents to 1 or fewer runs in 3 of its last 4 and scored 5 runs in back-to-back games. Kansas City has dropped 2 of its last 3 games. It has scored 2 or fewer runs in 3 of its last 5 games while allowing 5 or more in 2 of its last 3.
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
The moneyline presents better value in this matchup.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 8.5 (-115).
The Rays have failed to hit the Over in 7 of their last 10 games, including 4 of their last 5. They have held opponents to 3 or fewer runs in 7 of their last 10 games while scoring 4 or fewer in 6 of their last 9. The Royals have hit the Under in 8 of their last 10 games and scored 2 or fewer runs in 6 of their last 10.
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